Our second Ecuador team of the year has officially hit the lower slopes of Cotopaxi. After a successful (and fun) team welcome dinner and acclimatization hike to Ruminahui Central, the team was primed and ready to start the core of their expedition.

Yesterday, the team completed their glacier clinic, where they brushed up on their skills before heading to the Refugio José Rivas (4,800m/15,744ft), a famous dorm-style mountain hut on the northern flanks of Cotopaxi.

Our guide and Ecuador specialist, Edgar Parra, reports that the weather is fantastic, and the team is feeling great!

Note: Though the Cotopaxi summit is still closed, the Parque Nacional Cotopaxi (Cotopaxi National Park) still allows climbers to go to the base for snow training. Recent reports suggest that the volcanic activity has settled down again. Hopefully, we’ll be back climbing Cotopaxi soon.

Best of luck to the team, and stay tuned for more field updates!

Cheers,

Your CTSS Team

Cotopaxi at sunset, a welcome vista for our team. Photo by: Edgar Parra

Skills clinic on the lower slopes of Cotopaxi always includes a review of self-arrest techniques. Photo by: Edgar Parra

Our Ecuador Volcanoes Team is all smiles at the Refugio José Rivas. Photo by: Edgar Parra

The team climbing strong under perfect weather conditions. Photo by: Edgar Parra