You and Johan planned everything very well and without rush. It helped a lot on your two succesful climbs in Cotopaxi and especially in Chimborazo.
Your photos are amazing. I've camped in the same spot you set up camp before but I never was able to take any pics like the ones you took on the way up and down from the summit. Really nice ones!
Thanks for sharing your experience while in my country. I enjoyed reading your TR. Hope to see you back again here in South America soon Andre!
Good TR, thanks for the report. Sounds like a who you guys had a good time, I'm bummed we didn't get to Chimbo during our time in Ecuador, but I've put it on the list for my next visit!
It also sounds like you guys got a little lucky with the weather! Glad that snow on the way down didn't complicate things.
Do you know if there are any other sites above the refuge where people establish a high camp?
Thanks Inday! Yes, we were lucky. November was very very rainy and December was not very stable either but we seemed to pick the right days for our climbs. Weather in EC is very unpredictable.
For a high camp I don't think you'll be able to find a better place than "El Castillo" for the standard route. If you do not want to stay in the refuge however, there are good camping places in a flat area a couple of hundred meters behind/above the hut.
I liked your narrative. It felt like I was right there with you because you described it so completely in terms a mountaineer easily understands. I especially liked the picture downslope to you orange Marmaduke tent. What an extraordinary composition! Thanks for sharing your story. You have succeeded in fanning the flames of my own Chimborazo climb!
Hello Joel! I'm very happy to read this! Yes, I can really recommend this mountain! And by setting up our tent half way up the mountain we not only got a very cool high camp but also we shortened the summitpush considerably! Ecuador is a great country!!
It sure looks like a great country. I hope I can visit it and climb around here and there. We'll see how it goes! If you can drive all the way to the Carrel hut, why not place a high camp more or less where you two did? Makes total sense. Thanks again for sharing your enlightening story!
I used my regular pack. I think it's cumbersome to carry a second small pack on the climb for the summit. It was a long time now but I guess I brought my head lamp, a thermos with hot tea, some snacks, one additional down layer, GPS, spare batteries, camera...
Boriss Andean - Mar 11, 2011 3:53 pm - Voted 10/10
Congratulations!Congratulations Andre!
You and Johan planned everything very well and without rush. It helped a lot on your two succesful climbs in Cotopaxi and especially in Chimborazo.
Your photos are amazing. I've camped in the same spot you set up camp before but I never was able to take any pics like the ones you took on the way up and down from the summit. Really nice ones!
Thanks for sharing your experience while in my country. I enjoyed reading your TR. Hope to see you back again here in South America soon Andre!
Boriss...
andre hangaard - Mar 14, 2011 3:55 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Congratulations!Thanks Boriss! Yes, we did plan it very carefully. That's part of the fun!! It was a beautiful camping area which revealed it self after the whiteout.
icypeak - Mar 13, 2011 4:01 pm - Voted 10/10
Congratulations!Your story and photos are amazing!
andre hangaard - Mar 14, 2011 3:56 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Congratulations!Thank you Sylva! When are you going to Ecuador? The Andes are waiting for you!
Inday - Mar 15, 2011 5:39 pm - Voted 10/10
Nice jobGood TR, thanks for the report. Sounds like a who you guys had a good time, I'm bummed we didn't get to Chimbo during our time in Ecuador, but I've put it on the list for my next visit!
It also sounds like you guys got a little lucky with the weather! Glad that snow on the way down didn't complicate things.
Do you know if there are any other sites above the refuge where people establish a high camp?
andre hangaard - Mar 16, 2011 2:45 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Nice jobThanks Inday! Yes, we were lucky. November was very very rainy and December was not very stable either but we seemed to pick the right days for our climbs. Weather in EC is very unpredictable.
For a high camp I don't think you'll be able to find a better place than "El Castillo" for the standard route. If you do not want to stay in the refuge however, there are good camping places in a flat area a couple of hundred meters behind/above the hut.
KevinStumpf - Mar 28, 2011 9:55 am - Voted 10/10
AWESOME!Sounds like an amazing time! I have been on a few trips but you put the words to the pictures in no way I can! Thanks for posting this!
andre hangaard - Mar 29, 2011 9:48 am - Hasn't voted
Re: AWESOME!Thanks Kevin! Very glad to hear you enjoyed my TR!
JoelSkok - Mar 11, 2018 9:52 pm - Voted 10/10
Such an accomplishment! 10/10I liked your narrative. It felt like I was right there with you because you described it so completely in terms a mountaineer easily understands. I especially liked the picture downslope to you orange Marmaduke tent. What an extraordinary composition! Thanks for sharing your story. You have succeeded in fanning the flames of my own Chimborazo climb!
andre hangaard - Mar 11, 2018 11:27 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Such an accomplishment! 10/10Hello Joel! I'm very happy to read this! Yes, I can really recommend this mountain! And by setting up our tent half way up the mountain we not only got a very cool high camp but also we shortened the summitpush considerably! Ecuador is a great country!!
JoelSkok - Mar 11, 2018 11:39 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: Such an accomplishment! 10/10It sure looks like a great country. I hope I can visit it and climb around here and there. We'll see how it goes! If you can drive all the way to the Carrel hut, why not place a high camp more or less where you two did? Makes total sense. Thanks again for sharing your enlightening story!
fredsfo - Apr 9, 2018 12:10 pm - Hasn't voted
Summit Pack?I was curious... Did you pack a separate summit pack and leave your main pack at high camp? What did you bring with you on your summit push?
andre hangaard - Apr 30, 2018 2:03 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Summit Pack?I used my regular pack. I think it's cumbersome to carry a second small pack on the climb for the summit. It was a long time now but I guess I brought my head lamp, a thermos with hot tea, some snacks, one additional down layer, GPS, spare batteries, camera...