Cayambe and the Ecuador Volcanoes

Ecuador is a climbers' paradise. This trip will take you from the culture rich capital city of Quito to the grassy highlands, over rocky summits, and to the slopes of the country’s volcanoes. We will get to experience it all and get a taste of what Ecuador has to offer. Whether you are looking for your first international climb, or have traveled the globe, Ecuador is a great climbing destination which will leave you with lasting memories and an experience like no other.

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IMPORTANT BETA

CLIMB DETAILS

Price: $3295 Per Person
Length: 11 days
Guide-to-Client Ratio: 1:4
Difficulty: Strenuous
When: November 2-12, 2024
Type: Mountaineering
Type: Experiential
Deposit: $750

INCLUDED

All Transportation in Ecuador
All Lodging in Ecuador
NEM Guides
Certified Ecuadorian Guide
Climbing permit
Group gear

NOT INCLUDED

Airfare
Additional rentals
Meals (some will be included)
Souvenirs
Gratuity
Travel Insurance
Rescue Insurance

RENTAL GEAR

Most of the required equipment [listed below] is available for rent from our affiliate mtnGEAR. NEM climbers will receive an exclusive discount of 20% discount on all rental equipment and clothing.

Visit mtnGEAR for Rental Prices

BE INFORMED. BE PREPARED.

This trip requires an excellent level of physical fitness and the completion of a one day mountaineering skills course. Participants should be familiar with self arrest, crampon technique, and posses prior climbing experience. We reach very high altitudes on this adventure, so proper training is imperative.

Itinerary

Quito, Rucu pichincha, Fuya Fuya, Imbabura, Cayambe

Day 1: Today we arrive in Quito, Ecuador. We will check in to our hotel and get ourselves settled and rested from the long travel day. Many flights arrive in the evening.

Day 2: We will meet for breakfast and an itinerary briefing. You will meet your teammates, NEM guides, as well as receive more information about Ecuador and our itinerary. We will spend the day adjusting to the altitude of Quito (approx 9,000ft). The day is spent sightseeing around the city. In the afternoon, we will take the Teleferiquo (gondola) to 13,000ft for a short hike to watch the sunset over many of the Ecuadorean Volcanoes.

CLIMBING ITINERARY BEGINS

Day 3: Today we will climb our first peak. Rucu Pichincha (15,696ft). We will again, take the Teleferiqo to 13,000ft and begin our climb to the exposed summit. The return trip should take between 6 and 7 hours.

Day 4: We will depart for the town of Otavalo. Along the way, we will stop at the Equator for a quick tour and some interesting experiments that can only be conducted at the middle of the Earth. We will have the evening to explore Otavalo and it’s famous marketplace.

Day 5: After a leisurely wake-up we will head out for our second acclimatization peak. Fuya Fuya rises to over 14,000ft and provides a beautiful walk through high alpine meadows to the rocky summits. We will attempt to climb both peaks. After our half-day hike, we will drive back to Otavalo. The evening is free in Otavalo.

Day 6: We will wake up very early and drive 1.5hrs to Imbabura. Our third acclimatization peak is over 15,000ft and will take most of the day. This is a spectacular climb that starts out in fields and ends in a true alpine-feel summit. The climb requires 3rd-4th class terrain near the summit. We plan to be back in Otavalo by 5PM in time for dinner.

Day 7: After two days of climbing we get a rest day. We will have a late breakfast and make last minute purchases at the Otavalo market before heading to the Cayambe Refuge. The drive to the Refuge takes about 2 hours from Otavalo. The last hour is especially rough on a 4-wheel drive track. We are able to drive directly to the refuge at 15,100ft. We will spend the afternoon resting and hydrating. The night will be spent at the refuge to further our acclimatization. A fantastic dinner is included at the refuge.

Day 8: After a delicious breakfast at the refuge, we will climb to the glacier on Cayambe at 16,000ft. The rest of the morning will be spent here practicing roped travel, crampon technique, self and team arrest. In the early afternoon we will descend to the refuge and drive all the way back to town to get a good nights rest at a relatively low altitude before our summit attempt.

Day 9: Today marks the start of our summit attempt. After a late breakfast we will drive back up to the Cayambe refuge. We will eat an early dinner and try to rest before our 11PM wake-up call. A light “breakfast” will be served and we will be on our way to the summit of Cayambe by midnight.

Day 10: With any luck and some good weather, we will ascend the slopes of Cayambe for 6-8 hours before hitting the summit just after sunrise. From the summit of Ecuador’s third highest peak (18,996ft) we have unobstructed views of Antisana, Cotopaxi, Chimborazo, Imbabura, and many more high peaks throughout the country. The descent will take about 3-4 hours before loading the truck and beginning our drive to town and a hot meal.

CLIMBING ITINERARY ENDS

Day 11: After breakfast we will make the drive back to Quito. Evening flights home can be made or you may choose to stay another night. Overnight accommodations are not included.

What To Wear

PLEASE BRING THESE ITEMS WITH YOU FROM HOME

When selecting clothing for your adventure, think layers. Choose synthetic materials, wool, or fleece.

 

Please Bring the Following Items.

Guides Pick
[  ] Base Layer Top and Bottom: Long-sleeve wool or synthetic top will be used as your base layer. Zip-neck styles will allow for better temperature regulation. Patagonia Capilene Men's
Patagonia Capilene Women's
[  ] Socks Wool or Synthetic Smartwool Mountaineer

Snow pants will suffice instead of soft shell climbing pants and if you have insulating layers and jackets we recommend that you bring them. There will be time to sort through what you should bring and what you leave behind.

 

Mandatory Gear List

RENTALS AVAILABLE AT CLIMBINGRENTALS.COM

Most of the required equipment [listed below] is available for rent from our affiliate mtnGEAR.
NEM climbers will receive an exclusive discount of 20% discount on all rental equipment and clothing.

 

Mandatory Items

Guides Pick
[  ] Pack with Waist Strap: A 30-40L pack is the recommended size for one day climbs. Your pack MUST have a waist strap. A backpack will not suffice. Patagonia Ascensionist Daypack 35L
[  ] Crampons: 10-12 point adjustable crampons designed for mountaineering Black Diamond Contact Clip
[  ] Ice Axe: An ice axe designed for general mountaineering. Black Diamond Raven
[  ] Helmet: A lightweight climbing helmet. Black Diamond Half Dome
[  ] Warm Hat: Wool or synthetic. It should be warm and thin enough to fit underneath a climbing helmet. Outdoor Research Gradient
[  ] Buff/Neck Gaiter: Buff makes the best option. Buff
[  ] Ball Hat/Sun Hat: Optional. A lightweight ball cap or sun hat.
[  ] Sun Glasses: A pair of dark-lensed sunglasses with side shields or full wrap-type sunglasses. Julbo Dolman
[  ] Lightweight glove: One pair of fleece gloves. OR PL Sensor
[  ] Medium Weight Glove: Wind/water resistant insulated mountain gloves. OR Alpine Alibi II
[  ] Heavy Insulated Mitten: Wind/water resistant, insulated mittens for protection against wind, snow and cold. These also serve as emergency back-ups if you drop or lose a glove. Marmot Expedition Mitts
[  ] Light Insulating Layer/Soft Shell Top: A fleece or other insulation layer. Patagonia R1 Pullover
[  ]Hard Shell Jacket with Hood: Wind/rain Proof. Gore-Tex recommended. OR Maximus
[  ] Insulated Parka: This item becomes of highest importance when we are faced with poor weather. This should be an expeditionary-type heavy parka that extends well below the waist and above the knees. Goose down is recommended versus synthetic fill. It does not have to be waterproof, but that is a nice feature. The parka is worn primarily at rest breaks on summit day and as an emergency garment if needed. When sizing a parka, allow for several layers to be worn underneath; buy it large. The parka must have an insulated hood. OR Incandescent Hooded
[  ] Climbing Pants: Synthetic climbing pants offer a wide range of versatility. You can wear them alone on hot days, or in combination with the base layer on cold days. The thickness (insulation quality) should be based on how well you do in the cold. For most of our adventures snow pants will suffice. OR Ferrosi Men's

OR Ferrosi Women's
[  ] Hard Shell Pants: A pant made of breathable rain and wind-proof material will be needed. Full-length side zippers are required for facilitating quick clothing adjustments over boots and crampons in cold, inclement weather. Marmot Precip Full Zip
[  ] Mountaineering Boots: Insulated double leather boots are the preferred choice for winter mountaineering. They provide the best insulation as well as a more rigid sole for kicking steps and holding crampons. Lightweight hiking boots without insulation are not acceptable as they don’t work well with crampons, or in very cold or wet weather. La Sportiva G2 SM
[  ] Gaiters: A knee-length pair of gaiters, large enough to fit over your mountaineering boots. This will protect you from catching your crampons on loose clothing. OR Expedition Crocs

 

Nutrition & Hydration

Nutrition

It is important to continuously take in calories throughout the day. Every break you should eat a snack during the short 10 to 15 minute rest. Food is the wood to your fire and to keep it stoked it needs constant replenishing. Do not plan on cooking or preparing your snacks in the field. All food should be prepared and packed ready for immediate consumption.
We suggest crackers, pizza, candy bars, jerky, chips, cookies, trail mix, fruits, Gu, energy bars, and hard candies. Add peanut butter, cream cheese, hard cheese, or pepperoni for additional calories and taste. If you enjoy bread items, bagels work well. Include some salty snacks to replenish lost salts.

Hydration

To help prevent cramping and heat related injuries, you will need at least 2 liters of water per day. Water is preferred, but other liquids such as gatorade help replace electrolytes and work well, too! Hydration bladders do not work as they freeze during the winter months. Please leave these at home. Instead, bring 32oz. Wide Mouth Nalgene bottles and insulating parkas if you have them. If not, you can use a sock to insulate each water bottle.

FAQ's

Please read through the following frequently asked questions and answers. These will help you prepare for your trip and get a better understanding of what to expect.

Coming soon. Check back often.

 

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General Policies

GENERAL POLICIES

NEMs Adventure itineraries are subject to change or be adjusted based on a number of factors. These include, but are not limited to, route conditions, weather, terrain, group dynamics and many other factors. NEM has complete discretion to change plans to accommodate any of these or other factors, including the discretion to change program schedule or itinerary, and change guides or staff, as necessary for the proper and safe conduct of the program. We reserve the right to cancel any program due to inadequate signups, weather or route conditions. In such a case, an NEM credit for the full value is given; however, NEM cannot be responsible for any additional expenses incurred in preparing for the program (i.e., airline tickets, equipment purchase or rental, hotel reservations). NEM reserves the right to dismiss the Participant from a trip at any time if NEM determines, in its sole discretion, that the Participant is not physically, technically, or psychologically prepared for or capable of participating in the program. This includes being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

SUMMIT ATTEMPT

Northeast Mountaineering cannot guarantee that you will reach the summit or complete the objective you have signed up for. Weather, route conditions, your own abilities or the abilities of others may create circumstances that make an ascent unsafe, and you or your entire party will have to turn around without reaching the summit. Your program fee entitles you to one mountain experience on your specified dates.

MINIMUM REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

Most of our programs do not have a minimum enrollment. If you are the only one registered, it will likely become a private outing. For our Waterfall Rappelling adventure, we must have at least 50% enrollment (3 people) to run the adventure. In the event of low-enrollment, we will reschedule your adventure to another date. If another date cannot be accommodated, you will receive an NEM credit.

RISK MANAGEMENT

Safety is NEM’s number one priority. Our guides manage significant hazards inherent in the mountains but they cannot eliminate them. NEM guides draw from their wealth of experience and training to make sound decisions that maximize your experience without compromising the necessary margin of safety. Please clearly understand that mountaineering and all other mountain adventures are inherently hazardous sports. You are choosing to engage in an activity in which participants have been injured and killed. While those accidents are indeed infrequent, they may occur at any time and be out of our control. We ask that participants acknowledge the risk and hazards of these sports, and make their own choices about whether or not to engage in these activities.

NEW ENGLAND ADVENTURES

Payment in full is due at the time of booking. Payments may be made via MasterCard, Visa, American Express, or check.

BEYOND NEW ENGLAND INCLUDING MOUNT RAINIER

A non-refundable deposit of $200 per person secures your reservation but may vary - please check your specific adventure. Payments may be made via MasterCard, Visa, American Express, or check. Final payment is due 1 month [30 days] before departure. For your convenience, we can work out a monthly payment plan.

INTERNATIONAL ADVENTURES

A non-refundable deposit of $200 per person secures your reservation but may vary - please check your specific adventure. Payments may be made via MasterCard, Visa, American Express, or check. Final payment is due 1 month [30 days] before departure. For your convenience, we can work out a monthly payment plan.

CANCELLATION FOR NEW ENGLAND PROGRAMS

Up to 30 days before your adventure: Full Refund will be issued 29 days - 72 hours before your adventure: Full Refund in the form of NEM credit Within 72 hours of your adventure: No refund will be issued* In the event that you have a positive COVID-19 test and need to cancel within 72 hours, you will be issued an NEM credit for your adventure.

CANCELLATION FOR INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS & OUTSIDE OF NEW ENGLAND

Up to 90 days before your adventure: Full Refund will be issued 89 days - 30 days before your adventure: Participant will be responsible for paying 50% of the total balance. If the balance is paid in full, participant will receive a 50% refund in the form of NEM credit. Within 30 days of your adventure: No refund will be issued and participant will be responsible for paying the full balance.* *Travel Insurance is highly recommended to protect your investment. If NEM cancels your adventure due to weather or another unforeseen reason, you will receive an NEM credit.

CHANGE OF DATE

Date changes are subject to availability. Date changes may be requested at anytime up to 7 days prior to your adventure without incurring a date change fee. Date changes may be requested between 7 and 3 days prior to your departure date for a $25 fee per person. There are no date changes allowed within 72 hours before your adventure.

COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS

In the event your guide or a fellow NEM guide or staff has reason to believe they have been exposed to COVID-19 or they are otherwise feeling unwell they will attempt to get a COVID test in time for your adventure or course. In the event of a positive test or the absence of results,  your course or adventure will be rescheduled or you can opt for an NEM credit to use at your discretion. Refunds for travel, lodging or other costs associated with your adventure will not be refunded or reimbursed.