Trip Report 07/27/2009

Peak(s):	Rucu Pichincha - 15413
Date Posted:	07/27/2009
Modified:	07/29/2009
Date Climbed:	07/03/2009
Author:	doumall

Ecuador 2009: Rucu Pichincha Direct
Ecuador 2009 June 20th - July 5th I wondered what it would be like to drive along the high volcano studded Pan American Highway. After heading as far south as Rio Bamba and then back again to Quito, we had a good feeling for the mountains of Ecuador. As we rode the Teleferiqo toward Rucu Pichincha, it was clear putting this mountain at the end of the trip was a fantastic way to wrap up to the climbing. Itinerary June 20th - Arrive in Quito (~9000') June 21st - Bus to El Chaupi (~11,000') June 22nd - Approach to Refugio Nuevos Horizontes (~15,600') June 23rd - Summit Illiniza Norte (16,818') June 24th - Summit Illiniza Sur (17,267') June 25th - Approach to Refugio Jose F. Rivas (~15,800') June 26th - Summit Cotopaxi (19,347') June 27th - Rest Day in Rio Bamba (~8,500') June 28th - Approach to Chimborazo Refugio (16,400') June 29th - Summit Attempt Chimborazo (18,900' highpoint) June 30th - Summit Attempt Chimborazo (17,100' highpoint) July 1st - Baños - hot springs and beer July 2nd - Baños - see above July 3rd - Quito - sights and Rucu Pichincha summit (15,413') July 4th - Otavalo - markets July 5th - Arrive in Denver - work We brought a lightweight 30 m rando rope, useful for glacial travel and perfect for an easy rock climb in the area. The ridge direct route on Rucu is well traveled and for good reason. There are several brief sections of interesting climbing, ample horns for easy protection (no need for rock hardware, just use your glacier gear slings), it puts you in a great position to view Quito far below and also avoids the crowded standard route. The paramo on the way up to the ridge is dominated by evenly spaced grass tufts. The shrouded ridge begs the question: What's ahead? A very well traveled trail rises slowly up a shoulder. The trail splits just as the ridge rises into a fin, so we took the left to stay on the ridge top. The first section of climbing appears shortly, easy slab to checkerboard climbing then blocky ridge (5.2). More of the same, for the next several hundred feet. The route holds ample graffiti, including tributes to fallen climbers. A slightly more difficult section of climbing eventually bars easy passage. There are at least 3 routes up this tower's small face. Without any rock gear, we opted for the left, the easy way. Head behind a block to climbers left then up a low angle dihedral to large blocks (5.4?). We topped out on a false summit, and with no view of the remaining ridgeline, assumed it was the summit. Realizing our mistake during our attempt to find the standard route, we continued along the remaining and now very sharp ridge crest. Ecuador above 15k A 5.0 class down climb leads to a 2 foot wide catwalk for 20 feet. Bonus! Turn a small corner (5.4) at the end of the catwalk and surmount a tower. Down climb the backside and follow easy loose terrain to a broad summit. Debbie on the Catwalk: A better look at the crux: The standard route on the way down had some amazing plant life and we even saw the Ecuadorian Rabbit, somewhat like a mix of pika (also rabbit family) and our common rabbit. More Graffi: Raptors flew about in spades. More paramo shots... We had become accustomed to the fog, a nice walk in the clouds. However, the rain and thunder on the trip down had us running, and I don't like running. Chimborazo TR: http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=6739 Illiniza Group TR: http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=6676 Cotopaxi TR: http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=6702 Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Ecuador 2009: Rucu Pichincha Direct

Ecuador 2009
June 20th - July 5th

I wondered what it would be like to drive along the high volcano studded Pan American Highway. After heading as far south as Rio Bamba and then back again to Quito, we had a good feeling for the mountains of Ecuador. As we rode the Teleferiqo toward Rucu Pichincha, it was clear putting this mountain at the end of the trip was a fantastic way to wrap up to the climbing.

Itinerary
June 20th - Arrive in Quito (~9000')
June 21st - Bus to El Chaupi (~11,000')
June 22nd - Approach to Refugio Nuevos Horizontes (~15,600')
June 23rd - Summit Illiniza Norte (16,818')
June 24th - Summit Illiniza Sur (17,267')
June 25th - Approach to Refugio Jose F. Rivas (~15,800')
June 26th - Summit Cotopaxi (19,347')
June 27th - Rest Day in Rio Bamba (~8,500')
June 28th - Approach to Chimborazo Refugio (16,400')
June 29th - Summit Attempt Chimborazo (18,900' highpoint)
June 30th - Summit Attempt Chimborazo (17,100' highpoint)
July 1st - Baños - hot springs and beer
July 2nd - Baños - see above
July 3rd - Quito - sights and Rucu Pichincha summit (15,413')
July 4th - Otavalo - markets
July 5th - Arrive in Denver - work

We brought a lightweight 30 m rando rope, useful for glacial travel and perfect for an easy rock climb in the area. The ridge direct route on Rucu is well traveled and for good reason. There are several brief sections of interesting climbing, ample horns for easy protection (no need for rock hardware, just use your glacier gear slings), it puts you in a great position to view Quito far below and also avoids the crowded standard route.

The paramo on the way up to the ridge is dominated by evenly spaced grass tufts.

The shrouded ridge begs the question: What's ahead?

A very well traveled trail rises slowly up a shoulder. The trail splits just as the ridge rises into a fin, so we took the left to stay on the ridge top.

The first section of climbing appears shortly, easy slab to checkerboard climbing then blocky ridge (5.2).

More of the same, for the next several hundred feet.

The route holds ample graffiti, including tributes to fallen climbers. A slightly more difficult section of climbing eventually bars easy passage.

There are at least 3 routes up this tower's small face. Without any rock gear, we opted for the left, the easy way. Head behind a block to climbers left then up a low angle dihedral to large blocks (5.4?). We topped out on a false summit, and with no view of the remaining ridgeline, assumed it was the summit. Realizing our mistake during our attempt to find the standard route, we continued along the remaining and now very sharp ridge crest.

Ecuador above 15k

A 5.0 class down climb leads to a 2 foot wide catwalk for 20 feet. Bonus! Turn a small corner (5.4) at the end of the catwalk and surmount a tower. Down climb the backside and follow easy loose terrain to a broad summit.

Debbie on the Catwalk:

A better look at the crux:

The standard route on the way down had some amazing plant life and we even saw the Ecuadorian Rabbit, somewhat like a mix of pika (also rabbit family) and our common rabbit. More Graffi:

Raptors flew about in spades. More paramo shots...

We had become accustomed to the fog, a nice walk in the clouds. However, the rain and thunder on the trip down had us running, and I don't like running.

Chimborazo TR: http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=6739

Illiniza Group TR: http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=6676

Cotopaxi TR: http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=6702

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

kimo	Another enjoyable TR 07/28/2009 19:36 I love that paramo photos - very interesting plants. Congratulations on the summits. That looks like a fantastic trip to a very unique part of the world. Where‘s the trip report for Cotopaxi? Did I miss something?
d_baker	nice 07/29/2009 01:48 I like the shots of the vegetation! Sounds like a pretty cool trip you two had. But why didn‘t you have any rock gear on the route? (Just curious.)
doumall	No gear 07/29/2009 02:48 Didn‘t want to carry it all around Ecuador for a single pitch of 5.4 We just slung the ample horns, this is sufficient.
doumall	Hey Kimo 07/29/2009 14:36 Glad you enjoyed the reports. I have yet to put up the Cotopaxi/Chimborazo TR, Im waiting for the time to do it. Edit: the cotopaxi one is up, use the link at the end of the report
hippitahoppita	Very Nice 07/31/2009 03:30 I‘m still not convinced there aren‘t any delicious tacos to be had, you guy‘s didn‘t look hard enough. Nice TR‘s, you and debbie are pretty cool.
DebbiesMOM	Vegetation 08/07/2009 21:54 Super shots and could be made into postcards I think! LOL....thanks for the updates on all your trips Joe.

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