Vivyenne - Nov 18, 2013 11:22 am Date Climbed: Nov 17, 2013
Perfect conditions
It seems like all of Ecuador decided to climb Cayambe this weekend; the refugio was full to bursting with at least three large teams of about 16 people. Weather was perfect: full moon, no clouds, no wind, and rather warm. We left at 1am after the big rush (everyone else started at midnight), passed a few teams who later turned back, and the entire journey without headlamps due to the bright moon. We fell through the show crust around Picos Jarrin but otherwise had great snow conditions. We summited at 7 just as everyone else was descending, spectacular views of Antisana and Cotopaxi, and had time to go to the Cumbre Oriental before heading down. Descent was trickier because some of the snowpack started melting, with some weaker snow bridges over the crevasses and somewhat slushy conditions, but we made it down well enough.
mtvalley - Jun 25, 2013 4:33 pm Date Climbed: Jun 12, 2013
Second Summit
Second summit, route was a little different this year. Three big crevasses low on the glacier and steeper up top.
damgaard - May 4, 2013 11:32 am Date Climbed: Apr 6, 2013
Awesome
Cloudless night and not much wind. Perfect conditions. Reached the top with Simon West and our guide Eddison shortly after sunrise. Not a cloud around and the most amazing view of 10+ volcanoes.
jm141302 - Apr 3, 2013 3:51 pm Date Climbed: Mar 23, 2013
Not this time
Paid $23 a night at the refuge. We had fairly good weather, but it had been snowing for several days before we got there. Starting from the glacier we were walking in fog. We got about 2/3 of the way up, where it starts to get steep and our guide said we were going to cause an avalanche if we kept going, so we turned back. I've been with this guide to the summit of 3 other high peaks so I trust his opinion and didn't think he was just being lazy. The wind was also picking up and blowing around the fresh snow, making visibility pretty low. Maybe some other time.
Cissa - Jan 10, 2013 4:51 pm Date Climbed: Jan 4, 2013
Terrible weather
Stuck in the hut for 3 days due to heavy rain and very strong winds. Soaked in less then 5 minutes.
Socorro - Dec 20, 2012 5:54 pm Date Climbed: Dec 20, 2012
Beautiful mountain
Was up in the refuge for three nights... much too long for good rest. I had a guided climb the second night but just up to La ventana in the rocks, we found ourselves in too much static, plus the pressue was dropping pretty quickly. Visibility was horrible in the rocks from heavy fog and descending in the wetness wasn´t too fun. I was pretty sad from seeing the mountain experience a perfect last week. Then the guide that also happened to be in the refuge offered to take me up so long as his client was ok with it. So suddenly had another chance... waited all day as the mountain stayed socked in, feeling doubtful and wondering if it was worth spending another miserable night at the hut. 1 a.m. was gorgeous though - almost totally clear but still warmish. Sleepless nights got to me and I did slow down my teammates who obviously were much stronger, but their love of sharing the mountains and generousity was profound as was their patience. It wasn´t a super slow morning but we got to the top at about 8 a.m. Apparently the route accessing the top changed about a month ago and now the best way is zigzagging up a ramp of steep snow (protection good) around huge, shockingly beautiful ice walls. Got a windy summit but saw Reventador erupting, plus Tungurahua erupting far off in the distance. Chimborazo, Antisana, Cotopaxi, Sumaco, Illinizas, El Corazon, Imbabura, Cotacachi... all poking above scattered clouds. Encountered only a few crevasses all deep but with narrow crossings. Nice snow. Felt not fantastic coming down.
mtvalley - Feb 5, 2012 1:55 pm Date Climbed: Jan 11, 2012
Normal Route
Summitted with a group of three other climbing partners and two local guides. The climbing is steeper and more sustained than Cotopaxi. The summit was windy but great views for the few minutes we spent there.
WDW4 - Jan 9, 2012 9:57 am Date Climbed: Jan 5, 2012
Reached 5,600 meters
Left from the Refugio around midnight with a large group, started snowing around 4 am, made it to 5,600 around dawn before being turned back by a combo of low visibility and crevasses.
lutty11 - Dec 28, 2011 10:47 pm Date Climbed: Nov 17, 2010
Normal Route
One of the best days climbing. Fresh/wet/sketchy snow early on, proved to become much more stable as we ascended. Could have used one more acclimation day!
karore - Oct 8, 2011 11:36 am Date Climbed: Jan 4, 2011
Normal Rute
Straight climb but it was cloudy so we didn't get to see much.
noahs213 - Nov 7, 2010 4:01 pm Date Climbed: Nov 5, 2010
Great
Straightforward. Final crevasse was not bad but everyone turned around even the American guides.
russmeehan - Aug 5, 2010 11:06 am Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2010
Normal Route
Camped below glacier (no fee). Left at 1:38 am. and made the top at 6:50 am. Had to zig zag through crevasses near top and set up a belay for a steep snow wall (about 1 to 2 body lengths of 90 degrees). A snow stake would be helpful and some wands since most groups turn around below the big crevasse.
Epica - Sep 22, 2009 12:32 am Date Climbed: Oct 27, 2008
One of the best days of my life!
Started out around midnight from the refuge, but the lack of acclimatization finally caught up with me and didn't make it to the top. I still loved being on that mountain and will be back one day, with much more time to enjoy!
Shirley Lam - Aug 18, 2009 3:25 pm Date Climbed: Jan 29, 2009
Thank goodness...
I was still getting over some pretty bad stomach problems, so it was nice that mother nature had a little pity for me and gave us great weather and snow conditions!
bighornmonkey - Feb 2, 2009 5:19 pm Date Climbed: Jan 29, 2009
Awesome conditions
Clear/windless night made the summit push a breeze especially since we were well acclimated having climbed Chimborazo and Cotopaxi a few days before. Great view over a sea of cloud from the top.
Bill Kish - Jan 26, 2009 10:46 am Date Climbed: Jan 15, 2009
Normal Route
Wet weather left a lot of new snow on the mountain. We turned around at 5100m due to unstable snow conditions.
After a long, lousy winter here we got lucky and had good conditions under a full moon. With a lot of new snow, we were concerned about conditions. It was a bit soft at the base of the glacier but firmed up quickly and we had nearly perfect conditions. A narrow bridge over a crevasse near the summit presented the only real challenge beyond the altitude - smooth sailing to a frigid summit with fantastic views all the way to Chimborazo.
We spent the night at the plateau above the refuge. While we were concerned about leaving our tents and gear, we were alone on the mountain and back in time to beat the first day hikers up to the plateau.
kommish - Jan 31, 2008 6:46 pm Date Climbed: Jan 16, 2008
Normal Route
Great views, was a wonderful sunrise.
Hotfeet - Jan 21, 2008 8:44 pm Date Climbed: Jan 19, 2008
Standard route
A very long and worthwhiole climb. Beautiful mountain. Very windy.
lefty - Jan 16, 2008 1:16 am Date Climbed: Jan 9, 2008
Normal Route
This was a very enjoyable and relatively easy climb. The slope is much less steep than Cotopaxi, except near the top. It was a clear and windless night with nice snow conditons. We had to downclimb into the Bergshrund near the top and use two tools to climb back out of it on the way down. Some groups managed to get around it on the left side.
Vivyenne - Nov 18, 2013 11:22 am Date Climbed: Nov 17, 2013
Perfect conditionsIt seems like all of Ecuador decided to climb Cayambe this weekend; the refugio was full to bursting with at least three large teams of about 16 people. Weather was perfect: full moon, no clouds, no wind, and rather warm. We left at 1am after the big rush (everyone else started at midnight), passed a few teams who later turned back, and the entire journey without headlamps due to the bright moon. We fell through the show crust around Picos Jarrin but otherwise had great snow conditions. We summited at 7 just as everyone else was descending, spectacular views of Antisana and Cotopaxi, and had time to go to the Cumbre Oriental before heading down. Descent was trickier because some of the snowpack started melting, with some weaker snow bridges over the crevasses and somewhat slushy conditions, but we made it down well enough.
mtvalley - Jun 25, 2013 4:33 pm Date Climbed: Jun 12, 2013
Second SummitSecond summit, route was a little different this year. Three big crevasses low on the glacier and steeper up top.
damgaard - May 4, 2013 11:32 am Date Climbed: Apr 6, 2013
AwesomeCloudless night and not much wind. Perfect conditions. Reached the top with Simon West and our guide Eddison shortly after sunrise. Not a cloud around and the most amazing view of 10+ volcanoes.
jm141302 - Apr 3, 2013 3:51 pm Date Climbed: Mar 23, 2013
Not this timePaid $23 a night at the refuge. We had fairly good weather, but it had been snowing for several days before we got there. Starting from the glacier we were walking in fog. We got about 2/3 of the way up, where it starts to get steep and our guide said we were going to cause an avalanche if we kept going, so we turned back. I've been with this guide to the summit of 3 other high peaks so I trust his opinion and didn't think he was just being lazy. The wind was also picking up and blowing around the fresh snow, making visibility pretty low. Maybe some other time.
Cissa - Jan 10, 2013 4:51 pm Date Climbed: Jan 4, 2013
Terrible weatherStuck in the hut for 3 days due to heavy rain and very strong winds. Soaked in less then 5 minutes.
Socorro - Dec 20, 2012 5:54 pm Date Climbed: Dec 20, 2012
Beautiful mountainWas up in the refuge for three nights... much too long for good rest. I had a guided climb the second night but just up to La ventana in the rocks, we found ourselves in too much static, plus the pressue was dropping pretty quickly. Visibility was horrible in the rocks from heavy fog and descending in the wetness wasn´t too fun. I was pretty sad from seeing the mountain experience a perfect last week. Then the guide that also happened to be in the refuge offered to take me up so long as his client was ok with it. So suddenly had another chance... waited all day as the mountain stayed socked in, feeling doubtful and wondering if it was worth spending another miserable night at the hut. 1 a.m. was gorgeous though - almost totally clear but still warmish. Sleepless nights got to me and I did slow down my teammates who obviously were much stronger, but their love of sharing the mountains and generousity was profound as was their patience. It wasn´t a super slow morning but we got to the top at about 8 a.m. Apparently the route accessing the top changed about a month ago and now the best way is zigzagging up a ramp of steep snow (protection good) around huge, shockingly beautiful ice walls. Got a windy summit but saw Reventador erupting, plus Tungurahua erupting far off in the distance. Chimborazo, Antisana, Cotopaxi, Sumaco, Illinizas, El Corazon, Imbabura, Cotacachi... all poking above scattered clouds. Encountered only a few crevasses all deep but with narrow crossings. Nice snow. Felt not fantastic coming down.
mtvalley - Feb 5, 2012 1:55 pm Date Climbed: Jan 11, 2012
Normal RouteSummitted with a group of three other climbing partners and two local guides. The climbing is steeper and more sustained than Cotopaxi. The summit was windy but great views for the few minutes we spent there.
WDW4 - Jan 9, 2012 9:57 am Date Climbed: Jan 5, 2012
Reached 5,600 metersLeft from the Refugio around midnight with a large group, started snowing around 4 am, made it to 5,600 around dawn before being turned back by a combo of low visibility and crevasses.
lutty11 - Dec 28, 2011 10:47 pm Date Climbed: Nov 17, 2010
Normal RouteOne of the best days climbing. Fresh/wet/sketchy snow early on, proved to become much more stable as we ascended. Could have used one more acclimation day!
karore - Oct 8, 2011 11:36 am Date Climbed: Jan 4, 2011
Normal RuteStraight climb but it was cloudy so we didn't get to see much.
noahs213 - Nov 7, 2010 4:01 pm Date Climbed: Nov 5, 2010
GreatStraightforward. Final crevasse was not bad but everyone turned around even the American guides.
russmeehan - Aug 5, 2010 11:06 am Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2010
Normal RouteCamped below glacier (no fee). Left at 1:38 am. and made the top at 6:50 am. Had to zig zag through crevasses near top and set up a belay for a steep snow wall (about 1 to 2 body lengths of 90 degrees). A snow stake would be helpful and some wands since most groups turn around below the big crevasse.
Epica - Sep 22, 2009 12:32 am Date Climbed: Oct 27, 2008
One of the best days of my life!Started out around midnight from the refuge, but the lack of acclimatization finally caught up with me and didn't make it to the top. I still loved being on that mountain and will be back one day, with much more time to enjoy!
Shirley Lam - Aug 18, 2009 3:25 pm Date Climbed: Jan 29, 2009
Thank goodness...I was still getting over some pretty bad stomach problems, so it was nice that mother nature had a little pity for me and gave us great weather and snow conditions!
bighornmonkey - Feb 2, 2009 5:19 pm Date Climbed: Jan 29, 2009
Awesome conditionsClear/windless night made the summit push a breeze especially since we were well acclimated having climbed Chimborazo and Cotopaxi a few days before. Great view over a sea of cloud from the top.
Bill Kish - Jan 26, 2009 10:46 am Date Climbed: Jan 15, 2009
Normal RouteWet weather left a lot of new snow on the mountain. We turned around at 5100m due to unstable snow conditions.
0302Explorer - Apr 24, 2008 10:57 pm Date Climbed: Apr 20, 2008
Normal RouteAfter a long, lousy winter here we got lucky and had good conditions under a full moon. With a lot of new snow, we were concerned about conditions. It was a bit soft at the base of the glacier but firmed up quickly and we had nearly perfect conditions. A narrow bridge over a crevasse near the summit presented the only real challenge beyond the altitude - smooth sailing to a frigid summit with fantastic views all the way to Chimborazo.
We spent the night at the plateau above the refuge. While we were concerned about leaving our tents and gear, we were alone on the mountain and back in time to beat the first day hikers up to the plateau.
kommish - Jan 31, 2008 6:46 pm Date Climbed: Jan 16, 2008
Normal RouteGreat views, was a wonderful sunrise.
Hotfeet - Jan 21, 2008 8:44 pm Date Climbed: Jan 19, 2008
Standard routeA very long and worthwhiole climb. Beautiful mountain. Very windy.
lefty - Jan 16, 2008 1:16 am Date Climbed: Jan 9, 2008
Normal RouteThis was a very enjoyable and relatively easy climb. The slope is much less steep than Cotopaxi, except near the top. It was a clear and windless night with nice snow conditons. We had to downclimb into the Bergshrund near the top and use two tools to climb back out of it on the way down. Some groups managed to get around it on the left side.