Boriss Andean - Nov 26, 2009 2:49 pm Date Climbed: Nov 25, 2009
Route climbed: La Esperanza - Standard Route
Climbed with Andreea (ROM) from the casa "Refugio Imbabura". We spent the night there and started early at 4:45 am. Great weather during the approaching to the ridge, then it turned foggy and windy.
Got to the summit at 9;45 am after 5 hours of climbing. Nice being up there with Andreea, my climbing partner during the last 5 months.
Got back to the town of La Esperanza by foot by early afternoon.
andreeacorodeanu - Nov 26, 2009 1:59 pm Date Climbed: Nov 25, 2009
Route climbed: La Esperanza - Standard Route
Boriss (ECU) and I started our climb at 4:45 am. We spent the night at the trailhead (house at the end of the road). A beautiful mountain with strange rock formations. The weather changed a couple meters below the summit, it got foggy and windy at times.
Love this mountain... like all of the Ecuadorian mountains!
Epica - Nov 10, 2009 4:03 pm Date Climbed: Oct 25, 2009
Happy to be back in Ecuador!
First of several acclimatization hikes planned....
Boriss Andean - Aug 6, 2009 1:38 pm Date Climbed: Jul 24, 2009
Route Climbed: La Esperanza - Standard Route
Climbed with 22 English boys and girls. We started at 7:30 am from La Esperanza trailhead.
All of us summited including the other 3 ecuadorian guides. It took us 8 hours RT. It was a foggy and windy day.
A nice experience for all of us after expending 8 days sitting on our bikes thoughout northern Ecuador.
JGHarrison - Feb 1, 2009 5:07 pm Date Climbed: Jan 31, 2009
Normal Route
Great weather in the morning. Clouds on top. Nice scrambling, a bit chilly. Took 4 hours round trip with lots of breaks. Found a water tap just downhill from the rain collection station-looks to be used to water horses and worked for us!
pattycoloma - Jan 15, 2009 2:46 pm Date Climbed: Oct 18, 2008
Imbabura: La Esperanza - Standard Route
I enjoyed so much this climb, because of the beautiful scenary but most of all the people I knew in that trail: my friends Mónica and Paúl.
cp0915 - Jan 4, 2009 4:17 pm Date Climbed: Dec 26, 2008
Standard
With Andy Mac the day after bagging beautiful Fuya Fuya with Andy and DB.
6.5 hours car-to-car, which is pretty good when you consider the route having 5,300 feet of gain and visibility low enough that we never really saw the mountain (except for the occasional briefest of moments).
I should add that there's only a single class 4 move on the route to the true summit, with the rest of the route being class 1-2 (and maybe a single move of class 3 here and there). A guided group also on the mountain stopped at the false summit, as the traverse to the highpoint appears burly (though it's not nearly as bad as it looks).
***Beware of a nasty, loose and overhung, blind portion of ridge 50 feet before the true summit. If one is not paying attention and stays on the crest here, the ridge could topple. Fortunately, one can easily drop 10 feet down the left side of the crest here and avoid the overhung portion...but you gotta know it's there.
Boriss Andean - Oct 25, 2008 10:35 pm Date Climbed: Oct 25, 2008
Route Climbed: La Esperanza - Standard Route
Last time I climbed Imbabura was more than 9 years ago with Andrea. We climbed it by the western side. This time I climbed with Bernd (GER) from the eastern side (La Esperanza).
We started at 7:30 am from the trailhead. A very slow ascent up to the north summit. We made it after 5 and a half hours of constant hike. The weather was great at the begining but it got cloudy near the top. It took us 3 hours to get back to the trailhead.
I could see the highest summit from the northern summit for a few seconds. I really want to climb it up again from the western side (Lago San Pablo).
barryg - Sep 10, 2008 6:09 pm Date Climbed: Jun 2, 2008
Reached the first summit
We stayed in Casa Aida in La Esperanza, took a lift to the trailhead and set off at 7am. Beautiful weather to start (we could clearly see Volcan Cayembe in the distance), but the clouds were all around us before we reached the top. Got as far as the first summit, but stopped because of rain and heavy clouds.
simonzster - Mar 15, 2008 10:42 am Date Climbed: Jan 12, 2008
Clouds
By the way, even living next to this mountain, I have almost never seen the summit, only a few times. It´s always way too cloudy.
The first time I went I went with a friend of mine from Estonia, and we had no idea what we had got ourselves into. We went to the second summit without ropes or helmets, and we had socks on our hands because we didn't have gloves.
simonzster - Mar 15, 2008 10:36 am Date Climbed: Jan 12, 2008
I love this mountain!
Ya, that climb is awesome. I´m an exchange student from the US living in Ibarra, and Imbabura just towers over the town. I've since gone back and climbed it a second time. The second summit really does take a bit of scrambling to get to. My organization doesn't let me climb, so Imbabura being so close is one of the only mountains I can sneak up on and climb.
Boriss Andean - Sep 20, 2007 1:00 am Date Climbed: Mar 13, 2000
Route Climbed: Ascent from Lago San Pablo (San Pablo del Lago town), descent to the town of La Esperanza. (Direct Route)
Andrea and I started climbing Imbabura from the town of San Pablo del Lago. A short part of the hike was through muddy steep terrain, sometimes crossing private farmlands then on grass until getting to the base of the summit where we set up our small tent. I tried to climb straight up to the top next morning but an overhanging loose rock wall and a very exposed cliff stopped me for making it.
We both went back to Imbabura 7 days later to give it another try. After an early start from the base of the summit we made it together.
Visibility was zero at the top, but being up there together, above the clouds, was the beginning of countless adventures on the high mountains of the ecuadorian Andes.
. Andrea Ruiz (1977-2007)
Daniel Klassen - Feb 9, 2007 8:30 pm Date Climbed: Feb 3, 2007
Meehan Route
Very steep hike with a 5000 ft vertical ascent. Once at the rock, we put helmets on. The rock was very loose. The last half hour to the summit, we stayed very close because of the large rocks we were dislodging.
Outdoorpartner - Dec 20, 2006 3:44 am Date Climbed: Dec 7, 2006
Muddy descent
We roped up for the last hour of the climb. It rained for hours, making the trail a muddy, slippery, gooey mess on the way back down. Even with trekking poles, everyone managed to fall at least once. We were all a muddy mess when we returned to the trail head!
emilie - Feb 23, 2006 3:50 am Date Climbed: Jan 10, 2006
Standard route
Long tough hike to acclimatize for Cayambe, Cotopaxi, and Chimborazo. Was cloudy but not stormy and we were suprised to hear lightening at the top. Started a fast desparate scramble down and it started to hail on us. We all got down safely but needless to say was an exciting descent.
Started at Hacienda Cusine, went through town and up the flanks of the lower ajoining peak.(left peak in main photo) On the lower flanks, the town, dense sections of trees, and farms you have to go through are a bit confusing, took us longer than expected. Once above the town, farms, and forest, we had a steep, long hike through the grass with lots of wind. No water anywhere up high to be found (wish we had brought more). My father and I had to turn around a little early, somewhere in the 14000 to 15000 ft range due to incoming weather and lack of time.....get an early start.
a nice acclimitization climb for the other ecuadorian big dawgs. you know you got to stay at "artesanias de la esperanza a.k.a. casa aida" in town - talk about old school! great city, great people, great views, great climb - despite the occasional fridge size behmoth that your climbing partners send your way. Fresh.
Boriss Andean - Nov 26, 2009 2:49 pm Date Climbed: Nov 25, 2009
Route climbed: La Esperanza - Standard RouteClimbed with Andreea (ROM) from the casa "Refugio Imbabura". We spent the night there and started early at 4:45 am. Great weather during the approaching to the ridge, then it turned foggy and windy.
Got to the summit at 9;45 am after 5 hours of climbing. Nice being up there with Andreea, my climbing partner during the last 5 months.
Got back to the town of La Esperanza by foot by early afternoon.
andreeacorodeanu - Nov 26, 2009 1:59 pm Date Climbed: Nov 25, 2009
Route climbed: La Esperanza - Standard RouteBoriss (ECU) and I started our climb at 4:45 am. We spent the night at the trailhead (house at the end of the road). A beautiful mountain with strange rock formations. The weather changed a couple meters below the summit, it got foggy and windy at times.
Love this mountain... like all of the Ecuadorian mountains!
Epica - Nov 10, 2009 4:03 pm Date Climbed: Oct 25, 2009
Happy to be back in Ecuador!First of several acclimatization hikes planned....
Boriss Andean - Aug 6, 2009 1:38 pm Date Climbed: Jul 24, 2009
Route Climbed: La Esperanza - Standard RouteClimbed with 22 English boys and girls. We started at 7:30 am from La Esperanza trailhead.
All of us summited including the other 3 ecuadorian guides. It took us 8 hours RT. It was a foggy and windy day.
A nice experience for all of us after expending 8 days sitting on our bikes thoughout northern Ecuador.
JGHarrison - Feb 1, 2009 5:07 pm Date Climbed: Jan 31, 2009
Normal RouteGreat weather in the morning. Clouds on top. Nice scrambling, a bit chilly. Took 4 hours round trip with lots of breaks. Found a water tap just downhill from the rain collection station-looks to be used to water horses and worked for us!
pattycoloma - Jan 15, 2009 2:46 pm Date Climbed: Oct 18, 2008
Imbabura: La Esperanza - Standard RouteI enjoyed so much this climb, because of the beautiful scenary but most of all the people I knew in that trail: my friends Mónica and Paúl.
cp0915 - Jan 4, 2009 4:17 pm Date Climbed: Dec 26, 2008
StandardWith Andy Mac the day after bagging beautiful Fuya Fuya with Andy and DB.
6.5 hours car-to-car, which is pretty good when you consider the route having 5,300 feet of gain and visibility low enough that we never really saw the mountain (except for the occasional briefest of moments).
I should add that there's only a single class 4 move on the route to the true summit, with the rest of the route being class 1-2 (and maybe a single move of class 3 here and there). A guided group also on the mountain stopped at the false summit, as the traverse to the highpoint appears burly (though it's not nearly as bad as it looks).
***Beware of a nasty, loose and overhung, blind portion of ridge 50 feet before the true summit. If one is not paying attention and stays on the crest here, the ridge could topple. Fortunately, one can easily drop 10 feet down the left side of the crest here and avoid the overhung portion...but you gotta know it's there.
Boriss Andean - Oct 25, 2008 10:35 pm Date Climbed: Oct 25, 2008
Route Climbed: La Esperanza - Standard RouteLast time I climbed Imbabura was more than 9 years ago with Andrea. We climbed it by the western side. This time I climbed with Bernd (GER) from the eastern side (La Esperanza).
We started at 7:30 am from the trailhead. A very slow ascent up to the north summit. We made it after 5 and a half hours of constant hike. The weather was great at the begining but it got cloudy near the top. It took us 3 hours to get back to the trailhead.
I could see the highest summit from the northern summit for a few seconds. I really want to climb it up again from the western side (Lago San Pablo).
barryg - Sep 10, 2008 6:09 pm Date Climbed: Jun 2, 2008
Reached the first summitWe stayed in Casa Aida in La Esperanza, took a lift to the trailhead and set off at 7am. Beautiful weather to start (we could clearly see Volcan Cayembe in the distance), but the clouds were all around us before we reached the top. Got as far as the first summit, but stopped because of rain and heavy clouds.
simonzster - Mar 15, 2008 10:42 am Date Climbed: Jan 12, 2008
CloudsBy the way, even living next to this mountain, I have almost never seen the summit, only a few times. It´s always way too cloudy.
The first time I went I went with a friend of mine from Estonia, and we had no idea what we had got ourselves into. We went to the second summit without ropes or helmets, and we had socks on our hands because we didn't have gloves.
simonzster - Mar 15, 2008 10:36 am Date Climbed: Jan 12, 2008
I love this mountain!Ya, that climb is awesome. I´m an exchange student from the US living in Ibarra, and Imbabura just towers over the town. I've since gone back and climbed it a second time. The second summit really does take a bit of scrambling to get to. My organization doesn't let me climb, so Imbabura being so close is one of the only mountains I can sneak up on and climb.
Boriss Andean - Sep 20, 2007 1:00 am Date Climbed: Mar 13, 2000
Route Climbed: Ascent from Lago San Pablo (San Pablo del Lago town), descent to the town of La Esperanza. (Direct Route)Andrea and I started climbing Imbabura from the town of San Pablo del Lago. A short part of the hike was through muddy steep terrain, sometimes crossing private farmlands then on grass until getting to the base of the summit where we set up our small tent. I tried to climb straight up to the top next morning but an overhanging loose rock wall and a very exposed cliff stopped me for making it.
We both went back to Imbabura 7 days later to give it another try. After an early start from the base of the summit we made it together.
Visibility was zero at the top, but being up there together, above the clouds, was the beginning of countless adventures on the high mountains of the ecuadorian Andes.
. Andrea Ruiz (1977-2007)
Daniel Klassen - Feb 9, 2007 8:30 pm Date Climbed: Feb 3, 2007
Meehan RouteVery steep hike with a 5000 ft vertical ascent. Once at the rock, we put helmets on. The rock was very loose. The last half hour to the summit, we stayed very close because of the large rocks we were dislodging.
Outdoorpartner - Dec 20, 2006 3:44 am Date Climbed: Dec 7, 2006
Muddy descentWe roped up for the last hour of the climb. It rained for hours, making the trail a muddy, slippery, gooey mess on the way back down. Even with trekking poles, everyone managed to fall at least once. We were all a muddy mess when we returned to the trail head!
emilie - Feb 23, 2006 3:50 am Date Climbed: Jan 10, 2006
Standard routeLong tough hike to acclimatize for Cayambe, Cotopaxi, and Chimborazo. Was cloudy but not stormy and we were suprised to hear lightening at the top. Started a fast desparate scramble down and it started to hail on us. We all got down safely but needless to say was an exciting descent.
thljr922 - Nov 2, 2005 11:08 am
Date Climbed: December, 2004Started at Hacienda Cusine, went through town and up the flanks of the lower ajoining peak.(left peak in main photo) On the lower flanks, the town, dense sections of trees, and farms you have to go through are a bit confusing, took us longer than expected. Once above the town, farms, and forest, we had a steep, long hike through the grass with lots of wind. No water anywhere up high to be found (wish we had brought more). My father and I had to turn around a little early, somewhere in the 14000 to 15000 ft range due to incoming weather and lack of time.....get an early start.
C.Wagner - Aug 22, 2005 1:55 pm
Route Climbed: From la Esperanza Date Climbed: July 8, 2005Start above la Esperanza (end of the "4WD track" at 0620 Altitude 3300 m (10700 ft)
Summit at 1040
No view, clouds
Very steep ascent. Though climb
big_g - Aug 27, 2004 7:07 am Date Climbed: Aug 25, 2004
Route Climbed: NormalA bit of a wet hike but the lack of visibility made up for it! Congratulations to all the Cambridge (or was that Hogwarts?) students that made it up.
miztflip - Feb 25, 2003 9:16 am
Route Climbed: La Esperanza Date Climbed: 02/08/03A very nice hike that rewarded us with nice views when the clouds finally cleared.
mookyee - Jan 21, 2003 2:03 am
Route Climbed: Date Climbed: july 11, 2002a nice acclimitization climb for the other ecuadorian big dawgs. you know you got to stay at "artesanias de la esperanza a.k.a. casa aida" in town - talk about old school! great city, great people, great views, great climb - despite the occasional fridge size behmoth that your climbing partners send your way. Fresh.