Riku Virtanen - Apr 2, 2020 10:31 am Date Climbed: Nov 2, 2019
Not this time
We had to turn around somewhere around 5950 m. Avalanche risk.
Matt McCullough - Oct 29, 2019 12:11 pm Date Climbed: Oct 19, 2019
Chimborazo - snowboard bust
Normal route via El Castillo. Beautiful calm conditions during the night climb. Noticed two teams ahead of us turning around just above 19,000'. The teams reported potential avalanche conditions as they were experiencing cracking and crust collapse into a thick weak snow layer (same as I had experienced on Cayambe just a few days earlier). My guide and I decided to turn back as well. I had lugged my snowboard up most the way, but was only barely able to snowboard a short icy section above the high camp around 17,500'.
What a amazing mountain, Chimborazo is more like a mountain than volcano. Unfortunately we had to turn around somewhere around 5800 m, but definitely i'm coming back for this amazing mountain.
Were turned back at Castillo Saddle by poor weather.
youngclimer123 - Mar 16, 2018 6:27 pm Date Climbed: Jan 24, 2018
too much snow in January
unseasonable rains and mountain snow in January. the weather cleared for my attempt, but the snow above Castillo was too deep and created ridiculous avalanche conditions. turned back at 5800meters. still an amazing experience, and a personal high. I will be back.
boriskrielen - Feb 6, 2018 8:26 am Date Climbed: Jan 25, 2000
Normal route solo
Climbed the normal route solo, both Cumbre Whymper and Cumbre Ventimiglia. This was during the rise of the indians and getting around the country was almost impossible. First attempt to get close to the mountain together with some German climbers in a very old bus ended in gun fire and a stay with local indians that were surprisingly friendly to me. Finally I found a taxi driver that knew the back roads very well and managed to bring me to the base of the mountain safely. Had a great climb.
Harvest - Aug 2, 2017 4:02 pm Date Climbed: Dec 28, 2016
Whymper Route
My last climb of the year was my highest elevation to date and my first 6,000 meter peak! We climbed the Whymper Route which was the FA (first ascent) route pioneered by Edward Whymper, Louis Carrel and Jean-Antoine Carrel on 1/4/1880. We started at the Carrel Refuge (the lower of two huts). This route is rarely climbed anymore due to rockfall. Luckily for us the rock was nice and frozen until around 10 am due to recent snows and cold temps. This approach is shorter than the standard route, the Normal route via the Castillo, and they meet up high on the mountain. We reach first the Cumbre Veintimilla then the true summit of Cumbre Whymper at an elevation of 20,561 feet.
I highly recommend this climb for someone just getting into high elevation climbing.
steved - Jun 19, 2017 11:11 am Date Climbed: Jun 18, 2017
From Refugio Carrel to Pico Veintimilla
Started at 11.00 pm from Refugio Carrel and made it to the summit of Pico Veinimilla for 7.00am the next morning. A tough climb, especially the last 200 metres. Weather a bit cloudy but still spectacular views. Back to the refugio for about 10 am.
tlfake - Jun 8, 2017 2:15 pm Date Climbed: Jun 2, 2017
Great time at Chimbo
I didn't make it, but my two partners did. We had great weather, great trail conditions. I reached 19,600ft and got really sick and bailed. But my two partners pushed through and made the Whymper summit. I'm bitterly disappointed and know I'll have to come back some day to knock it off my list. It's a beautiful mountain. It just wasn't my day.
If you go, use John from Andean Adventures. He runs the refuge, is very straightforward and knowledgeable, and treated us very well. He cares a lot about the safety, success, and comfort of his guests. He is also the best priced. We saw a lot of climbers come through and the ones that were climbing with Andean Adventures were generally more successful and better prepared. Everyone in our group agreed he was the best guide service we've ever deal with.
Climbed this way back in the day with John Fischer. It was in December 1987, don't remember what day of the month.
NatureGirl - Nov 26, 2016 3:17 pm Date Climbed: Sep 9, 2014
Veintimilla birthday summit - daylight ascent
My 5th attempt to climb this peak and finally successful. Still hard & long as the corredor was not possible and up there a hell of ice seracs. Looking forward to coming back soon - via South Face to Wympher summit.
cinnamonletter - May 20, 2016 2:55 pm Date Climbed: Apr 27, 2016
Veintimilla Summit
It's quite hard a climb considering the 1,400m altitude gain if you start yr summit bid from Refugio Carrel; well it's all about acclimatization & fitness, isn't it.. I'll need to train more.
It took us 8 hrs from Refugio Carrel to Cumbre Veintimilla starting at 11pm.
Our guide didn't let us zigzag on the glacier due to the avalanche risk so we had to walk in a straight line, which I found a bit difficult.
We were discouraged to make an attemp on the Whymper summit due to too much snow among the penitentes. Well, I wasn't unhappy not having to walk more this time.
endo.the.timber - Jan 9, 2015 1:59 am Date Climbed: Dec 21, 2014
Whymper Summit from Normal Route
Refuge still closed. Slept in the caretakers cafe with guides.
Started at 10:30pm after a lucky snow dump. Snow made the route much easier. Coming down was another story. Dodging rocks there and here.
ScottyP - Dec 20, 2014 6:02 pm Date Climbed: Dec 13, 2014
Not this time
Stomach issues all week kept me from the top. Very phsucal climb. I will be back...
blueshade - Sep 11, 2014 10:08 am Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2014
Highest point yet...
A very physical summit even for well conditioned people. At nearly 21,000', it is understandable... Despite good weather the night before, the wind ended up picking up most of the night. Mostly very icy conditions from a previous storm. Far less than 50% of people had been summitting (at least since the storm).
Went with Andean Adventures. Competent guides, equipment included, and the owner, John, is very friendly.
Notes:
It is mandatory to go with a guide.
But there is not park entry fee to go and acclimate beforehand.
As of Aug 2014, the second refuge is still under construction with no sign of being completed any time soon.
simplydt - May 14, 2014 1:57 pm Date Climbed: Apr 18, 2014
Failed Summit Attempt
My friend Daniel and I attempted the summit from the parking lot on this night. We went via la ruta de las aristas due to the lack of snow. We first encountered snow above 5,400m I believe, before that it was all rock and ice. We turned back at 5,600m. I post this today because tonight I am going for my second attempt. I hope we can use the normal route!
PS. Aristas route is bloody beautiful! Loved it.
Conditions weren't fantastic but made the top, (2011) thankfully the saddle didn't have too much snow. My guide was a machine, didn't sit down for the whole 8hr climb
Cloud Ocean - Jan 30, 2014 1:31 pm Date Climbed: Jan 28, 2014
Normal Route - Whymper Summit
Both refuges were under construction, so camped by the parking lot near the lower refuge. Left the parking lot at 11 p.m. and reached the Whymper summit at 7:20 a.m. The route was not in great condition, with a lot of unconsolidated snow above El Castillo making progress difficult. High winds made for cold climbing. On attaining the Veintimilla summit we were greeted with a sea of ~1.5m high penitentes extending all the way across the summit plateau to the Whymper summit. These would have been exciting and maybe even enjoyable to navigate at a lower altitude. On descent we avoided the El Castillo corridor, and instead followed the El Castillo ridge all the way down to just below the parking lot. An easy variation for avoiding the famous rockfall. A fantastic climb but a bit more strenuous than I expected it to be. Climbed with Ecuadorian guide Pato.
Vivyenne - Dec 11, 2013 10:36 pm Date Climbed: Dec 8, 2013
Whymper or bust
Both refugios are closed for repairs, teams are sleeping at the entry to the park where the guardians live (has kitchen and beds, appears to be free?), get up earlier and drive further up with the car. Our party consisted of two teams of each two climbers/guide. Started from 4800m, below the first refugio, at 11:30pm; a gringos from Condor Trek and his guide decided to turn back because of supposed bad weather (cloud cover). Good conditions ascending; frozen enough to get through the mixted terrain, cloudy but not too cold, snow firm all the way up the endless ramp. Reached the Veintimilla summit, clear path through the penitentes all the way through to the Whymper summit with good conditions, so we made a leisurely traverse before heading down. Late start heading down but started to snow on descent, so the corredor was still pretty frozen and no rockfall to report.
Ides - Jun 24, 2013 10:19 am Date Climbed: Jun 13, 2013
Veintimilla
Climbed in good weather, but bad snow condition: very soft and loose, it was hard work going up, like climbing in sand. Stopped at Veintimilla at 6:40 AM due to snow condition: no party had reached the main summit since 15 days.
Riku Virtanen - Apr 2, 2020 10:31 am Date Climbed: Nov 2, 2019
Not this timeWe had to turn around somewhere around 5950 m. Avalanche risk.
Matt McCullough - Oct 29, 2019 12:11 pm Date Climbed: Oct 19, 2019
Chimborazo - snowboard bustNormal route via El Castillo. Beautiful calm conditions during the night climb. Noticed two teams ahead of us turning around just above 19,000'. The teams reported potential avalanche conditions as they were experiencing cracking and crust collapse into a thick weak snow layer (same as I had experienced on Cayambe just a few days earlier). My guide and I decided to turn back as well. I had lugged my snowboard up most the way, but was only barely able to snowboard a short icy section above the high camp around 17,500'.
Senad Rizvanovic - Feb 26, 2019 3:51 pm
Normal routeWhat a amazing mountain, Chimborazo is more like a mountain than volcano. Unfortunately we had to turn around somewhere around 5800 m, but definitely i'm coming back for this amazing mountain.
mmcguigan - Sep 13, 2018 6:40 pm Date Climbed: Jul 24, 2012
Stopped in our tracks by Bad WeatherWere turned back at Castillo Saddle by poor weather.
youngclimer123 - Mar 16, 2018 6:27 pm Date Climbed: Jan 24, 2018
too much snow in Januaryunseasonable rains and mountain snow in January. the weather cleared for my attempt, but the snow above Castillo was too deep and created ridiculous avalanche conditions. turned back at 5800meters. still an amazing experience, and a personal high. I will be back.
boriskrielen - Feb 6, 2018 8:26 am Date Climbed: Jan 25, 2000
Normal route soloClimbed the normal route solo, both Cumbre Whymper and Cumbre Ventimiglia. This was during the rise of the indians and getting around the country was almost impossible. First attempt to get close to the mountain together with some German climbers in a very old bus ended in gun fire and a stay with local indians that were surprisingly friendly to me. Finally I found a taxi driver that knew the back roads very well and managed to bring me to the base of the mountain safely. Had a great climb.
Harvest - Aug 2, 2017 4:02 pm Date Climbed: Dec 28, 2016
Whymper RouteMy last climb of the year was my highest elevation to date and my first 6,000 meter peak! We climbed the Whymper Route which was the FA (first ascent) route pioneered by Edward Whymper, Louis Carrel and Jean-Antoine Carrel on 1/4/1880. We started at the Carrel Refuge (the lower of two huts). This route is rarely climbed anymore due to rockfall. Luckily for us the rock was nice and frozen until around 10 am due to recent snows and cold temps. This approach is shorter than the standard route, the Normal route via the Castillo, and they meet up high on the mountain. We reach first the Cumbre Veintimilla then the true summit of Cumbre Whymper at an elevation of 20,561 feet.
I highly recommend this climb for someone just getting into high elevation climbing.
steved - Jun 19, 2017 11:11 am Date Climbed: Jun 18, 2017
From Refugio Carrel to Pico VeintimillaStarted at 11.00 pm from Refugio Carrel and made it to the summit of Pico Veinimilla for 7.00am the next morning. A tough climb, especially the last 200 metres. Weather a bit cloudy but still spectacular views. Back to the refugio for about 10 am.
tlfake - Jun 8, 2017 2:15 pm Date Climbed: Jun 2, 2017
Great time at ChimboI didn't make it, but my two partners did. We had great weather, great trail conditions. I reached 19,600ft and got really sick and bailed. But my two partners pushed through and made the Whymper summit. I'm bitterly disappointed and know I'll have to come back some day to knock it off my list. It's a beautiful mountain. It just wasn't my day.
If you go, use John from Andean Adventures. He runs the refuge, is very straightforward and knowledgeable, and treated us very well. He cares a lot about the safety, success, and comfort of his guests. He is also the best priced. We saw a lot of climbers come through and the ones that were climbing with Andean Adventures were generally more successful and better prepared. Everyone in our group agreed he was the best guide service we've ever deal with.
Norris - Feb 17, 2017 8:16 pm
Ventimilla via WhymperClimbed this way back in the day with John Fischer. It was in December 1987, don't remember what day of the month.
NatureGirl - Nov 26, 2016 3:17 pm Date Climbed: Sep 9, 2014
Veintimilla birthday summit - daylight ascentMy 5th attempt to climb this peak and finally successful. Still hard & long as the corredor was not possible and up there a hell of ice seracs. Looking forward to coming back soon - via South Face to Wympher summit.
cinnamonletter - May 20, 2016 2:55 pm Date Climbed: Apr 27, 2016
Veintimilla SummitIt's quite hard a climb considering the 1,400m altitude gain if you start yr summit bid from Refugio Carrel; well it's all about acclimatization & fitness, isn't it.. I'll need to train more.
It took us 8 hrs from Refugio Carrel to Cumbre Veintimilla starting at 11pm.
Our guide didn't let us zigzag on the glacier due to the avalanche risk so we had to walk in a straight line, which I found a bit difficult.
We were discouraged to make an attemp on the Whymper summit due to too much snow among the penitentes. Well, I wasn't unhappy not having to walk more this time.
endo.the.timber - Jan 9, 2015 1:59 am Date Climbed: Dec 21, 2014
Whymper Summit from Normal RouteRefuge still closed. Slept in the caretakers cafe with guides.
Started at 10:30pm after a lucky snow dump. Snow made the route much easier. Coming down was another story. Dodging rocks there and here.
ScottyP - Dec 20, 2014 6:02 pm Date Climbed: Dec 13, 2014
Not this timeStomach issues all week kept me from the top. Very phsucal climb. I will be back...
blueshade - Sep 11, 2014 10:08 am Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2014
Highest point yet...A very physical summit even for well conditioned people. At nearly 21,000', it is understandable... Despite good weather the night before, the wind ended up picking up most of the night. Mostly very icy conditions from a previous storm. Far less than 50% of people had been summitting (at least since the storm).
Went with Andean Adventures. Competent guides, equipment included, and the owner, John, is very friendly.
Notes:
It is mandatory to go with a guide.
But there is not park entry fee to go and acclimate beforehand.
As of Aug 2014, the second refuge is still under construction with no sign of being completed any time soon.
simplydt - May 14, 2014 1:57 pm Date Climbed: Apr 18, 2014
Failed Summit AttemptMy friend Daniel and I attempted the summit from the parking lot on this night. We went via la ruta de las aristas due to the lack of snow. We first encountered snow above 5,400m I believe, before that it was all rock and ice. We turned back at 5,600m. I post this today because tonight I am going for my second attempt. I hope we can use the normal route!
PS. Aristas route is bloody beautiful! Loved it.
jasperreed - May 14, 2014 12:54 pm
SummitConditions weren't fantastic but made the top, (2011) thankfully the saddle didn't have too much snow. My guide was a machine, didn't sit down for the whole 8hr climb
Cloud Ocean - Jan 30, 2014 1:31 pm Date Climbed: Jan 28, 2014
Normal Route - Whymper SummitBoth refuges were under construction, so camped by the parking lot near the lower refuge. Left the parking lot at 11 p.m. and reached the Whymper summit at 7:20 a.m. The route was not in great condition, with a lot of unconsolidated snow above El Castillo making progress difficult. High winds made for cold climbing. On attaining the Veintimilla summit we were greeted with a sea of ~1.5m high penitentes extending all the way across the summit plateau to the Whymper summit. These would have been exciting and maybe even enjoyable to navigate at a lower altitude. On descent we avoided the El Castillo corridor, and instead followed the El Castillo ridge all the way down to just below the parking lot. An easy variation for avoiding the famous rockfall. A fantastic climb but a bit more strenuous than I expected it to be. Climbed with Ecuadorian guide Pato.
Vivyenne - Dec 11, 2013 10:36 pm Date Climbed: Dec 8, 2013
Whymper or bustBoth refugios are closed for repairs, teams are sleeping at the entry to the park where the guardians live (has kitchen and beds, appears to be free?), get up earlier and drive further up with the car. Our party consisted of two teams of each two climbers/guide. Started from 4800m, below the first refugio, at 11:30pm; a gringos from Condor Trek and his guide decided to turn back because of supposed bad weather (cloud cover). Good conditions ascending; frozen enough to get through the mixted terrain, cloudy but not too cold, snow firm all the way up the endless ramp. Reached the Veintimilla summit, clear path through the penitentes all the way through to the Whymper summit with good conditions, so we made a leisurely traverse before heading down. Late start heading down but started to snow on descent, so the corredor was still pretty frozen and no rockfall to report.
Ides - Jun 24, 2013 10:19 am Date Climbed: Jun 13, 2013
VeintimillaClimbed in good weather, but bad snow condition: very soft and loose, it was hard work going up, like climbing in sand. Stopped at Veintimilla at 6:40 AM due to snow condition: no party had reached the main summit since 15 days.