Arnie777 - May 21, 2012 2:09 pm Date Climbed: Dec 28, 2011
Cotopaxi Normal Route
Amazing mountain! Arrived at the refuge late afternoon and started climbing with our guide at 1:30 AM. Weather was very poor with snow and wind all night long. No view at the top, as there were clouds and winds blowing up the mountain. Really cold day and our guide apologized for the bad weather. I can say im proud of myself because only a handfull people made it to the summit that day.
Socorro - May 1, 2012 9:32 pm Date Climbed: May 1, 2012
Second attempt...
Four teams today - two American (as one party) and two French as one party. None of us made it. One team went down due to altitude sickness, and the rest of us reached the very same crevasse I mentioned in my last log in September at about 5400 meters. Again, we tried to pick our way through it but couldnt quite do it. Had to jump a little onto a serac and climb up that to continue through the mess. The French teams watching us work on the ice decided to turn back at that point and we shortly followed. The weather was less than desireable with some wind and blowing snow, lot of rime ice. Disappointed but had a really fun time and felt great most of the way. Plus I still have a year left to finally get through that crevasse!
Seems like New Mexicans hit a ceiling around that crevasse. A guy from NM Tech couldn't find his way through it. My friend knew the way but we turned around due to time constraints.
larch32 - Mar 8, 2012 7:57 pm Date Climbed: Mar 8, 2012
Cotopaxi
I vastly underestimated this peak. The objective danger and crevasse danger were both more than anyone I talked to let on. Took off from the refuge at about 12:30 and we were on the top before 6am... climbed completely by moonlight.
Hi, Congratulations. Which guide service have you used?
reconronin949 - Jan 6, 2012 4:04 pm Date Climbed: Dec 9, 2011
RMI strikes again!
Was part of a great team, led by RMI guides Casey, JT, and Freddie (Ecuadoran climbing machine). Snowed all night, headed out at about 1 AM. First team out of the gate, so we had to kick steps all the way up. Our group was big, and for the size, made good overall time. Summitted in just a bit over 7 hrs. Back down in 3:10. Windy, a couple of tricky parts/crevasses, but a great climb.
chicagosky - Jan 4, 2012 8:35 am Date Climbed: Dec 30, 2011
First attempt
Attempted to climb Cotopaxi as the third climb of my trip to Ecuador. Had to turn around at 5500 meters as I was completely out of gas and didnt think I could make it back even if I made it to the summit.
lutty11 - Dec 28, 2011 10:51 pm Date Climbed: Nov 20, 2010
Standard Route
Well acclimated from Cayambe days earlier, made for an enjoyable and successful climb. Great views, very rewarding!
MMclimbhigh - Dec 19, 2011 4:54 pm Date Climbed: Dec 6, 2011
Normal Route
Great climb up the normal route. Full moon = No headlamp! Amazing route up through tropical glaciers! This was the one, beautiful sunny day we had in Ecuador. Very lucky. Only a couple of other parties on the mountain and in the hut. Great climb, don't miss this one!
mreiter1 - Dec 11, 2011 2:04 pm Date Climbed: Jul 13, 2009
Success
Standard Route
brota - Dec 9, 2011 5:01 pm Date Climbed: Dec 9, 2011
Nice climb
Arriving at 7pm to the cottage / camping. Officially not possible to enter after 3pm and a taxi without special permit! Quite long argue at the ranger station.
Started with a friend at 1.00 am without a guide. Following other groups in the beginning to find the way. They all went to slowly so after too much waiting behind them we went into "lead" making the way through deep snow in the upper parts for all others. After 5 hours on the top - cloudy and windy. Was very easy to follow the route. One difficult part at about 5700m. On the way down taking with us an exhausted tourist who was bivouacking (freezing) at about 5700m and waiting for his mate and guide to come back from the top.
madclimber - Nov 2, 2011 8:42 pm Date Climbed: Jul 26, 2008
Normal Route
Best shots when the sun is rising over the clouds at 19,000ft!
Herb - Oct 24, 2011 7:56 am Date Climbed: Nov 14, 2010
Cotopaxi normal route from Refugio Jose Ribas
It snowed on the days before our climb and when we arrived at Jose Ribas hut on the 13th of November. We found a lot of loose snow on some of the traverses of the normal route, so belaying was mainly mental safety... :) We had some fog and clouds during most of the ascent in the night and early morning. At least we got a few views when summiting around 7.30 a.m. because we broke through the cloud cover at app. 5.700 m.
Very nice and perfectly shaped mountain. I'm glad that we made Cotopaxi, since we got no chance on Chimborazo after that: too much snow and avalanche danger - we had to turn around on the 17th of November already at 5.250 m.
hunterslee - Oct 23, 2011 9:42 pm Date Climbed: Dec 7, 2010
Awesome!
Love this Mountain, the view looking into that crater is something else...if you're reading this and haven't summitted Cotopaxi, just go there and do it!
Socorro - Oct 19, 2011 1:19 pm Date Climbed: Sep 11, 2011
Next time...
We reached 17,700 ft (5400 m) and had to turn back at a crevasse. One team made it across and to the summit, but crossing apparently involved jumping it, vertical climbing, crossing a wood board and a very weak snow bridge that might collapse by return. Our guide said if we crossed we would be committed to descending an alternate route. Several teams tried probing for the end but had no luck. All the teams except the one summit team turned back that morning. Bizarre that we were the group to find this obstacle in worse condition than before, but I´ll be back soon hopefully.
karore - Oct 8, 2011 11:35 am Date Climbed: Jan 1, 2011
Good climb
Hard climb, coming down was harder because altitude gave me a asthmatic cough.
ferbat - Aug 12, 2011 4:55 am Date Climbed: Aug 21, 2008
Cotopaxi
Great peak !
xpda - Aug 9, 2011 9:57 pm Date Climbed: Mar 14, 2009
Second Try
Made it!
dunsum - Aug 6, 2011 4:41 pm Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2011
summit
Climbed with my friend, Jonas Haag.
7summits - Apr 5, 2011 1:13 pm Date Climbed: Jun 6, 2010
icey and crevassed
cold, windy and icy and a very crevassed route, the normal route had changed because of this. Summited with zero visibility and a layer of ice on me.
Met Ivan Vallejos, so that was more fun than the summit :)
Arnie777 - May 21, 2012 2:09 pm Date Climbed: Dec 28, 2011
Cotopaxi Normal RouteAmazing mountain! Arrived at the refuge late afternoon and started climbing with our guide at 1:30 AM. Weather was very poor with snow and wind all night long. No view at the top, as there were clouds and winds blowing up the mountain. Really cold day and our guide apologized for the bad weather. I can say im proud of myself because only a handfull people made it to the summit that day.
Socorro - May 1, 2012 9:32 pm Date Climbed: May 1, 2012
Second attempt...Four teams today - two American (as one party) and two French as one party. None of us made it. One team went down due to altitude sickness, and the rest of us reached the very same crevasse I mentioned in my last log in September at about 5400 meters. Again, we tried to pick our way through it but couldnt quite do it. Had to jump a little onto a serac and climb up that to continue through the mess. The French teams watching us work on the ice decided to turn back at that point and we shortly followed. The weather was less than desireable with some wind and blowing snow, lot of rime ice. Disappointed but had a really fun time and felt great most of the way. Plus I still have a year left to finally get through that crevasse!
Garon Coriz - Jul 1, 2012 6:59 pm
Re: Second attempt...Seems like New Mexicans hit a ceiling around that crevasse. A guy from NM Tech couldn't find his way through it. My friend knew the way but we turned around due to time constraints.
larch32 - Mar 8, 2012 7:57 pm Date Climbed: Mar 8, 2012
CotopaxiI vastly underestimated this peak. The objective danger and crevasse danger were both more than anyone I talked to let on. Took off from the refuge at about 12:30 and we were on the top before 6am... climbed completely by moonlight.
Meghdoot - May 18, 2012 9:21 am
Re: CotopaxiHi, Congratulations. Which guide service have you used?
reconronin949 - Jan 6, 2012 4:04 pm Date Climbed: Dec 9, 2011
RMI strikes again!Was part of a great team, led by RMI guides Casey, JT, and Freddie (Ecuadoran climbing machine). Snowed all night, headed out at about 1 AM. First team out of the gate, so we had to kick steps all the way up. Our group was big, and for the size, made good overall time. Summitted in just a bit over 7 hrs. Back down in 3:10. Windy, a couple of tricky parts/crevasses, but a great climb.
chicagosky - Jan 4, 2012 8:35 am Date Climbed: Dec 30, 2011
First attemptAttempted to climb Cotopaxi as the third climb of my trip to Ecuador. Had to turn around at 5500 meters as I was completely out of gas and didnt think I could make it back even if I made it to the summit.
lutty11 - Dec 28, 2011 10:51 pm Date Climbed: Nov 20, 2010
Standard RouteWell acclimated from Cayambe days earlier, made for an enjoyable and successful climb. Great views, very rewarding!
MMclimbhigh - Dec 19, 2011 4:54 pm Date Climbed: Dec 6, 2011
Normal RouteGreat climb up the normal route. Full moon = No headlamp! Amazing route up through tropical glaciers! This was the one, beautiful sunny day we had in Ecuador. Very lucky. Only a couple of other parties on the mountain and in the hut. Great climb, don't miss this one!
mreiter1 - Dec 11, 2011 2:04 pm Date Climbed: Jul 13, 2009
SuccessStandard Route
brota - Dec 9, 2011 5:01 pm Date Climbed: Dec 9, 2011
Nice climbArriving at 7pm to the cottage / camping. Officially not possible to enter after 3pm and a taxi without special permit! Quite long argue at the ranger station.
Started with a friend at 1.00 am without a guide. Following other groups in the beginning to find the way. They all went to slowly so after too much waiting behind them we went into "lead" making the way through deep snow in the upper parts for all others. After 5 hours on the top - cloudy and windy. Was very easy to follow the route. One difficult part at about 5700m. On the way down taking with us an exhausted tourist who was bivouacking (freezing) at about 5700m and waiting for his mate and guide to come back from the top.
madclimber - Nov 2, 2011 8:42 pm Date Climbed: Jul 26, 2008
Normal RouteBest shots when the sun is rising over the clouds at 19,000ft!
Herb - Oct 24, 2011 7:56 am Date Climbed: Nov 14, 2010
Cotopaxi normal route from Refugio Jose RibasIt snowed on the days before our climb and when we arrived at Jose Ribas hut on the 13th of November. We found a lot of loose snow on some of the traverses of the normal route, so belaying was mainly mental safety... :) We had some fog and clouds during most of the ascent in the night and early morning. At least we got a few views when summiting around 7.30 a.m. because we broke through the cloud cover at app. 5.700 m.
Very nice and perfectly shaped mountain. I'm glad that we made Cotopaxi, since we got no chance on Chimborazo after that: too much snow and avalanche danger - we had to turn around on the 17th of November already at 5.250 m.
hunterslee - Oct 23, 2011 9:42 pm Date Climbed: Dec 7, 2010
Awesome!Love this Mountain, the view looking into that crater is something else...if you're reading this and haven't summitted Cotopaxi, just go there and do it!
Socorro - Oct 19, 2011 1:19 pm Date Climbed: Sep 11, 2011
Next time...We reached 17,700 ft (5400 m) and had to turn back at a crevasse. One team made it across and to the summit, but crossing apparently involved jumping it, vertical climbing, crossing a wood board and a very weak snow bridge that might collapse by return. Our guide said if we crossed we would be committed to descending an alternate route. Several teams tried probing for the end but had no luck. All the teams except the one summit team turned back that morning. Bizarre that we were the group to find this obstacle in worse condition than before, but I´ll be back soon hopefully.
karore - Oct 8, 2011 11:35 am Date Climbed: Jan 1, 2011
Good climbHard climb, coming down was harder because altitude gave me a asthmatic cough.
ferbat - Aug 12, 2011 4:55 am Date Climbed: Aug 21, 2008
CotopaxiGreat peak !
xpda - Aug 9, 2011 9:57 pm Date Climbed: Mar 14, 2009
Second TryMade it!
dunsum - Aug 6, 2011 4:41 pm Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2011
summitClimbed with my friend, Jonas Haag.
7summits - Apr 5, 2011 1:13 pm Date Climbed: Jun 6, 2010
icey and crevassedcold, windy and icy and a very crevassed route, the normal route had changed because of this. Summited with zero visibility and a layer of ice on me.
Met Ivan Vallejos, so that was more fun than the summit :)