eazup wrote:I will be there at the end of the month and am planning a pretty similar climbing schedule. I would love any more concrete feedback. I was also told that the huts on Chimborazo were demolished last week, and wouldn't be usable for 4 months, though I was unable to find any evidence of this online.

I've been in touch with a local guide in Ecuador who confirmed that both huts on Chimborazo are currently rebuilding.

He also confirmed the new regulation.

We're biting the bullet on this one and hiring a guide. Total cost added to expedition is <$500. He is also providing transportation which will simplify our travel logistics. I'll post more details as I can. I'll be back from EC late January and plan to put together a comprehensive report on the current regulations, trail conditions, etc.

Best,

Justin

Wow, that sucks if it's true. Guess I won't ever climb Chimborazo then.
And I wasn't trying to suggest you were wrong, althegreek, but you mentioned being turned away at the gate to Cotopaxi National Park, which is why I wondered if you hadn't run into the same situation that we had.

This is very disappointing to hear, we were planning a trip for chimborazo in july and just found out about the new law. Does anyone here know if the local guides that are available for cheap rates by the day are considered acredited? Or would some one have to actually hire a high priced climbing company to satisfy the government?

I was in Ecuador this January.

You don´t have to hire an agency, you can hire a guide directly, just be careful who you chose, some of them are really not that interested in climbing at all.

I can confirm they started renovation on the Chimborazo Huts (actually they´ve removed all the furniture, bunk beds and tables), but you can still sleep and cook inside.

I can recommend a few guides and tell you to stay away from a few others if you need.

I have to agree with what Cissa said.
we climbed Cotopaxi in January 2013 and our guide, who was organized by reputable former guide and Illiniza's hut manager, turned out to be quite difficult. He choose to ignore us and not to talk to us while we were in the hut, it got so far that my husband confronted him and asked if he really wants to be our guide for Cotopaxi.
His name is Marco and is from Ambato