Chimborazosummit climbing guide - Know every aspect before starting your journey

Posted by Sierranevada on August 21st, 2019

Ecuador is a world-renowned destination among climbing and mountaineering fans due to its amazing volcanoes. Above all, the Royal and majestic Chimborazo Summit stands out because of its high-altitude and the technical complexity of its ascent. Arrange your trip to this volcano in the best probable way with these tips for a successful climb.

A small piece of information about Chimborazo!

Positioned at the Western Andes Range,Chimborazo Summit  is the highest volcano in Ecuador, with a maximum height of 20, 561 feet and a prominence of 13, 526 feet from its base. Despite not being the highest mountain in the globe, its summit is the farthest point from the center of the earth; the elliptical shape of our planet and Chimborazo’s proximity to the equator are the reason it’s summit is 1.25 miles farther than Everest’s.

Perfect time to climb Chimborazo!

Chimborazo can be climbed all-year round, although the most suitable period runs from November to February and from May to July!

It’s no recommendable to climb between March and April because there is a huge amount of rain and snow out there. August can be very windy, but you can get good weather conditions during the month of September and October.

The best alternative is to start the ascent before midnight, in order to be back no later than 10a.m., as sunlight adds the risk of rock fall and the cloudy afternoon weather reduces the visibility of the trail.

Why it is hard to climb Chimborazo?

The well-known wellbeing risks of high-altitude ascents are, for starters, a setback. In order to avert them, try to adapt in the lower peaks of Ecuador first before heading to the Chimborazo. Climbing the volcano with the help of a Mountain Guide, is the best option because he is all set and prepared to cope with such situations.

To avert the risk of getting altitude sickness, it is crucial to have a good adaptation.

Some guides suggest longer programs, in which you climb several peaks before going to Chimborazo, gaining altitude progressively.

Why hire a proficient mountain guide?

The path to Chimborazo’s summit has plenty of glacier, some of them with dangerous crevasses. Besides, the harsh weather in Ecuador and the avalanches make the ascent even more difficult.

You should always ensure to hire a professional and skilled mountain guide. The best alternatives are going with an IFGMA/UIAGM Guide (international certification) or else with an ASEGUIM guide (Ecuador’s national certification, recognized by the IFGMA).

As a consequence or result of its technical difficulty, historically there have been fatal accidents in the Volcano, most of them due to preventable mistakes.

So, are you all set for a mountain adventure in this iconic Ecuadorian volcano? Choose the best mountain guide before you start your journey! We hope this above article will help you somewhere as a guide to Chimborazo climbing. If you have some extra knowledge to add then comment below in the comment section!