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etrier
Jan 4, 2006, 10:17 PM
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Registered: Jan 12, 2003
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For January 06, how is the snow conditions for ski touring to the peaks and skiing down? Recommended? or do skis just need to be carried most of the way? Don't want to be up there postholing!
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beechum1
Jan 4, 2006, 11:12 PM
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Registered: Jan 2, 2006
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warren miller had a great segment on equador... can't remember off hand the name of the mt, but it was a good watch. do a search for it.. should be able to find it.
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whipperman
Jan 5, 2006, 10:58 AM
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Registered: Feb 23, 2005
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You cannot ski tour between the peaks or even to the peaks. Almost all peaks will involve a hike to a high refuge and then early morning departure for the summit. You could (and people have) carry skis up and ski down several of the peaks (Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, Cayambe, and Antisana), but the snow line is so high that it really isn't worth it. Having been on all of these peaks multiple times I'd suggest it's not worth lugging your skis down there unless you'll be there for many months to years.
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etrier
Jan 8, 2006, 8:35 AM
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Registered: Jan 12, 2003
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Thankyou for the suggestions. I hear conditions this year are not quite in as far as weather goes. We will elect NOT to take our skis on this one. We leave in two days and will take general mountaineering stff, but do you think it a good idea to carry two axes on Iliniza Sur? I have done plenty with just one, but does the neve or firn even take good screws?
Cheers,
James
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rdc
Jan 8, 2006, 4:49 PM
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Registered: Dec 13, 2005
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Hi! I was in ecuador las year. You can contact Eduardo Agama from Cotopaxi Cara sur. He ies the owner of a climbing company. Is a great person and have a route to Cotopaxi from the south face of the peak. See the infotmation in www.cotopaxi-carasur.com. Ecador is a great place. Enjoy your trip.
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atg200
Jan 8, 2006, 6:07 PM
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Registered: Jul 27, 2001
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if you do la rampa on illiniza sur two axes are a good idea. i used a couple of long screws and didn't fall. that was a few years ago, so i don't know about now.
i dragged my skis down last year thinking about doing a descent of sangay, but the snow is all but gone on it. very sad how much the glaciers have receded in the last 10 years.
i would definitely bring skis for cotopaxi, but these days i don't climb mountains anymore unless i can ski them. plan on booting the whole way up, and some sections will be spicy to ski. weather can change so quick down there that you might get a big dump - you never know. you can always leave your skis in a locked room at a hostel in quito(i did that after i bailed from sangay and headed to the coast).
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whipperman
Jan 9, 2006, 3:19 PM
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Registered: Feb 23, 2005
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Two axes or one..
Depending on the route and conditions you will want two axes. If you do the ramp route you will need to axes and some screws. If you do the regular route and there is heavy snow fall you could get by with one axe and there will be little opportunity for screws (a few pickets might come in handy for running belays if you're uncomfortable soloing on easy terrain). If there hasn't been much snow, two axes will come in handy since you may have to climb some short steps of ice (upper side of crevasses). Hope that helps.
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