Ecuador News. Rustam Maharramov's Individual Program (Final)
Hello everyone! We mentioned earlier that our unique program, in addition to Orizaba in Mexico, included another ascent for acclimatization before Chimborazo (our main goal). It's time to reveal that the third planned summit was Antisana Volcano—a solitary beauty standing at the gateway to the Amazon jungle.
Antisana, also a five-thousander (one of 10 in Ecuador), at 5,704 meters, is the fourth highest in Ecuador, but it's wilder, less visited, and more technically challenging. There are no shelters there; you have to set out from a tent camp, and you need to bring everything you need with you.
The idea of climbing the technical Antisana (immediately after Orizaba and Chimborazo) arose as preparation for future projects, namely, as a preparatory stage for Alpamayo (a beautiful, technically challenging peak in Peru).
BUT! The thought of Chimborazo was nagging at me! Our friends Rustam and Franklin, continuing to monitor the weather and the slopes on Chimborazo out of habit, saw a weather window emerging. The slopes had thawed and frozen, the steps to the summit had been cut, and there was a chance of reaching the coveted summit.
Forgetting about Antisana, our friends rushed back from Quito to Chimborazo Base Camp at 5,300m and prepared for another summit attempt!
BUT! Once again, the weather turned nasty, and this time it was a complete disaster with thunderstorms and lightning. The downpour turned to snow, and the trail began to snow before our eyes again. We had to wait out the main squall in the shelter.
Then, several more attempts were made to ascend higher, and at the same altitude of 5,750m, we decided to turn around! And yes, this was already our fourth attempt at Chimborazo! But you can't say that any opportunity was wasted!
Everything that could be done, and even more, was done to achieve the goal! What can I say? In Rustam's opinion, everything was great, except the weather!
Further goals have already been set! And when Rustam reaches Alpamayo, he'll still be keeping an eye on the weather in Chimborazo!
To be continued!
