A short scramble up Rumiñahui, the stone-faced Inca warrior

December 12, 2018 Trip reports andes, cotopaxi, ecuador, edward whymper, llanganates, rucu pichincha, ruminahui, volcanoes 2 Comments

Rumiñahui is an extinct volcano 14km north-west of Cotopaxi, Ecuador’s highest active volcano. Rumiñahui the mountain is named after Rumiñahui the Inca warrior, whose name translates as ‘stone face’ – as appropriate a name as any for this particular mountain.

Chimborazo Sea to Summit Challenge: the videos

January 31, 2018 Trip reports andes, carihuairazo, chimborazo, chimborazo sea to summit challenge, cotacachi, cycling, ecuador, edita, edward whymper, mountain films, rucu pichincha, sea to summit, sincholagua, trekking 0 Comment

It’s that time again, when I show off the latest videos I’ve cobbled together in the garden shed with a pair of scissors, a roll of sellotape, and some sticky-back plastic. These ones cover our Chimborazo Sea to Summit Challenge last autumn, when we climbed Chimborazo, starting from sea level on push bikes.

Ice needles and guinea pigs: acclimatising in Ecuador

September 15, 2017 Expedition dispatches andes, chimborazo, chimborazo sea to summit challenge, cotacachi, cotopaxi, cycling, ecuador, edita, rucu pichincha, sea to summit, sincholagua, volcanoes 3 Comments

The fun is over. Tomorrow the serious business of cycling up Chimborazo begins. Our aim is to cycle from sea level then climb to the summit, with a bit of hiking in between. I have no illusions. It’s going to