Glacier School 5.790 m / 18,991 ft

A great introductory mountaineering experience for beginners

DURATION 3 day

DIFFICULTY Intermediate

TRIP OVERVIEW

Andeanface Glacier School is a three days climbing excursion that provides the knowledge, skills, and experience essential for safe and enjoyable climbing, in a high altitude glaciated mountain environment.
Our core curriculum emphasises safety, judgment and basic glacier skills. It is a great introductory mountaineering experience for beginners where you can discover how your body reacts to the high mountain environment.
If participants have an intermediate skills level, the course could be focused on more advanced climbing techniques such as ice climbing and crevasse rescue systems. Experience is not required.
During the training you will learn about:

  • Knots and ropes
  • Glacier travel
  • Crampon techniques
  • Ice axe techniques
  • Crevasse rescue
  • Ice climbing
  • How to prepare yourself for mountain climbing
  • Equipment used in the mountains

The training will be provided on a 1:3 ratio, which means one guide for every three students. Therefore every student will get all the attention he or she needs, which will guarantee you will be able to experience all aspects of the training course. Our guides provide excellent instruction and coaching.

Our 11 day Glacier school expedition is also available for those looking for a full program https://www.andeanface.com/tour/glacier-school/

Arrive/Depart: Quito

Group Size: 1:3 for instruction and climb

Pre-requisites: Good physical condition

Difficulty Levels: Intermediate
EXPLAIN DIFFICULTY LEVELS

Extension: Optional 1 extra day for weather contingency

Access/Depart: Drive in and drive out with 20 minutes hike to hut

Accomodation: Ruales, Berge, Orleas Hut (4.600 m / 15,092 ft)

Activity: Hiking / Climbing / Ice Climbing

Seasons: All year round, slightly better from November to February

Equipment: Climbing Excursions Gear List
Download PDF

ITINERARY

The course is primarily an intensive high altitude glacier course, but it will test the acquired skills by attempting to summit Cayambe 5.790 m / 18,991 ft.

The challenging, long alpine slopes of Cayambe provide an excellent introduction to glacier travel techniques on a big peak.

DAY
01

Travel to Cayambe Volcano

  • Pick up at hotel in Quito at around 8:00
  • Travel for 2 hours to Cayambe
  • Short hike up to the hut (depending on road conditions)
  • Talk about the program and rope work inside the hut
  • Lunch at 12:30
  • Principles of glacier travel
  • Walking techniques on the glacier
  • Dinner at 19:00

Activity: Short trek / Practices

Transportation: 2-hour private van/jeep transfer

Meals: Lunch / Dinner

DAY
02

Glacier Practice

  • Leave for the Hermoso Glacier at 08:00
  • Glacier travel techniques
  • Lunch at the Glacier
  • Self a rest
  • Anchors in snow and ice
  • Self rescue

Activity: Glacier Practice

Transportation: 2-hour private van/jeep transfer

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

DAY
03

Summit Cayambe or Glacier Practice / Return to Quito

  • Optional summit day on Cayambe or continue the glacier school with ice climbing
  • Rest, lunch and packing
  • Return to Quito at 16:00

Activity: Summit attempt - 7 hours climbing up / 3 hours descending

Transportation: 2-hour private van/jeep transfer

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch

Important: Please note that this itinerary is a guideline only. We will do every effort to follow it, but in case of unforeseen circumstances we may have to make changes.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Professional glacier training at high altitude
  • A short climbing course
  • We teach you depending on your level of experience
  • Cheaper than any course given in the United States or Europe
  • Instructors with international experience

MAP

SHARE THIS TRIP

COMPLIMENTARY
EXTENSIONS

Our Complimentary Extension Packages offer great opportunities to explore some of Ecuador’s most dramatic scenaries, which have earned the country a reputation as one of the most bio diverse and unique regions on the planet.

We work with carefully selected tourism operators, which will offer the same quality and high standards of service that our clients expect from us.

You can choose from a selection of various (active) outdoor activities in the Galapagos, the Cloud Forest or Amazon Jungle. We highly recommend to extent your trip with a rafting experience.

VIEW EXTENSION TOURS

WHY TAKE THIS TRIP WITH US?

Our mountain guides are an integral part of Andeanface because they understand and share our climbing principles. The quality of our guiding staff is the primary difference between us and our competitors. The guides we employ are personally known to us for several years, this has given us some of the best reputation. More importantly we consider safety on the mountains our main goal when we run trips. Andeanface as a company has been arranging climbs in Ecuador since 2005.

WHAT TO EXPECT?

Activities

Learning the basics of glacier travel, and crevasse rescue

Terrain

Cayambe has the best facilities for teaching glacier travel in Ecuador

Travel

We travel to Cayambe by jeep, van or bus depending on the size of the group

Weather

Due to its position east of the Andean range, is one of the peaks which has more challenging & unpredictable weather

CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

SUGGESTED COMBINATIONS

The 3 days Glacier School is a great part of a complete climbing program in Ecuador.

Pasochoa Trek

A great trek with a view of the pristine forest…

Duration

1 day

Elevation

4.200 m / 13,776 ft

Difficulty

Easy
Guagua Pichincha Trek

The most accessible mountain from Quito with mesmerizing views of…

Duration

1 day

Elevation

4.785 m / 15,694 ft

Difficulty

Moderate
Cotopaxi

Climb Cotopaxi. You can trek and climb the second-highest peak…

Duration

2 days

Elevation

5.897 m / 19,342 ft

Difficulty

Intermediate