Training in Ecuador

Climbing the Seven Summits is no easy task, which is why Mark trains all over the world. He trained in Ecuador this past November by climbing some of its highest peaks. He also took an extensive mountaineering course that’s designed to develop self-reliant alpine climbers. This course gave Mark the chance to gain new mountaineering skills that will benefit him on future climbs!

Five-day Course Curriculum Included:

  • Snow climbing, ice axe positioning, and moving in balance
  • Self arrest techniques
  • Snow and ice anchor selection, construction, and equalization
  • Ice climbing and crampon techniques
  • Prussiking and team crevasse rescue practice
  • Rappelling and rope management
  • Glaciology and crevasse pattern prediction
  • Navigation using maps, altimeters, and compasses
  • Roped glacier travel and route finding through crevassed areas
  • Mountain weather, alpine ecology, hazard assessment, and Leave No Trace Ethics
  • High altitude physiology and other related expeditionary topics

Ice Climbing and Crampon Techniques

Rappelling and Rope Management

  • Clove Hitch.
  • Rappelling on rock.
  • Rappelling on ice.

Prussiking and Team Crevasse Rescue Practice

  • Crevasse rescue demonstration.
  • Prusik Hitch.

Cotopaxi

  • Cotopaxi on a clear morning.

Cotopaxi stands in at 19,347 feet (5,897 meters). The active stratovolcano is Ecuador’s second-highest peak and one of the world’s highest volcanoes. Mark was able to put his newly acquired mountaineering skills to the test by applying them to a high-altitude ascent of Cotopaxi. He summited in just under 6 hours on November 25th, 2019.

  • Glaciated slopes on Cotopaxi.
  • Unique features on Cotopaxi.

  • Cotopaxi casting a perfect summit shadow.

  • Cotopaxi crater rim.

  • Cotopaxi Summit.

Cayambe

  • Cayambe on a clear morning.

Cayambe stands in at 18,996 feet (5,790 meters). It’s a massive glaciated extinct volcano and Ecuador’s third-highest peak. Mark summited Cayambe in just over 6 hours on November 19th, 2019.

  • The entrance to Cayambe lower glacier.
  • Cayambe glacier field.
  • Approaching one of many false summits on Cayambe.

  • Whiteout conditions on Cayambe Summit.
  • Ominous ice wall on Cayambe.