Summiting four of Ecuador's iconic volcanoes

The May 26 Mountaineers meeting will feature a talk by Sarah Wright and Eric that shares their experiences summiting four of Ecuador's iconic (and highest) volcanoes - Cayambe, Cotopaxi, Antisana, and Chimborazo - across two very different but equally rewarding trips in 2025. Even the least of the peaks reaches almost 19,000 feet, while 20,560-foot Chimborazo is the point on the Earth’s surface farthest from the Earth’s center.

One expedition was a structured climb with a large US‑based guide service; the other was a custom itinerary built in collaboration with a local Ecuadorian guide. The talk will compare and contrast the different experiences, discussing what was learned from each. Sarah and Eric will share the logistics, gear that mattered most, how they prepared to reach an altitude exceeding 20,000 feet, and their experience enjoying the scenery, refugios, and historic haciendas of the Ecuadorian Andes.  

As native New Mexicans with backgrounds in geology, Erik and Sarah both love the outdoors and have enjoyed many activities since moving to the Jemez Mountains in 2022 - including mountain biking, hiking, endurance running and a variety of snow sports. Climbing Mt. Rainier in 2024 sparked an interest in glacial climbing, and in addition to the Ecuador volcanoes, the couple has tackled mountains in the Cascade range and are steadily working through the 14ers of the lower 48 and the US state highpoints.

We welcome all to this Mountaineers’ meeting on the regular fourth Tuesday of the month. The social hour, with cookies, begins at 6:45 PM and the program at 7:00 PM. The presentation will be in-person at Los Alamos Nature Center; the slides will be live-streamed on Zoom. Registration is required to Zoom and recommended for in-person – we would love to see your smiling face. Registration details will be posted once available.

Snowfield high in the Ecuadorian Andes