October 25, 2016, Cayambe - Equatorial Powder Day
10/25/16
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On a ski mountaineering trip in Ecuador. First objective: Cayambe, part of which is actually at 0º latitude -- the only place in the world where there is regular snow on the Equator.
Started at the climbers' hut (refugio) around 15,000' and spent two days doing some light touring on the glacier to acclimatize. Yesterday a thunderstorm rolled in and chased us off the mountain by mid-afternoon, but it turned into a snowstorm that cleared by midnight. Cold air doesn't always stick around at this latitude, but the 4-6" sparkled under our headlamps on the skin up to nearly 19,000'. The problem with powder here: all it takes is an hour of equatorial sun and it's toast. We tagged the summit at 7 am and hightailed it down for what my guide, Seattleite-by-way-of-Ecuador Pablo Puruncajas, determined was the best snow he'd ever skied in his home country.
Started at the climbers' hut (refugio) around 15,000' and spent two days doing some light touring on the glacier to acclimatize. Yesterday a thunderstorm rolled in and chased us off the mountain by mid-afternoon, but it turned into a snowstorm that cleared by midnight. Cold air doesn't always stick around at this latitude, but the 4-6" sparkled under our headlamps on the skin up to nearly 19,000'. The problem with powder here: all it takes is an hour of equatorial sun and it's toast. We tagged the summit at 7 am and hightailed it down for what my guide, Seattleite-by-way-of-Ecuador Pablo Puruncajas, determined was the best snow he'd ever skied in his home country.
Wow, good one! Makes skiing powder in April before it gets sloppy look like child's play, I bet.
Sounds like once-in-a-lifetime conditions on a unique mountain. Would love to see high-res pictures when you get the chance.
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