This week’s Loop of the Week features Upthere’s Nathan Cormier and his mountaineering trip in Ecuador. After attending mountaineering school at Mt. Rainer last July, Nathan wanted to apply the skills to larger mountains. He found a trip to Ecuador by International Mountain Guides and decided to go for it.
Nathan’s trip was two weeks long which meant that he and his fellow trekkers had a few day to recover between major climbs. There were five peaks on the itinerary: Fuya Fuya (13,986ft), Imbabura (15,190ft), Cayambe (19,000ft), Antisana (18,714ft), and Chimborazo (20,549ft). Each climb took approximately 12–16 hours.
As expected, climbing the mountains was no easy feat and there was no shortage of challenges. From falling ill, slipping and falling, to medical emergencies, Nathan experienced it all. Through it all, Nathan said that “there’s nothing quite like experiencing the Freedom of the Hills”.
To see more of Nathan’s intense and exhilarating trip, check out his breathtaking photos in our Loop of the Week.
