Pico Abanico, South Face, Sierra Nevada de Mérida. On February 25, E. Gómez, S. Pérez and I made the first ascent direct of the south face of Pico Abanico (“The Fan,” 4900 meters, 16,076 feet). The Busk expedition had followed an oblique route, that ascends from the southwest to the summit facing the south (A.A.J., 1962, P. 503). We followed the prominent pillar that rises directly to the summit and splits the south face. The climb took 8 hours.

José Betancourt, Centro Excursionismo y Andinismo Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida