South America, Colombia, Alto Ritacuba and Other Peaks, Cordillera Oriental

Publication Year: 1979.

Alto Ritacuba and Other Peaks, Cordillera Oriental. Two expeditions from our club were active in the northern portion of the Cocuy or Güicán district. On December 23, 1977, Rosa Pabón and I ascended Alto Ritacuba, highest in the entire range (5464 meters, 17, 928 feet) by its standard route. E Gómez, R. Hansen, E. Paparoni and S. Pérez repeated the ascent the following day. Two days later, Rosa Pabón and I ascended Puntiagudo (5019 meters, 16,466 feet) and Púlpito Negro (4930 meters, 16,175 feet), both third ascents. At Easter 1978 we returned to the range. Elio Zambrano and I climbed for the first time the very fine south face of Alto Ritacuba in five hours of ascent from our high camp up steep slopes alternating with deep crevasses.

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