Ritacuba Negro, Northwest Face, 1980-1. Sergio Gaviria, Colombian, A. Antoine, Swiss and Ecuadorians R. Navarrete and M. Suárez climbed directly the northwest face of Ritacuba Negro (5389 meters, 17,680 feet), a very fine and elegant route, wholly on ice (December 29, 1980). The next day both Ecuadorians marched up the valley between the western and eastern branches of the range and continued to ascend Castillo by way of its west ridge. They bivouacked on an exposed place and on December 31 they reached the summit (5123 meters,16,808 feet). Route used is a variant of the one opened in 1978 by Colombians. On January 2, 1981, the two Ecuadorians made an ascent of Pico Sin Nombre (Pico Nordeste), about 16,400 feet high.

Evelio EchevarrÍa