South America, Ecuador, Chimborazo, South-Southwest Face

Publication Year: 1986.

Chimborazo, South-Southwest Face. Mike Woolridge and I visited the Ecuadorian Andes for two-and-a-half weeks over Christmas. The weather was generally poor. We ascended Illiniza Norte, Carihairazo Este and over December 30 and 31, 1984, a new 5000-foot route on the south-southwest face of Chimborazo (6267 meters, 20,563 feet). We bivouacked shortly below the summit plateau. The climb had no special technical difficulties, slopes up to about 50° with short steep sections through bergschrund walls. In the upper section there was some route finding through successive sérac barriers and some objective danger from sérac fall and avalanche-prone slopes. There was also a steep, fairly easy but loose rock band near the base of the route.

Lindsay Griffin, Alpine Climbing Group