Chimborazo

In the myth of the Quechua people, who live in Ecuador and Peru, Chimborazo represents Taita (Father) whereas neighboring Tungurahua is seen as Mama.
The inactive volcano Chimborazo is the highest mountain of Ecuador with 6263 m and rises 2500 m above the surrounding highlands (pic 1 and 2). To the West it descends towards the plains of coastal Ecuador (pic 4). Chimborazo’s summit is the farthest point from Earth’s center, because it is located very close to the equator along the planet’s equatorial bulge. The summit of Mount Everest is of course much higher above sea level, but the summit of Chimborazo is a little further away from Earth’s center, with Huascarán a very close second. Therefore the summit of Chimborazo is also the point on the planet where the gravitational force is weakest.

In 2013 I wanted to climb Chimborazo with a local guide starting from Whymper Hut, where guides and hikers can spend the night. You can see Carrel Hut (4,850 m) and – a little above – Whymper Hut (5,000 m) at the foot of the impressive Taita (pic 2). But for two reasons the ascend was not possible: First I got sick with diarrhea in the night, but then all trips had to be cancelled, because the guides deemed the risk of rock slides too high. Through the melting and the recession of the glaciers on Chimborazo more and more rocks, which had been bound by the solid ice earlier, are becoming loose. Another hiker and I had to abandon our plans of reaching the summit.