Skip to Content

Stories: Ecuador Climbing School

Mountain adventures create the best stories, and we want to share some of ours with you. Dive into Alpenglow Stories to stay up to date on expeditions in the field, read blogs, and get tips and tricks from guides.

Esteban 'Topo' Mena coiling a rope while guiding a Cotopaxi Expedition with Alpenglow Expeditions.

“Give Yourself the Time”: Graduating from Trekking to Climbing with Topo Mena

While ‘walking’ may sound trivial, a number of big mountains involve a lot of walking, albeit in extreme places. To talk about the journey, we connected with IFMGA-certified Alpenglow guide Esteban ‘Topo’ Mena about graduating from trekking to climbing. For beginners, he had this advice to offer: “At first, it’s important to give yourself the time to walk in the mountains and appreciate the land and the opportunity to just be there.”
Read the story
everest guides, everest routes, everest guided trip, mount everest map, mount everest peak, where is mt everest?

Five Expeditions Before Climbing Everest with Topo Mena

Now that Everest season is in full swing, this week we connected with IFMGA-certified Alpenglow guide Esteban ‘Topo’ Mena to talk about five expeditions that are perfect for building the experience necessary to climb the tallest mountain in the world.
Read the story
Climbers stand on the summit crater after climbing Cotopaxi.

Cotopaxi is OPEN!

Cotopaxi, the legendary stratovolcano in Ecuador, is now open for climbing once again, and Alpenglow Expeditions is ready to lead the way!
Read the story
Climb Cotopaxi in just 5 days with Alpenglow Expeditions' Rapid Ascent program.

Five Essential Questions for Climbing Cotopaxi

If you’re considering tackling Cotopaxi, you likely have some burning questions. Fear not! We’ve compiled the top five questions about climbing Cotopaxi from Google and provided comprehensive answers to ensure you’re well-prepared for your expedition.
Read the story
Two climbers scale an expansive white snowfield high above the alpine plains of Ecuador.

February ’24 Ecuador Climbing School Recap

A few days ago, I was fortunate to connect with Ignacio ‘Nacho’ Espinosa, Lead Guide from our February ‘24 Ecuador Climbing School, to recap our most recent trip to the volcanoes of Ecuador.
Read the story
One of three peaks climbed during Alpenglow Expeditions' Ecuador Climbing School intro to high-altitude mountaineering course.

Only a Few Spots Remaining in Ecuador!

For aspiring climbers seeking the perfect introduction to high-altitude pursuits, Alpenglow Expeditions’ Ecuador Climbing School offers an ideal blend of instruction, exploration, and hands-on experience.
Read the story
One of three peaks climbed during Alpenglow Expeditions' Ecuador Climbing School intro to high-altitude mountaineering course.

Ecuador Climbing School Season Is Here

Join Alpenglow to climb South America’s most formidable peaks!
Read the story

How To Run an International Mountaineering Program during a Pandemic

These are uncertain times. While we can’t eliminate all the variables, our team has done a lot of legwork to make it possible to travel as responsibly as possible given…
Read the story

Ecuador Climbing School is Underway!

We’re Back! We are beyond excited to welcome climbers back to our international programs for the first time in almost a year. After an 8-month shutdown of our entire international program,…
Read the story

COVID-19 Protocols for Expeditions in Ecuador

Following the shut down of our entire international program in March of 2020, Ecuador will be the first country outside of the U.S. that Alpenglow Expeditions will venture back to….
Read the story