This summit joins those of the Cayambe and the North and South Ilinizas, part of the Speed Climbing Challenge project carried out by the national mountaineer.
New conquest for Karl Egloff, this time in the top of Cotopaxi, to add the fourth summit of the Cumbres Chevrolet Speed Climbing Challenge project, which consists of the ascent and descent at speed six of the highest mountains in the country.
The conquest of Cotopaxi it was fulfilled on October 19. Egloff left the José Ribas refuge, climbed the normal route to the summit (5,897 meters) and returned to the starting point in 1 hour 36 minutes 54 seconds, time spent for the 5-kilometer stretch and 1,100 meters of positive elevation gain.
The previous record was in his possession since 2012. “The Cotopaxi record is the most important in the country, so I am happy to have improved my own brand,” said the national mountaineer.
“We started the challenge on a clear day, with an ideal climate. Nevertheless, Due to the heavy rainfall and snowfall of the past days, the mountain was heavily loaded. From 5,400 meters it was difficult to progress due to the amount of snow. I sank at each step and I began to doubt if I was going to achieve it, despite leaving everything, “said the athlete.
“Getting to the top in 1 hour and 19 minutes was longer than my previous attempt. This it forced me to decide if I was going to lower the time with the descent and perhaps risk a lot of descent making a return time to the refuge of less than 17 minutes. I am sure that if I return with better snow conditions we can improve the weather ”, said the Movistar Aventura Team rider.
Climbing for ROMP
Cotopaxi is one of the peaks best known by Egloff due to his activity as a mountain guide, hence this summit was one of those chosen for the Ecuadorian in another project: Climbing for ROMP, which consisted of reaching the summit with members of the Range of Motion Project foundation.
This activity “sought raise awareness of high-quality prosthetic care in underserved populations”, The organization outlined in a statement.
ROMP’s Elite 2021 team included Paralympic athletes, What Lacey Henderson, Team USA, and Vasu Sojitra, who was recently part of the amputee team to perform the first ski descent in Denali, Alaska.
To Elite athletes 2021 Ecuadorian mountaineers also joined, who managed to reach the Cotopaxi summit despite their physical conditions. Additionally, the group completed the ascent to the Rumiñahui volcano, south of Quito.
The activity also sought “raise funds for amputee patients and fulfill their dreams of restoring mobility through a prosthesis ”.
This year the team of Climbing for ROMP has raised over $ 110,000, which will finance the foundation’s work in the United States, Guatemala and Ecuador.
“Never stop dreaming, every summit is achievable; step by step ”, was the message Egoff left for the ROMP mission. (D)
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