Bergführer Ecuador

Overview and scope

Günter Schmudlach’s Ecuador is an ambitious, all-in-one mountaineering companion that spans everything from acclimatization basics and safety to detailed peak itineraries. The focus is alpine: classic glaciated summits, high volcano scrambles, rock objectives, multi-day treks, and day hikes around Quito. The tone is pragmatic and field-led, reflecting years of repeat visits and a clear-eyed view of Andean realities.

Structure and features

The guide opens with compact chapters on geography, climate, navigation (maps, altimeter, compass, GPS), health and rescue, transport, huts, and equipment—useful for first-time Andean climbers. Route chapters are grouped by activity: Hikes, Treks, Mountain Routes, Glacier Routes, Rock Climbs, and Jungle Peaks. Each objective includes approaches, time estimates, difficulty grading, key elevations, hazards, and often intelligent variants (e.g., scenic descents or better bivouac spots). Custom maps and shaded sketches are clean and legible; photo plates help with terrain recognition. A section on responsible tourism and brief cultural notes adds welcome context.

Route coverage

Coverage is impressively broad:

• Glacier routes: Cayambe, Antisana, Cotopaxi (north and south routes), Chimborazo.
• Mid-altitude volcanoes and acclimatization peaks: Imbabura, the Pichinchas, Corazón, the Rumiñahuis, Iliniza Norte, Tungurahua, Cubillín, and more.
• Rock and mixed objectives: Cotacachi, Las Puntas, Morurcu, Quilindaña, Carihuairazo, El Altar.
• Treks: Cotopaxi–Antisana traverse, Altar Trek, Llanganati, Cajas NP, Tungurahua circuit.
• “Jungle mountains”: Reventador, Sumaco, Cerro Hermoso, Sangay.

This breadth allows logical progression from páramo walks to 5,000–6,000 m glacier climbs.

Field use and accuracy

For mountaineers, the guide’s strengths are its route-finding detail, hazard awareness (notably crevasse and avalanche issues), and logistics down to bus lines, 4x4 access, huts, and fees. Waypoints and elevations are frequent; alternatives are thoughtfully described. As with any Andean guide—especially on glaciated routes—access, hut status, and glacier geometry evolve. Treat road, permit, and fee information as baseline and verify current conditions before departure.

Verdict

Thorough, practical, and wide-ranging, this guide remains one of the most useful single volumes for climbing in Ecuador—equally valuable for planning an acclimatization ladder and for tackling the big four. Strongly recommended for mountaineers and ambitious trekkers who will pair it with up-to-date local intel and maps.

Details

Weight

490g

Pages

328

Publisher

Panico Alpinverlag