Ecuador

Ecuador is about as perfect a climbing destination as any in the world. Besides having two climbing seasons - June to August and December to February - Ecuador offers an established local climbing community, plenty of equipment shops and available supplies, easy physical access to its peaks, and a relatively low-cost and hassle-free climbing experience. For climbers seeking ideal, high-altitude practice after learning to snow and ice climb in the Rockies and Alps, this is the place. This is a straightforward guide to twenty of the country's major peaks, including the volcanic Big 10. Well-illustrated, this guide also provides you with advice on preparations, local transportation, supplies, climbing resources, and health tips. Covers routes on twenty mountains, half of them more than 5,000 meters (16,405 feet), illustrated with 25 photographs, 17 maps, and 24 topos, includes background on Ecuador's history and geology.