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- Dec 24, 2013
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Climbing in the Cocuy Range of Colombia
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FRitacuba_high_camp.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=7be2fb7026f04e8c7e87acd1ea4f3349 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FRitacuba_high_camp.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=893a5c14721f6f54bdc4ecd7e21420d1 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FRitacuba_high_camp.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=9ccca75d6f64d58a381ad7664730ae6f 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FRitacuba_high_camp.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=57902311111dec8c24cbb0399e7ee10e 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FRitacuba_high_camp.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=03052d38a418be02d4a594dbf5b282f5 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FRitacuba_high_camp.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=e7066484a033878c7cfc53c7d0d7733a 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FRitacuba_high_camp.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=b24df0bc7a2cdc9adb046b39321c11de 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FRitacuba_high_camp.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=50c642f91bb76d9c3d2ee62d9f82e0f2 800w)
High Camp at Ritacuba Blanco. Juan Carlos Gonzalez photo
Our first Colombian Andes expedition of the season was a great success! The team got to experience the absolute beauty of the Cocuy Mountain range that few foreigners have been so lucky to see. From their base camp at Laguna Grande de la Sierra, they had their pick of many different summit options. Check out some of their dispatches from during the trip below:
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FGordon_at_Pico_del_Aguilas_Summit.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=cdbc6aa524afff5819f3459cffd4c72c 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FGordon_at_Pico_del_Aguilas_Summit.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=7ea1e5ebfdd6a205b70a6fdf466889d3 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FGordon_at_Pico_del_Aguilas_Summit.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=b00a5e24a2c2f2ffb525ba9176ddbc3f 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FGordon_at_Pico_del_Aguilas_Summit.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=c8113ba2f6de4be233318b8d4fc2efef 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FGordon_at_Pico_del_Aguilas_Summit.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=f920528a5aeab9288b2a838b5433cf42 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FGordon_at_Pico_del_Aguilas_Summit.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=fb7b7ec44b2ea929b9303ac27549fe50 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FGordon_at_Pico_del_Aguilas_Summit.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=cd04196dce99852dc146b6dc61844ad1 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FGordon_at_Pico_del_Aguilas_Summit.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=7b91a57973ab9c974d21c273fe793838 800w)
Gordon at the summit of Pico del Aguilas. Juan Carlos Gonzalez photo
December 5th:
“These past couple days, the group has climbed two acclimatization peaks: Montserrate (12,520 ft/3816 m) and Pico del Aguilas (12,795ft/3900 m). All members are very well acclimatized and the spirit is high! At the moment, they are heading for the base camp at Laguna Grande de la Sierra, at 14,810ft/4514 m, where tomorrow they will attempt one of the main summits: El Concavo at 17,060ft/5200 m.”
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FGordon_and_asistant_Guide_Raphael_on_the_glacier_of_Concavo.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=7d20e1f6331e92d9ee80c21a4a02931e 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FGordon_and_asistant_Guide_Raphael_on_the_glacier_of_Concavo.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=0d7119231377da58e09eecbd0a33bb80 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FGordon_and_asistant_Guide_Raphael_on_the_glacier_of_Concavo.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=34da17e3d620fcd7d7459b16151e91bd 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FGordon_and_asistant_Guide_Raphael_on_the_glacier_of_Concavo.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=d850ddbfa3f34db82aba0b69ad86d1a0 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FGordon_and_asistant_Guide_Raphael_on_the_glacier_of_Concavo.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=30d890faa2ec5b2ef25782616d185d6b 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FGordon_and_asistant_Guide_Raphael_on_the_glacier_of_Concavo.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=6c5c71031ca62ec4763c983302bd115f 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FGordon_and_asistant_Guide_Raphael_on_the_glacier_of_Concavo.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=d97819c8caff46be699bc1a4e29507e8 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FGordon_and_asistant_Guide_Raphael_on_the_glacier_of_Concavo.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=4da230ca43b9abd52574c3d9f1177004 800w)
Gordon and assistant guide Raphael on the glacier of Concavo. Juan Carlos Gonzalez photo
December 10th:
“We have had some very exciting days at the campsite Laguna Grande. Bill and Dorothy reached the summits of Toti and Concavo while Gordon made some really good summit attempts. Sunday morning we moved to the northern campsite at Kanwara. We spent last night at the high camp of Ritacuba Blanco.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBill_and_Dorothy_on_the_Concavos_ascent_at_sunrise.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=f05888dd98ea0fed385fd4dab8d99654 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBill_and_Dorothy_on_the_Concavos_ascent_at_sunrise.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=169e6f1b59a23a6513e77453a7450615 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBill_and_Dorothy_on_the_Concavos_ascent_at_sunrise.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=458f408236771f6a0070063f532dd5e6 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBill_and_Dorothy_on_the_Concavos_ascent_at_sunrise.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=4888762a4ea24b6e88074ddc17fb6da9 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBill_and_Dorothy_on_the_Concavos_ascent_at_sunrise.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=a316049cbb3ca98f1a91e14a20fbd71c 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBill_and_Dorothy_on_the_Concavos_ascent_at_sunrise.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=5ad3dad68fa6b45ecefa7a87654deb6a 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBill_and_Dorothy_on_the_Concavos_ascent_at_sunrise.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=94971aa4d596d58c190d1073643ae703 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBill_and_Dorothy_on_the_Concavos_ascent_at_sunrise.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=f1bf4f6ae390a6d96bacd73955de88ef 800w)
Bill and Dorothy ascending Concavo at sunrise. Juan Carlos Gonzalez photo
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBill_nad_Dorothy_on_the_steep_section_of_Toti.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=a6929d0ecb7ab97fa518764c917f63ba 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBill_nad_Dorothy_on_the_steep_section_of_Toti.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=bc1ff103abf6cfdfb49a1cfeffda7bb0 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBill_nad_Dorothy_on_the_steep_section_of_Toti.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=27d636753ecc9f8cb4dbaec9335b8ebc 600w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBill_nad_Dorothy_on_the_steep_section_of_Toti.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=8c1b2143005e978cc15dc81737b8cdb1 600w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBill_nad_Dorothy_on_the_steep_section_of_Toti.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=d912adbcf690a994d5a078c8e73b71b4 600w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBill_nad_Dorothy_on_the_steep_section_of_Toti.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=dd697ba16ccdcc361c77e3a5f3c53e3c 600w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBill_nad_Dorothy_on_the_steep_section_of_Toti.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=5bc68f594044b51104c9a658265f8841 600w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBill_nad_Dorothy_on_the_steep_section_of_Toti.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=c99a28eb61fd554d4009d72935800a05 600w)
Bill and Dorothy on the steep section of Toti. Juan Carlos Gonzalez photo
This morning the expedition team summited Ritacuba Blanco at 17,750ft/5410 m. The winds were strong but we were lucky there was no precipitation.The weather has been good these past few days the views of the snow-covered peaks were spectacular. The group is now heading down to Cocuy were they will spend a night before the journey back to Bogotá.”
~ MM Guide Juan Carlos Gonzalez Camacho
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBill_and_Dorothy_on_the_summit_of_Ritacuba_Blanco.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=24afb55943f225a80d035752fc52fa92 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBill_and_Dorothy_on_the_summit_of_Ritacuba_Blanco.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=5896bbf2418007208fbec03a408209fe 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBill_and_Dorothy_on_the_summit_of_Ritacuba_Blanco.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=f6bee2429290b2cbbca1a57b0e3fd3b2 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBill_and_Dorothy_on_the_summit_of_Ritacuba_Blanco.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=1bd87dadff36fec4c1e7e971fe150e3b 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBill_and_Dorothy_on_the_summit_of_Ritacuba_Blanco.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=d895af0d4787ea21cc08fa24b6e85cb3 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBill_and_Dorothy_on_the_summit_of_Ritacuba_Blanco.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=87b1cc39486b19cb92041aa3c759a4a7 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBill_and_Dorothy_on_the_summit_of_Ritacuba_Blanco.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=322b2b58ab9dda656f6c5ed478c90c1b 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBill_and_Dorothy_on_the_summit_of_Ritacuba_Blanco.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=7a80cac5ae13b7f5fea929d2f1f4d53e 800w)
Bill and Dorothy at the summit of Ritacuba Blanco. Juan Carlos Gonzalez photo