Officially dubbed the Rockies to Ecuador International Leadership Semester, this course packs a punch in ways you don’t see coming. In true Outward Bound tradition, the hardships and challenges on this course are considerable, but the rewards are plenty.
At the time of this writing, we currently have students on the Ecuador stretch of this course, which started back in September. They’ve completed their tour of the Rocky Mountains and the desert southwest. They’ve backpacked for miles, become masters of setting camp, cooking and working together. They’ve tackled challenges on rock faces, in slot canyons and learned to lead, to follow, and to support each other. And that was only Phase 1.
The second leg of their journey takes them to Ecuador, where their weeks of backpacking, mountaineering, rock climbing and technical skills training will culminate in one epic adventure. They’re in “snow school” on Antisana now, learning to navigate glaciers, use new tools, and function at high altitude.
Antisana, where students honed technical mountaineering skills.
Students ice climbing on Antisana in preparation for their Cotopaxi climb.
Antisana (18,714’) is the fourth highest mountain in Ecuador. It has a reputation as one of the most technical climbs in the Ecuadorian Andes, so naturally, the students are learning some pretty hardcore skills. Antisana sits in the shadow of its more famous counterpart, Cotopaxi. Towering at 19,347’, Cotopaxi is one of the highest active volcanoes in the world. This sure beats the classrooms many of their friends are sitting in right now. Oh, and many of our students are still getting college credit.
The Antisana base camp had an amazing view of Cotopaxi.
While the Rockies to Ecuador International Leadership Semester is all that and a bag of muesli, this 81-day course is an unforgettable rite of passage.
Learn more about this course by watching the video above.
