GUNUNG · Ekuador
Rucu Pichincha
Rucu Pichincha (Volcán Pichincha)
Source
Photo: source
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Source: Open-Meteo
Information
- Elevation
- 4.698 m
- Country
- Ekuador (EC)
- Location / Range
- Kompleks Volkanik Pichincha, Cordillera Occidental Andes — tepat di sisi barat Quito, Ekuador
- Mountain type
- Puncak tua (dorm) dari kompleks stratovolcano Pichincha; puncak pendakian populer di atas Kota Quito (puncak aktif kembarannya adalah Guagua Pichincha)
- Volcanic?
- Yes — volcano
- Coordinates
- -0.1627, -78.5667
- Difficulty
- Sedang: sebagian besar trekking berjalan, tetapi ~200 m terakhir berupa scrambling batu lepas terekspos (Kelas 2–3). Tantangan utama adalah ketinggian ~4.700 m yang menuntut aklimatisasi
- Best Season
- Juni–September (musim lebih kering, langit sering cerah pagi hari). Sepanjang tahun bisa didaki, tetapi kabut dan hujan lazim pada sore hari — mulai pagi
- Permits & Rules
- Tidak ada izin khusus; akses termudah lewat kereta gantung TelefériQo dari Quito ke ~4.050 m. Jalur berada di kawasan terbuka — disarankan tidak sendirian karena pernah ada laporan perampokan di segmen sepi
- Hazards
- Ketinggian ~4.700 m (risiko soroche/altitude sickness); scrambling batu lepas terekspos di dekat puncak; cuaca cepat berubah dengan kabut, hujan, dan angin dingin; mulai pendakian terlalu siang berisiko terjebak badai sore
Description
Rucu Pichincha (~4,698 m) is the older summit of the Pichincha volcanic complex that rises directly on the western edge of Quito, Ecuador's capital. Thanks to the TelefériQo cable car, which lifts hikers from the city to around 4,050 m, it is one of the most accessible high-altitude ascents in the Andes — popular as acclimatisation before higher peaks such as Cotopaxi or Chimborazo. From the upper TelefériQo station the trail follows a grassy ridge with views over the city and the volcano-lined horizon, then turns to volcanic sand and rock. The final push to the summit is a fairly exposed loose-rock scramble that calls for care. Although the distance is moderate, the altitude keeps the pace slow and makes acclimatisation important. Its twin summit, Guagua Pichincha, is a still-active crater that erupted in 1999.
Gallery
Foto bersumber dari Wikimedia Commons — klik untuk memperbesar & lihat sumbernya.
Routes
Ascenso a pie sin teleférico (dari kawasan bawah)
Menengah–sulit (jalur panjang, ketinggian)A cable-car-free alternative: hiking the full ascent on foot from the lower area to the summit. Considerably longer and more tiring, suited to fit hikers wanting altitude training.
Ruta Normal vía TelefériQo (Cruz Loma)
Menengah (scramble berbatu di bagian akhir; ketinggian ~4.700 m)The most popular route: ride the TelefériQo cable car from Quito to Cruz Loma station (~4,050 m), then hike along the open ridge to a final rocky scramble reaching the ~4,698 m summit. Altitude acclimatisation is important.
Climbing Experiences
Rucu Pichincha (~4,698 m), a popular hiking summit on the Pichincha volcanic complex on the western edge of Quito, Ecuador. Hikers highlight the easy access via the TelefériQo cable car, the city-view ridge, and the exposed rock scramble at the end — often used as acclimatisation before higher Andean peaks.
References
The summary above is compiled from the following sources. Click to explore them yourself.