After a last surf at the mexican coast I finally arrived in Quito, Ecuador, to meet up with the summits4kids crew. The aim of this project is on one side to climb and ride the peaks of the three giant volcanoes, Cayambe (5792m), Chimborazo (6310m) and Cotopaxi (5897m) during the coming three weeks, and on the other hand to raise funds through our action by means of a sport challenge to support an NGO called Talita Kumi in Quito which is assisting adolescent girls and young mothers in need.
To climb and ride high altitude mountains is something new to me because i usually do climb up on mountains to find and ride the best snow in the best terrain. However, I like the crazy idea to use my snowboard in the tropical mountains here right at the equator, and I also think that the summits4kids project is a really valuable project to be part of.
After walking around in Quito today which is already on an altitude of almost 3000m we will do some acclimatization hikes higher up during the next couple of days. Then our first mission will be the attempt to climb and ride Cayambe.
 picture by chris figenshau |
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The crew members:
Beside Bibi Pekarek and myself who represent the Snowboarders on this trip the team consists of the freeskiers and founders of summits4kids Marja Persson from Sweden and Giulia Monego from Italy. Further Kasha Rigby, an US Skier and mountaineer, the italian skier and mountainguide Jacopo Bufacchi and a local Ecuadorian mountain guide named Gaspar. In charge of photos for this trip is Chris Figenshau from the US.
To find out more about summits4kids and how you could support the Talita Kumi place of refuge for teenage girls and young mothers who are struggling in the difficult reality of Quito please visit: www.summits4kids.org
