Ritacuba Blanco is the highest peak of Cordillera Oriental, in the Andes Mountains of Colombia. It's also named Ritak'uwa, an ancient name from the U'wa indigenous people that live in the lowlands of the National Park Sierra Nevada del Cocuy y Güicán, where the Ritacuba Blanco is located. The summit is accessible from the west via the town of El Cocuy, the village of Güicán, and the hamlet of Las Cabañas. The hike is fairly easy, but the weather is not reliable, and a glacier must be crossed. Because of global warming, its glacier is melting at very high rates, backing down 25 linear mts per year; the same is happening at amazing speeds to all other snow-covered tropical mountains in Colombia. In 1950, Ritacuba Blanco's glacier extended down to 4,100 metres (13,500 ft) above sea level; in January 2007 its lowest point was at 4,500 metres (14,800 ft) above sea level. If this melting rate continues, the glacier is expected to disappear before 2055.
| Ritacuba Blanco | |
|---|---|
 Ritacuba Blanco from the west | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 5,410 m (17,750 ft)[1] |
| Prominence | 3,645 m (11,959 ft)[1] Ranked 46th |
| Listing | Ultra |
| Coordinates | 06°29′39″N 72°17′51″W / 6.49417°N 72.29750°W[1] |
| Geography | |
  Ritacuba Blanco Location in Colombia | |
| Location | Sierra Nevada del Cocuy, Colombia |
| Parent range | Cordillera Oriental, Colombia; Andes |
| Topo map | CIGM Sheet 137 |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | glacial hike |
Directions to access the mountain
editYou can access Ritacuba Blanco either from the Cocuy or Güicán in the Boyacá department. After departing from either town you have to travel to Kanwara to start the main hike to the base of the mountain.
Climbing Routes
editNorth West: It is the normal route which is easy technically. You will need basic mountaineering knowledge to climb up the mountain.
East: This route is closed. However this route has great challenges for big wall climbers.
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ a b c "Colombia: 22 Mountain Summits with Prominence of 1,500 meters or greater" Peaklist.org. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
References
edit- John Biggar, The Andes, A Guide for Climbers, Andes, 3rd edition, 2005, ISBN 0-9536087-2-7
External links
edit- Close up of the Summit Ritacuba Blanco and places around it
- Parque Nacional Natural El Cocuy Info in Spanish about the National Park where the Ritacuba Blanco is located.
- Ritacuba Blanco on Andes site
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