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
In common usage, climate change describes global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes to E ...
, 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 above sea level; in January 2007 its lowest point was at above sea level. If this melting rate continues, the glacier is expected to disappear before 2055.
Directions to access the mountain
You can access Ritacuba Blanco either from the Cocuy or Guican in the Boyaca 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
North 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
*
List of peaks by prominence
This is a list of mountain peaks ordered by their topographic prominence.
Terminology
The prominence of a peak is the minimum height of climb to the summit on any route from a higher peak, or from sea level if there is no higher peak. The lowest ...
*
List of Ultras of South America
This is a list of the 209 ultra prominent peaks, or Ultras in South America. An ''Ultra'' is a mountain summit with a topographic prominence of or more.
Guiana Highlands
Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Cordillera Oriental, Cordillera de Mér ...
Notes
References
* John Biggar, ''The Andes, A Guide for Climbers'', Andes, 3rd edition, 2005,
External links
Close up of the Summit Ritacuba Blanco and places around it Parque Nacional Natural El CocuyInfo in Spanish about the National Park where the Ritacuba Blanco is located.
Ritacuba Blanco
Ritacuba Blanco
Geography of Boyacá Department
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