SOUTH AMERICA Colombia
SOUTH AMERICA Colombia R uiz-Tolim a Group, Central Cordillera. P aul M onohan, M ickey N ow ak, Ollie W allock, and I on January 3 climbed N evado de Q uindío,
(c. 4800 meters, 15,748 feet) from the west, a new route. W e reached th e ridge crest at a break in the cornice, traversed the three m ain sum mits, and descended by a knife-edged ridge below the highest peak. Several parties have visited these peaks in recent years. D ate of the first ascent is lost. I climbed with various people the other main sum m its in the group: N evado del Tolim a (17,109 feet), Nevado del Ruiz (17,454 fee t), N evado de Santa Isabel (16,733 feet). All climbs took place in January, 1977. An active fum arole near the sum m it of N evado del T olim a was the scene of the first m ountaineering fatalities am ong Colom bian climbers. H erm ann G onzález and Alfonso Lazano died in A ugust 1976 while exploring snow caves within the fum arole. T heir deaths have been attributed to asphyxiation by volcanic gas. P ie t e r C r o w ,
Green Mountain Club
(c. 4800 meters, 15,748 feet) from the west, a new route. W e reached th e ridge crest at a break in the cornice, traversed the three m ain sum mits, and descended by a knife-edged ridge below the highest peak. Several parties have visited these peaks in recent years. D ate of the first ascent is lost. I climbed with various people the other main sum m its in the group: N evado del Tolim a (17,109 feet), Nevado del Ruiz (17,454 fee t), N evado de Santa Isabel (16,733 feet). All climbs took place in January, 1977. An active fum arole near the sum m it of N evado del T olim a was the scene of the first m ountaineering fatalities am ong Colom bian climbers. H erm ann G onzález and Alfonso Lazano died in A ugust 1976 while exploring snow caves within the fum arole. T heir deaths have been attributed to asphyxiation by volcanic gas. P ie t e r C r o w ,
Green Mountain Club
