It all started when Foundation founder Ryan Kelley decided to channel his new found passion for the outdoors into something greater, and he began asking friends to climb mountains to raise money and awareness for a boy battling cancer named Alec.

In 2015, Ryan and April McCoy, Foundation Treasurer, climbed Mt. Rainier. They raised $14,000 for Friends of Kids With Cancer. We’ve been expanding our goals every year since. Eight years later, we have summitted mountains each year and invite you to join us for the biggest yet!

Starting on August 16th, our team will summit the highest peak in Ecuador to raise funding and awareness for kids battling cancer and life-threatening illnesses. We climb for the kids. Join us as we will head down to South America to summit Chimborazo, the closest point to the sun at 20,549′, to support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. 

100% of donations will support St. Jude!

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Event Details

Dates: August 16 - 20

Location: Chimborazo Peak near Quito, Ecuador

Difficulty: Very difficult. Requires prior technical glacier experience. See prerequisite section below. 

Entry Fee: $2,250 (travel & technical mountain rentals not included - see details below)

Registration deadline: May 15, 2022 to arrange guides and technical mountain equipment (upon request)

Fundraising Minimum: $5,000 per participant

Schedule of events (subject to change) 

• 8/15: Arrive at Quito, Ecuador (arranged by climber)
• 8/16: 8am Itinerary review and summit Rucu Pichincha peak (15,695')
• 8/17: Arrive at Chimborazo's lodge to acclimatize and hike west side slopes (16,400')
• 8/18: Arrive at Chimborazo's Moraine Camp (17,716') and camp on ridge
• 8/19: Acclimation day at Moraine Camp
• 8/20: Summit Chimborazo (20,548') and depart for home late in day

Prerequisite: This climb requires a Mount Rainier (or equivalent with glacier experience) prior. Climbers must have basic knowledge of progression on snow and ice, self-arrest, and glacier travel. Snow and ice slopes are of moderate angle (up to 45 degrees). These requirements are also based on our desire to have similarly skilled team members. Mountaineering Day School, Advanced Mountaineering Day School, and 2-day Cravasse Rescue School at International Mountain Guides is recommended (https://www.mountainguides.com...)

What's Included

• Fully guided Chimborazo expedition and acclimatization activities with Peru Andes Guide company. Learn more here: www.peruandesguide.net
• 2:1 Guide Ratio
• Private Transportation to/from airport to Quito hotel.
• Private Transportation to approach the mountains and back.
• Professional Mountain guides for acclimatization activities, hikes, and climbs.
• Hotel in Quito 3 night
• High altitude Lodge 1 nights.
• 2 days, Professional Chefs at high camp in Chimborazo.
• The entrance fee to the national park.
• 2 days, All camp infrastructure (kitchen tent, dining tent, toilet tent) established infrastructure.
• 2 nights sleeping tent for the high camp.
• Food while in the mountain (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
• Porters to carry maintain gear. (no personal gear)
• Technical Mountain equipment rental upon request $270/person.

Not Included

• International or local flights.
• Clothing and personal mountain equipment (Mountain equipment rental upon request)
• Food in the city.
• Personal expenses on emergency evacuation and medical care.
• Personal First aid kit, we highly recommend getting a prescription from your doctor for some medication for high altitude illness.
• Anything else that is not mentioned.

Training Plan: REI - How to Train for Mountaineering

There's still time to donate!

Gear List

Mountain Technical Equipment: $ 270 USD per person (upon request)

• crampons
• Warm mountaineering boots
• harness
• 2 carabiners
• prussik cord
• Ice axes
• helmet
• sleeping bag (comfort zone -10°C)
• sleeping pad

Personal Clothing and gear (each participant must provide). Click here for recommendations

• Hiking shoes
• 2 pair of warm socks
• long thermic underwear (merino, wool or synthetic)
• Waterproof pants
• inner gloves
• warm gloves
• long sleeved thermic under wear (merino, wool or synthetic)
• polar fleece jacket or insulating layer-lightweight.
• Insulating layer - medium weight
• down jacket
• hard shell jacket
• 25+ Liter backpack
• 50-60 liter pack to carry all your personal gear(give porters to carry).
• 2L liquid container
• several buffs or balaclava
• warm hat
• ball cap or sun hat.
• headlamp (new battery)
• light pants
• Trekking poles (optional)
• Crocs or sandals (optional)
• Extra layer of thermal underwear for both upper and lower body
• Duffel Bag(s) - 120+ liter bag for your equipment

Please donate to support our cause!

Keep Climbing Foundation is a 501(c)(3) that organizes mountain climbing fundraisers in order to raise money and awareness for children’s and Veterans’ causes. KeepClimbingFoundation.org

Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor

Thank you to our Gear Partners!

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