A Cotopaxi for Emil

Holger at the summit

As a mountain guide, I’m fortunate to accompany many people in their dreams. Each client places enormous hopes in my hands, and I become the tool that helps them reach them. But this journey was different: it wasn’t with strangers, but with an old high school friend I hadn’t seen in more than twenty years.

Jennifer lives abroad and decided to return to Ecuador with her husband Holger, with one big goal: to climb several mountains and, above all, to reach Cotopaxi. After a few messages and some itinerary adjustments, we put together a plan so they could acclimatize properly and face the challenge in the best possible conditions.

August arrived, and with it the adventure. Two days before we set out, we met to check the gear, talk, and catch up. Seeing Jennifer again and meeting Holger was exciting. That afternoon, over coffee, laughter, and logistics, it already felt like we were ready.

Our first destination was Rucu Pichincha. From the start, conversation flowed as if we had never lost touch. That’s when I learned the story of their son, Emil, who had been born with a rare muscular disease of which only about 500 cases exist worldwide. Emil lived for two and a half years — long enough to fill his parents with love and an unbreakable strength to fight for other children with the same condition. Moved by their experience, Jennifer and Holger founded an association to fund research and support families walking that same path.

From that day on, I knew this journey wouldn’t only be about mountains, but also about memory, love, and resilience.

On Rucu, we chose to climb the ridge: a technical challenge for those unaccustomed to scrambling, but with the best views. Pushing past fears and limits, Jennifer and Holger reached the summit with huge smiles. The next day, we headed to Corazón. The weather was tricky, the ground slippery, and confidence wavered, but step by step they made it to the top. There, Holger pulled out a small toy — Emil’s favorite. With tears in his eyes, he told me his dream had been to one day bring Emil to the summit of Cotopaxi. In that moment, I understood that, in some way, Emil would be with us when we got there.

The itinerary continued with Rumiñahui Central, where we enjoyed a breathtaking view: Cotopaxi, Sincholagua, Illinizas, Corazón, and Pasochoa all in one horizon. The descent gifted us a magical sunset. Then came glacier practice — tough and demanding — where Jennifer chose to step aside so Holger could focus fully on his dream. It would be him, Emil, and me on Cotopaxi.

The big day arrived. After lunch at Tambopaxi, we set out for the refuge under a clear sky and perfect conditions. We chatted with colleagues, had an early dinner, and prepared for the night departure. At 11 p.m., the alarm went off, and what awaited us felt like a gift: the best night of the entire season, with a starry sky and no wind.

At midnight, we began the climb. Steady, focused, stopping only when necessary to recover. A few meters from the summit, we waited half an hour to welcome the sunrise from the very top. And at 6 a.m., we stood on the summit of Cotopaxi. The sun lit up the glacier as if the mountain itself knew that Emil was there with us.

That day was not only the conquest of a peak — it was the celebration of a short but immense life, and the confirmation that dreams, when carried with love, always go further than we can imagine.