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QUITO. AUGUST, 2004. After hearing that Pepe Jijón, a young Ecuadorian mountain climber, had been the first person to solo climb Mt. McKinley this year, we contacted him and asked him for an interview. Indicative of his gracious and humble demeanor, he readily agreed. It turns out that Pepe is pursuing the prestigious Seven Summits--climbing the highest peaks on all seven continents--and doing it for Ecuador.

GoEcuador: How did you get started with mountain climbing?
Pepe Jijón: My first mountain was Chimborazo, which I climbed when I was 22 years old. It caused me such a grand impression that I decided to change the course of my life of being a psychologist to dedicate myself to mountaineering. I became a mountain guide and have been doing it for 6 years.
GE: Who was your teacher and where did you perfect your mountain climbing knowledge and skills?
JJ: Here in Ecuador with ASEGIM which is the Association of Mountain Guides. I am a certified Mountain Climbing Guide, and have a title for Mountain Rescue which I obtained in the USA.
GE: How did the idea for the Seven Summits arise?
JJ: Out of a necessity to travel. I was a bit saturated with staying here in Ecuador and climbing Cotopaxi over and over again. I decided to throw myself into a super difficult project as a way to increase my self-esteem and my esteem for the people of Ecuador. So then I decided and that is what I am doing.
GE : When did the project begin?
JJ: I started last year with a solo climb of Aconcagua [tallest mountain in South America]. Then in October I went directly to Russia and solo climbed Elbrus which is the tallest mountain in Europe. Then at the end of October I climbed Kilimanjaro the tallest mountain in Africa. With that I had three mountains completed. Finally this past July, I solo climbed McKinley the tallest mountain in North America.

GE: Tell us how were these mountains similar and how were they different?
JJ: They are very different because some are taller than the others. For example, in Argentina, the terrain does not have snow making the climb relatively easy. Elbrus on the other hand is full of snow and is a solitary peak. McKinley is also unique in that it is the mountain with the most snow I have ever seen in my life. It has glaciers more than 50 kilometers long. Getting there is chévere [super cool] because a plane drops you of in the snow and 15 days later they come and pick you up.
GE : The most difficult mountain until now?
JJ: With out a doubt, McKinley
GE: On which did you feel the most alone and what is the emotional difference of climbing alone?
JJ: The mountain on which I felt the most alone was Kilimanjaro. The reason was that for each mountain I take a month for the whole trip. But before going to Kilimanjaro I was in Elbrus. So I was away from my family for two months and missed them terribly. There I felt really alone and I told myself that next time I would go away for only one month. I needed my family and friends and that bothered me.
In addition, the difference between climbing in a group and alone is that when you are alone you have no one else to depend on. Nobody is going to give you a glass of water or fix your tent. You are not going to meet anyone and everything depends on oneself. I consider climbing mountains alone a more pure form of climbing. More difficult yes but ultimately more rewarding.
GE: What are your next goals on this incredible project?
JJ: I still have to climb three more mountains. One is located in Australia and is called Kosciusko. The next one would be Vinson at the South Pole. And finally there is Everest. The chronogram for these three mountains have yet to be defined. I am waiting to see if some sponsors will join the project to decide if I climb one or two this year and one next year.

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