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GE : Have you climbed a mountain higher than 8000 meters?
JJ: No , not yet.
GE: Do you think the altitude will affect you or are you confident that you have the conditioning to do it?
JJ: I still feel a bit intimidated by the 8 meter barrier. For this reason I have in my plans traveling next September to Dhaulagiri which is at 8300 meters. The mountain is not on the list, but I will climb it with Iván Vallejo [famous Ecuadorian climber] since this mountain is on his list. This way I can learn the logistics of the eight thousand. My plan is to solo climb Everest and I don't want to blindly throw myself at it and commit an error.
GE: Have you had an accident or problems at high altitude?
JJ: Yes , on McKinley. I ascended on the Messner Wall which is a ramp 1200 meters long. Since I was climbing alone I was not roped in. On the most difficult part of the climb, a solid blue ice wall with an incline of 70%, I began to feel a little tired and started doubting my crampons. Then I got a leg cramp followed by the other. For three or four minutes I was hanging by my arms 600 meters from the ground.
GE : Did it occur to you that you could have lost your life?
JJ: Yes , but like I said I have lots of confidence and everything turned out fine.

GE: How would you describe our mountains and how are they different from mountain ranges on other continents?
JJ: In other places I have climbed its one mountain right after the other. In Ecuador, each mountain is separate and has its own ecosystem and scenery. For example, I have been on Cayambe enjoying a beautiful climate while nearby Antisana is draped in terrible weather. Another example, our country is the only one where you can drive up by car to 4500 meters, then climb Chimborazo and then later in the afternoon descend to Baños de Agua Santa at just 800 meters above sea level. In any other country it takes seven days by horse and seven days to leave the mountain with guides. In that way Ecuador is unique.
GE: How do you promote your activities?
JJ: I do it in two ways. One is the media: TV, radio, magazines, Internet. I tell them my story and try to motivate them to write about my projects. The other is through film and photo expositions that I realize at the Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana. I show videos of 1, 2 or 3 hours about my trips through which I hope to motivate people to travel and love nature.