The Last Glaciers of Colombia
Video and images from the volcano Nevado de Santa Isabel in the Colombian Andes.
Standing atop the fragile, shimmering ice at nearly 5,000 meters above sea level, it was hard not to feel the weight of geological history. Colombia, a country more often associated with verdant rainforests, towering Andean peaks, and vibrant cities, holds yet another secret: glaciers. But these glaciers, like most around the planet, are vanishing.
What you’ll find below are photographs from my very recent ascent of Nevado de Santa Isabel, a 5,000-metre-high volcano in the heart of Colombia.
The goal of the trip was simple yet profound: to document some of the last remaining glaciers in Colombia before they disappear entirely. Over the past 10-20 years, the nation’s icy remnants have been retreating at an alarming rate. Experts predict that within 20 to 25 years, Colombia will be ice-free. What remains today are only a handful of pocket glaciers, precariously clinging to the volcanic peaks of the Andes.
Fellow photographer Kristopher Andres and I set out to visit one of these glaciers, an ethereal patch of ice perched high on the slopes of Nevado de Santa Isabel. From that vantage point, we could see two more glaciers on neighbouring volcanoes. The state of the glaciers was sobering.
Amidst this grim reality, there was an undeniable sense of awe. To stand on ice at such an altitude in South America, knowing it may have only 2-3 years left, was a special experience. For now, glacier travel gear was essential for this climb, but in a few years, it will probably just be a hike to the summit—a stark reminder of the pace of change.
Cryophilia Project is my journey to document these last glaciers before they are relegated to memory only. As such, I am so grateful for the time I spent high up in the Colombian Andes.
Absolutely amazing! Thanks for sharing!
Absolutely brilliant Paul. I would love to come trekking with you. I am considering Mt. Kailash or Gokyo Ri in April. Let me know if you might be around Nepal then haha.