The highest mountain in the northern Andes will miss the man who, for more than 60 years, climbed to its summit in search of ice. This Friday, the municipality of Guano announced the death of Baltasar Ushca, the last ‘hielero’ of Ecuador.
«A national and international icon, whose work and legacy will endure in the collective memory of our land and beyond. His dedication and history have inspired generations, making him a symbol of resistance, resilience, culture and love for our traditions,” they wrote from the municipality on social networks.
Even the former president of Ecuador Rafael Correa sent his condolences on the social network X: “Farewell, Baltazar, and thank you for so much.” For her part, former presidential candidate Luisa González stressed that Ushca’s life honored the greatness of ancestral traditions and respect for nature. “May his legacy inspire new generations to value our cultural identity,” he said.
The last ice maker was already 80 years old, but he used to go once a week by donkey to an area located about 4,700 meters from Chimborazo to bite the glacier and then go down with the frozen blocks on his back, wrapped in straw, with the intention of marketing them. in the urban area of Guano. Each of the pieces could weigh about 10 kilos.
On that journey he was usually accompanied by his son-in-law, Juan Ushca, who learned the trade and was his main partner. In 2017, the RT team ascended Chimborazo with Baltazar to understand the difficulties of a rare job, which only left them about $30 in profits.
The death of the legendary icemaker did not occur during the arduous climb. According to the local press, a domestic accident with one of his animals caused him to fall, so the man was urgently admitted to a hospital in Riobamba last Thursday.
Baltazar Water
Until a few years ago, the destination of the Chimborazo ice blocks were the businesses that sold juices in the central market of the city of Riobamba, the capital of the province, but now they went to a family business dedicated to the sale of bottled water. , coming from the glacier.
The bottles of ‘Agua Baltazar’, with a photo of Ushca on the label, are sold only locally and have become one of the main attractions of the town of Guano, since its benefits for human consumption were promoted by its purity and molecular characteristics.
The last ‘hielero’ worked inside the Guano museum, where he gave tours with visitors and shared his experiences about Chimborazo. Baltazar water bottles are also sold in that area, for one dollar per unit.