The last man harvesting ice from the Chimborazo volcano, Ecuador | SLICE | FULL DOCUMENTARY

On the slopes of Chimborazo, Ecuador’s highest volcano, a centuries-old tradition is slowly disappearing. For generations, Indigenous ice harvesters climbed nearly 4,800 meters above sea level to cut blocks of glacier ice and bring them down to the markets of Riobamba. Today, only one man continues the journey. At 68 years old, Baltazar Ushca is known as the último hielero — the last ice man of Chimborazo. Twice a week, he climbs the volcano with his donkeys, carving heavy blocks of ice from the glacier just as his ancestors did. Around him, communities have learned to live in the shadow of powerful volcanoes such as Chimborazo, Tungurahua and El Altar. The land is dangerous, but also fertile, shaping a unique way of life between risk and resilience. Through the daily life of Baltazar and his family in the village of Cuatro Esquinas, this film explores the final chapter of an ancient Andean tradition. Documentary: The Last Real Iceman of the Chimborazo Directed by: Therese Engels, Gernot Stadler Production : ORF, 3sat, Gernot Stadler (2011) We fully own the rights to the use of the published content. Any illegal reproduction of this content will result in immediate legal action. SLICE wants to fill up your curiosity! Accessible to anyone from anywhere at any time, this channel is your weekly dose of short docs about curious facts, discoveries, astounding info, unusual stories, weird, fun and instructive. Be smart, have a slice! Subscribe now ►►► http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvziXdVCN7PMdFZEFZ6aEqQ?sub_confirmation=1 Become a fan ! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvziXdVCN7PMdFZEFZ6aEqQ/join Follow us 👇 In French: https://www.youtube.com/c/SLICEFR Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/slicedocs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slicedocs #documentary #slice #fulldocumentary #freedocumentary #ethnology #ecuador #chimborazo #andes #andeanculture #indigenoustraditions #glacierice #traditionalwork #mountainlife #volcanolife #andeancommunities #lasticeman #traditionalcraft #highaltitude #mountaintraditions #andeanlife #culturalheritage #disappearingtraditions #ecuadorculture