In brief
Baltazar Ushca, the last ice merchant of Ecuador, has died aged 80, following a life spent preserving a fading tradition in ice harvesting.
Baltazar Ushca, an iconic figure who maintained the ancient trade of ice harvesting, has passed away at the age of 80. He dedicated over six decades to this demanding profession, regularly ascending Mount Chimborazo, Ecuador's highest peak, to extract glacier ice. Every week, he would trek up the mountain, carrying a pickax to chip off blocks of ice, which weighed around 60 pounds each. These ice blocks were wrapped in hay and transported on donkey backs to be sold to local villagers seeking refrigeration without electricity.Born into a family of ice merchants, Ushca followed in the footsteps of his father and brothers, upholding a tradition that was diminishing due to the rise of modern refrigeration technologies. Despite the obsolescence of his work over time, Ushca continued to climb the mountain until about five years prior, when a foot injury forced him to cease.Ushca became renowned in the market of Riobamba, where he sold premium natural ice to vendors for use in beverages and ice cream. “The natural ice from Chimborazo is the best ice,” he stated in the documentary, "El Último Hielero," released in 2012, underscoring the unique qualities of Chimborazo ice.His dedication to the craft often prompted concern from his family, with his children questioning why he endured such hardships for little profit. Ushca's demise marks not only the loss of a remarkable individual but also an end to a cultural heritage, as he was recognized as the last of his kind in the trade. His contribution remains an important part of Ecuadorian history, symbolizing the intersection of culture, tradition, and modernization.
