The ice merchant of Chimborazo | DW Documentary

Baltazar Ushca is one of the last ice merchants in Ecuador. The traditional occupation is dying out. The Chimborazo is a majestic mountain reaching 6,300 meters high. Its ice-covered top towers above the plateau of the Ecuadorean Andes. Every week Balthazar Ushca hikes for several hours up its slopes to harvest glacial ice, which he then sells at the market in the nearby city of Riobamba. Buyers use it for cooling and ice cream. Being an ice merchant or “hielero” is a recognized and respected profession in Ecuador. In recent years, however, the tradition has been under increasing threat from modern refrigeration technology.
_______

Exciting, powerful and informative – DW Documentary is always close to current affairs and international events. Our eclectic mix of award-winning films and reports take you straight to the heart of the story. Dive into different cultures, journey across distant lands, and discover the inner workings of modern-day life. Subscribe and explore the world around you – every day, one DW Documentary at a time.

Subscribe to DW Documentary:
For more documentaries visit:
Instagram
Facebook:

[adk]

Deeply touched by the old man's devotion to tradition.

[brisvegas]

lots of respect to people who only take what they need from nature. Beautfiul

Not many man on earth would do what he does at his age, where and how he does it!! Respect!!!

[johnstricksandsoftwareguid]

Damn impressive how he wraps the blocks in grass

[gertrudestuazon]

Love watching this native culture and natures.👍🏽🤗😍

[youcanfoolmeonce]

I am terribly sorry for the old man working so hard for five dollars for a block of ice. Then he has to pay for the truck and the driver doesn't even lower the gate for him. Tradition or not, it's a miserable life. Hopefully he gets some real money for the movie from DW.

[BrassLock]

I'm a similar age, but unable to tolerate the harsh working conditions in which he seems to thrive. Great example of human adaptation and joy in one's chosen profession. However, can someone please *_Crowd-fund a lightweight donkey cart_* (for as little as $50 using local materials) so he can travel the flat roads to market at an easy pace and avoid wasting a huge portion of his earnings on _renting a car & driver_ for Gossakes!

[rossycorazon]

Keeping the tradition until he is still alive, hard working man, mil respetos Balthazar

[gabrielachavez]

exelente video little money for an hard job so sad poor people .GOD Bless them.

[belllarosa]

I want to climb to that glacier ...tourists allowed?😳😫🙈

[BavonWW]

I've just eaten a large slice of humble pie.

[manolingz]

glacial ice is way better than ice from a chlorinated tap

[zelphx]

Not Joking when I say, I'd contribute to any valid drive to take care of his teeth.

[tsulokoza]

If you used natural you can still be strong in 80 or 90 year.

[czanel]

around 5 minutes ???. Tell him to open tailgate instead.

[KironManuelCards]

Can anyone let me know what happened to the teeth of the ice man?The report says the ice has healing properties.Perhaps he needs to eat the ice all the time.

[leuk]

Its always seems like your videos are narrated by a text to speech program

[marytere.]

Is so sad. He juste past away few days a go. 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥺😢

[greyvirus]

Filthy Ice for a drink of a popsicle? No thanks!