Remembering Baltazar Ushca: The Last Ice Merchant of Ecuador

Baltazar Ushca, a renowned ice merchant from Ecuador, passed away recently at the age of 80, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of a nearly vanished trade. For sixty years, Ushca trekked to the snow-capped peaks of Mount Chimborazo, Ecuador’s tallest mountain, extracting glacial ice for a living. Armed with a pickax, he would harvest 60-pound blocks of pure ice, wrapping them in hay, and then transport them via donkeys to sell to local villagers.Ushca's foray into ice harvesting was not only a personal pursuit but also a family tradition that began with his father, Juan, who, along with Ushca’s brothers, contributed to the family’s modest livelihood through this unique trade. Even as modern refrigeration took root in his community, Ushca stood firm in his craft, emphasizing the distinct quality of natural ice sourced from Chimborazo, which he claimed was “the best ice” with added nutritional benefits.Despite the challenges, including his small stature of 4-foot-11 and the physical toll of the demanding labor, Ushca continued to serve local vendors in Riobamba, where his ice was prized for making refreshing drinks and delicious ice cream. His life and work were beautifully captured in the 2012 documentary “El Último Hielero,” which translates to "The Last Ice Merchant," shedding light on the gradual cultural shifts affecting traditional practices in Ecuador.Ushca's dedication has sparked conversations about cultural adaptation and preservation, particularly in the face of modernization. His children often questioned his choices, noting the hardships involved in the job that yielded limited financial reward, yet his passionate commitment to the craft morphed him into a revered figure representing a bygone era of traditional ice harvesting. As Ushca's story draws to a close, it serves as a poignant reminder of the profound impact that a single individual can have in preserving cultural heritage amidst the march of progress.