Best time:
May to September
Timing: 15 days
Grade: moderate / difficult
The fantastic ice range of the Cordillera Huayhuash
is one of the classic Peru trekking circuits of
the world. Seven of Peru's highest peaks rise from
this dramatic massif, whose awesome beauty can be
seen in the gripping adventure, film Touching the
Void. The complete Huayhuash trek crosses seven
high passes as we circle the entire range, with
nearly continuous panoramas of towering Andean giants,
including Yerupaja (6617m), second highest mountain
in Peru.
Itinerary:
Day 1 - Arrive
Huaraz (3090m)
Day 2 & 3 - Acclimatization
Day 4 - Drive to the village
of Llamac and set up our first camp (3300m).
5 - 6 hours drive
Day 5 - Climb easily to a
wide pass where we have our first views of
the big mountains – Rondoy, Jirishanca,
Yerupajá. Return to our camp in Llamac
4 - 5 hours, or continue on to visit the Pre-Inca
ruins of Pueblo Viajo (4200m) 7 hoursDay 6
- Walk up the valley, following the Rio Llamac,
passing through the villages of Pocpa and
Pallca. Camp at Quartelhuain (4185m) 6 - 7
hours
Day 7 - In the morning we
cross our first pass Punta Cacanan (4700m)
then descend to our camp at the beautiful
lake Laguna Mitucocha (4300m). 6 hours. From
our camp we
have close views of the huge peaks Ronday,
Jirishanca, Ninashanca
Day 8 - We cross the pass
Paso de Carhuac (4650m) then descend to our
camp at the big lake Laguna Carhuacocha (4138m)
6 hours. From our camp we look directly up
the
lake to the peaks and ice fields of Siula
and the two peaks of Yerupajá.
If the weather is good we can take an alternative
and more demanding route via a 4800m pass,
with great close views of Jirishanca Chica
and passing by a beautiful deep blue high
lake.
Day 9 - Rest Day at Laguna
Carhuacocha. Catch trout for dinner!!
Day 10 - We cross the pass
Carnicero (4600m) which is not difficult,
an make an easy
descent to our camp at isolated Laguna Carnicero
(also called Juraucocha). 5 - 6 hours
Weather permitting, and if you are feeling
strong, we can take an alternative route which
climbs to a 4800m pass, crossing above the
glacier fed lakes of Siula and Quesillococha.
7 - 8 hours
Day 11 - We climb to the
pass Portachuelo de Huayhuash (4750m) from
where you look across to the Cordillera Raura
and the snow topped peak Leon Huacanan. We
skirt
around the large lake Laguna Viconga before
walking up the valley ½ hour to set
up
camp (4480m) 6½ hours
Day 12 - We cross our highest
pass Punta Cuyoc (5000m) then descend to the
valley Quebrada Huanacpatay where we have
an easy walk in the afternoon to our camp
(4330m) 5 hours
Day 13 - We continue down
the Quebrada Huanacpatay, then traverse along
a cattle path through lupins into the valley
Quebrada Calinca. We walk to the top of the
Quebrada camping below the peaks of Sarapo,
Carnicero, Jurau (4200m) 4 hours
Day 14 - Rest Day We can
walk past the base camp of Siula Grande (Joe
Simpson –
"Touching
The Void") to visit the glacial lakes
of Sarapocha and Santa Rosa. Then
traverse around to Laguna Jurau, before dropping
back down to camp for lunch.
½ day
Day 15 - We walk back down
Quebrada Calinca before turning off just before
the village of Huayllapa. We then climb steadily
to our campsite high up in the flat pasture
of Huatiac (4300m) 7 hours
Day 16 - A tougher day as
we cross 2 passes. First a climb to Punta
Tapush (4750m), then Punta Yaucha (4800m).
During the descent the peaks of Rondoy, Jirishanca,
Yerupajá, Rasac and Sacra come into
view. Camp at the beautiful Laguna Jahuacocha
(4066m) 8 hours
Day 17 - Rest Day - Trout fishing,
or there are options for walks
Day 18 - An early start.
We leave early, starting with a gradual climb
to our final pass
Pampa Llamac (4300m) from where we have our
final views of the Huayhuash
range. Then it is a long descent back to Llamac.
5 ½ hours. In Llamac the bus will be
waiting to take us back to Huaraz for hot
showers!! |
|
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
