Pisco and Alpamayo Ascent
Trip Overview
With at least 269 lakes, 663 glaciers, 41 rivers and 33
summits rising over 6000 m, the 180 kilometre-long
Cordillera Blanca is arguably the world's most
magnificent mountain range.
Alpamayo (Base Camp) Trek is our favourite hike here, a
challenging high altitude tramp. Alpamayo — often listed
as one of the world’s most beautiful peaks — is only one
highlight of many.
Itinerary
Day 1. Lima
Arrival in Lima, reception
and transfer to your hotel.
Day 2. Lima – Huaraz
(Breakfast)
Transfer to the bus
terminal for the 8 hour bus journey to Huaraz, set
in the heart of the Peruvian Andes. Transfer to your
hotel.
Day 3. Huaraz (Breakfast)
Free day.
Day 4. Pastoruri (Breakfast)
After breakfast, private
transport to Pastoruri Glacier. A day of ice
climbing skills including crampon techniques and ice
axe work. Overnight camp on Pastoruri mountain to
facilitate acclimatsation.
Day 5. Huaraz - Cebollapampa
Campsite (Breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Leaving Huaraz you will
head north to the small town of Yungay at the foot
of the Quebrada Llanganuco. Entering the Quebrada
you will continue heading east into the mountains to
the wide and pastoral valley between Huascarán on
the south and Huandoy on the north. Camp near the
trailhead at Cebollapampa. An easy day to achieve
further acclimatisation.
Day 6. Acclimatisation hike
to Lagoon 69 (Breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Hike today for about 6
hours, surrounded by the mountains of Chacraraju,
Yanpaccha and Pisco. Return to Cebollapampa basecamp.
Day 7. Cebollapampa campsite
- Moraine Camp (Breakfast, lunch and dinner)
After breakfast, a short
trek to Pisco Base Camp at about 4400m. With good
acclimatisation, you will pass the Pisco Base Camp
and settle at the Moraine Camp at 4900m. Sleeping at
the foot of Pisco's steep South Face in preparation
for tomorrow's summit attempt.
Day 8. Morain Camp - Summit
- Basecamp - Cebollapampa campsite (Breakfast, lunch &
dinner)
Your summit climb of Pisco
follows the occasionally narrow West Ridge. Snow and
a little ice leads directly to the top. Pisco is
well known for its incredible views, and with
strategic view points there will be many
opportunites for photographs. The close proximity of
the neighbouring peaks of Huandoy and Chacraraju are
astonishing. Return to Base Camp. From the Base
Camp, continue the hike out to Cebollapampa
campsite.
Day 9. Cebollapampa campsite
– Huaraz (Breakfast)
After breakfast, return
with private transport to Huaraz.
Day 10 – Day 11. Huaraz
(Breakfast)
Days of rest and leisure in
preparation for the Alpamayo summit attempt.
Day 12. Llamacorral
(Breakfast, lunch and dinner)
After breakfast, drive to
Cashapampa to start the trek up to Campo Llamacorral.
This first day is a steady three hours of trekking
Day 13. Basecamp (Breakfast,
lunch and dinner)
Again a fairly easy day as
you trek to Alpamayo basecamp at 4300m.
Day 14. Moraine Camp
(Breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Climb to the Moraine camp,
which is mainly a steep terminal moraine with a few
sections of easy rock.
Day 15. Col (Breakfast,
lunch and dinner)
Climb to the Col camp at
5300m. (This section can sometimes be the most
technical part of the entire climb). The high col is
between Alpamayo and its sister peak, Quitaraju. The
guides will fix ropes in advance of the group on one
steep section. One fixed rope and two belayed
sections are normal in order to reach the col.
Day 16. Alpamayo Summit
Ascent (Breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Ascent to the summit of
Alpamayo, lying at 5947m. The climb starts with a
reasonably steep glacier to the bergschrund. There
are several steep ice pitches, around 50°. The final
couple of pitches increase to 70° resulting in
grading of around Alpine AD/AD+ or Ice Grade 3. We
allow 7 hours to reach the summit. Return to the Col
Camp.
Day 17. Reserve day
(Breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Day in reserve in case of
bad weather
Day 18. Basecamp (Breakfast,
lunch and dinner)
Return to the base camp.
Day 19. Cashapampa – Huaraz
(Breakfast and dinner)
Return to Cashapampa and
then Huaraz for a celebratory dinner.
Day 20. Huaraz – Lima
(Breakfast)
After breakfast, transfer
to the bus terminal form the bus trip back to Lima
and transfer to the airport for your connecting
flight home.
Peru
is the third largest country in South America