The mountains of the Cordillera Blanca are located in the Ancash department of Peru, some 400km northeast of Lima. The 180km long ‘White Range’ makes up a tiny portion of the 7500km long Andes, the world’s longest continuous mountain chain, stretching from Patagonia to Ecuador along the western coast of South America.
The Cordillera Blanca - the world’s highest tropical mountain range and home to Peru’s tallest summit, the 6768m Mount Huascaran - includes more than 300 summits, out of which 55 reach a height of more than 5500m and 25 more than 6000m.
It is considered to be one of the most beautiful ranges in the Andes, with graceful pyramids of ice, elegant corniced ridges, delicately fluted ice faces, hanging glaciers and towering jagged peaks.
A climber’s paradise, the Cordillera Blanca offers a whole range of opportunities, from short, non-technical ascents suitable for first time mountaineers, to long, challenging and technical climbs for the highly experienced and physically fit. Whichever peak you choose to tackle, you will be rewarded with jaw-dropping vistas over expanses of pristine snow in a landscape dominated by immense icy peaks rising from unspoiled valleys dotted with glittering glacial lakes and rich in exotic tropical plants.
The mountaineering season in the Cordillera Blanca lasts from May to mid September (see individual mountain programs for more specific times). The weather during the dry season is generally stable with plenty of sunshine and clear skies, although snow can occur in the mountains at any time of year. During the rainy season - when the mornings are generally clear and showers occur in the afternoon, which are at their heaviest in February and March - it is possible to climb the lower peaks
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Mountaineering Expedition Routine
On mountaineering expeditions, we normally wake up at around 6.30 am. A cup of tea or coffee is brought to your tent, as well as a washing bowl with hot water. You must be ready for breakfast by 7.30 am at the latest. All gear and equipment must be packed before breakfast, so that the camp can be broken and the donkeys loaded. We leave camp at around 8 am. The arrieros and donkeys or porters leave independently of us, usually shortly afterwards.
On summit day it is common to wake up at around 12 am in order to reach the summit by early morning when clear views are most likely and climbing conditions are safe. We have a quick breakfast before setting off and carry a packed lunch that we can eat at the first opportunity once we have descended from the summit. When we get back to camp we are greeted with a warm meal.
A washing bowl with hot water can be brought shortly after arriving in camp to those wishing to freshen up. Additional bowls can be provided for those needing to wash some clothes. We strongly recommend that you use biodegradable products and remind you to dispose of your water well away from streams.
An afternoon snack and hot drinks are served in the dining tent at around 4 pm. Dinner is served in the dining tent, early on the day prior to the ascent, at around 5 pm, and at around 7 pm on other days.
On intermediate and technical level expeditions, the participants will be expected to carry their own gear weighing up to 15kg, and help set up camp when staying in the high camps. On those expeditions it is not uncommon to have to pack up camp when coming down from the summit, in order to descend to base camp. A hot soup will be available at the high camp before descending to base camp, where you will be met with a well-deserved hearty meal. |
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