Peru - Lonely Planet Publications [339]
Here are 10 popular climbs and 10 major summits of the Cordillera Blanca, just a few of many peak possibilities offering relatively easy to hard-core ice climbing.
Huascarán Sur (6768m)
Chopicalqui (6354m)
Copa Sur (6188m)
Quitaraju (6036m)
Tocllaraju (6035m)
Alpamayo (5947m)
Pisco (5752m)
Ishinca (5550m)
Maparaju (5326m)
Urus (5497m)
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LAGUNA SHALLAP (ONE DAY)
No one is going to argue that this valley is prettier than the neighboring ones and you won’t be lonely for bovine company, but it’s a relatively easy five-hour hike rewarded by waterfalls and a giant icefall from Nevado San Juan (5843m) that seems headed straight into the narrow Laguna Shallap (4300m). Instead of heading left/northwest out of Pitec for Laguna Churup or up the Quilcayhuanca Valley trek (opposite), a right/southwest trail will lead you to the Quilcayhuanca Bridge. Cross the bridge and advance toward the hamlet of Cahuide and up the Quebrada Shallap. About 200m beyond Cahuide, you’ll see some corrals and a park entrance sign; another 400m on you’ll have to cross the Shallap Bridge and negotiate a locked cattle gate. From there, the route is easy to discern and smooth going, passing an old mining camp near the lake.
LAGUNA PARÓN (1 DAY)
Laguna Parón (4200m) was probably more picturesque before its water levels were lowered from 75m to 15m to prevent a collapse of Huandoy’s moraine; still, it is a fantastically beautiful site with views of Pirámide de Garcilaso (5885m), Huandoy (6395m), Chacraraju (6112m) and several 1000m granite rock walls. Hikers typically hire a truck or taxi to take them 25km to the Electroperú station at Laguna Parón and ask the taxi to wait for the day (S90). The walk rambles around the lake on flat terrain for about two hours and then up the valley for about 4km to a campsite at 4200m. This day hike can be extended into an overnight trip if you want to step onto the Parón glacier (4900m) at the foot of Artesonraju. Click here for more information about starting this hike in Caraz.
LAGUNA RAJUCOLTA (TWO DAYS)
Having been compared to Zion National Park in Utah, this favorite trek is best known for its unparalleled views of Huantsán (6395m). Catch a colectivo to Macashca, for the start of the trek, from the corner of Cáceres and Calle 27 de Noviembre in Huaraz. From there, a well-defined path works its way up the Quebrada Rajucolta toward Laguna Rajucolta (4250m), passing through meadows overshadowed by skyscraper-tall granite walls, some marshy stretches and a massive boulder field created during the 1970 earthquake. Along the way, you can sleep at many makeshift campsites along the valley streams before backtracking toward Macashca the next day.
COJUP–ISHINCA VALLEY (TWO DAYS)
This 12km route climbs from the village of Collón (3400m) and up a beautiful Ishinca valley for six hours toward the Refugio Ishinca (4350m, Click here), where you can spend the night. To get to Collón, you have to take a north-bound colectivo from Huaraz and ask to get off at the Collón junction; you might be able get on a passing truck or walk the 2½ hours to Collón, joining the trek from there. This is the approach that climbers use to tackle Ulus (5497m), so you may see parties headed that way along the trip. After the refugio, parties soon see Laguna Ishinca (4950m) and hike toward a difficult high-altitude traverse over the glaciated Ishinca pass (5350m), which connects the Ishinca Valley with the Cojup Valley and makes for a spectacular two-day circuit. Leave by way of Llupa, from which you can catch a combi to Huaraz. You can also bypass the Cojup Valley and keep heading south toward the Quilcayhuanca Valley (opposite) to descend toward Pitec and return to Huaraz by hired truck.
LAGUNA 69 (TWO DAYS)
This is a beautiful, short overnight trek through backdrops dripping with marvelous views. The campsite on the way