Photo Journal & Trip Reports

Cordillera Huayhuash Circuit

June 2010 | Cordillera Huayhuash, Peru

In June of 2010 I fulfilled one of my dreams – to trek around the remote and rugged Cordillera Huayhuash mountain range in Peru. In the city of Huaraz, the base for most of the expeditions in the Cordillera Blanca and Huayhuash, I signed on to a 10 day trek with burros to carry all our camping gear, an arriero (burro driver), a guide, and a cook for all our meals! Deluxe! Not only that, but our random assortment of people turned out to be a good group and we all had a great time together. Below are a bunch of photos from the trek, in chronological order.

Arriero

An arriero guides his burros over a 4685m pass in the Cordillera Huayhash - the first pass of the trek.

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Our second camp, at Janca. Jirishanca towers behind.

Hiking a beautiful knife ridge with a spectacular view of Jirishanca.

Ridgeline hiking break, looking at Jirishanca Chico.

Carhuacocha Shadows

Sunlight and shadows at Laguna Carhuacocha.

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Sunset at the spectacular Laguna Carhuacocha. The three center peaks, from left to right, are Yerupaja (Peru's second highest... — Carhuacocha Sunset

Sunset at the spectacular Laguna Carhuacocha. The three center peaks, from left to right, are Yerupaja (Peru's second highest peak at 6617m or 21,709 ft.), Yerupaja Chico (6089m), and Jirishanca (6094m).

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A campesino family poses for a sunset portrait at Laguna Carhuacocha. This family has a tough life, but lives in one of the most... — A campesino family poses for a sunset portrait at Laguna Carhuacocha. This family has a tough life, but lives in one of the most spectacular places on the planet.

Brilliant sunrise alpenglow on the tallest peaks of the Cordillera Huayhuash (Yerupaja, Yerupaja Chico, and Jirishanca), reflected... — Carhuacocha Sunrise

Brilliant sunrise alpenglow on the tallest peaks of the Cordillera Huayhuash (Yerupaja, Yerupaja Chico, and Jirishanca), reflected in Laguna Carhuacocha.

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Morning at our camp at Laguna Carhuacocha.

Jirishanca Campesino

A campesino's spread at the foot of Jirishanca (6094m).

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An ice waterfall from a calving glacier, and Laguna Quesillococha and Laguna Siula, on the extremely rugged eastern side of the... — Quesillococha & Siula

An ice waterfall from a calving glacier, and Laguna Quesillococha and Laguna Siula, on the extremely rugged eastern side of the Cordillera Huayhuash.

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Jirishanca Tooth

The jagged profile of Jirishanca (6094m), as seen from the southeast.

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The steep southeast face of Yerupaja (6617m, 21,709 ft.), the second tallest mountain in Peru. — Yerupaja SE

The steep southeast face of Yerupaja (6617m, 21,709 ft.), the second tallest mountain in Peru.

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Siula West Face

The western face of Siula (6344m, 20,814 ft.).

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Trapecio mountain and some burros on holiday.

Hot springs pool in the Cordillera Huayhuash.

As if the trek wasn’t awesome enough, about halfway through we camped next to some hot springs. Our guide managed to get us exclusive access to the hot springs at night, and even brought us homemade Pisco Sours! Here’s a long exposure of the hot springs pool with the stars above.

Speaking of stars, they are incredible in the Cordillera Huayhuash, far from any major city lights. Also, for the first time I can ever remember, I could see both the Big Dipper and the Southern Cross at once.

Roger hikes past another glaciated peak.

Roger getting higher towards Punta Cuyoc.

Team portait at the top of Punta Cuyoc, 5000m, 16,400 ft.

A view of the mighty peaks of the Cordillera Huayhuash, including Yerupaja, Sarapo, and Siula, as seen from Punta Cuyoc at 5000m... — Cuyoc View

A view of the mighty peaks of the Cordillera Huayhuash, including Yerupaja, Sarapo, and Siula, as seen from Punta Cuyoc at 5000m (16,400 ft.).

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Dusk light on the rugged peaks of the Cordillera Huayhuash, as seen from Cerro San Antonio.  The peaks from left to right... — Siula Dusk

Dusk light on the rugged peaks of the Cordillera Huayhuash, as seen from Cerro San Antonio. The peaks from left to right are Rasac (6040m), Yerupaja (6617m), Sarapo with Siula directly behind (6344m), and Carnicero (5960m). The turquoise, glacier-fed Laguna Jurau is below Sarapo.

Siula and the valley at the upper left was the scene of Joe Simpson's epic adventure in the book and film Touching the Void.

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Over San Antonio pass, hiking towards Siula.

Our group had decided unanimously the previous evening to spend an extra day on the trek so that we could explore the Siula valley, the scene of Joe Simpson’s epic adventure as documented in the book and film Touching the Void.

Yerupaja Snow Ridges

Fluted snow ridges adorn the southern flanks of Yerupaja.

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Rio Calinca Lupines

Abundant lupine wildflower fields in the Rio Calinca valley, below Sarapo (6127m).

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A resident pig in the village of Huayllapa.

We hiked into the remote village of Huayllapa to spend a night and restock supplies. With no road and no cars, this town was a pleasure to visit, and the local kids were even more eager to see us gringos.