Quilcayhuanca/Cojup Loop, Cordillera Blanca

June 2010  |  Cordillera Blanca, Peru

After our big Cordillera Huayhuash trek, followed by a rest day in Huaraz, four of us headed out into the Cordillera Blanca near Huaraz for a three day hike up the Quilcayhuanca valley, over a high pass, and down the Cojup valley. This time we would not have burros to carry our gear for us! Also unlike the Huayhuash trek, we would have some challenging weather this time.

A nice campfire below the moonlit Nevado Tullparaju (5787m).

A nice campfire below the moonlit Nevado Tullparaju (5787m).

It rained for the last several hours of our hike in towards Laguna Tullpacocha, and we got a bit off track from the “trail”. But we found a nice hidden campsite and managed to get a good bonfire going despite the wet wood. Once the clouds cleared that evening, the glaciated peaks surrounding us shone in the bright moonlight, and we slept under the stars that night (along with a local cow who had been trying to enjoy our campfire with us).

The beautiful symmetrical pyramid of Nevado Tullparaju (5787m).

The beautiful symmetrical pyramid of Nevado Tullparaju (5787m).

The glacier-smothered summit of Nevado Pucaranra (6156m, 20,197 ft.)

The glacier-smothered summit of Nevado Pucaranra (6156m, 20,197 ft.)

The next day we had to hike over a ~5100m (16,732 ft.) pass. Turns out that this is much harder to do without burros carrying half your stuff!

Nevado Pucaranra (6156m)

Nevado Pucaranra (6156m)

Hiking up a high pass in the Cordillera Blanca, with Nevado San Juan (5843m) behind.

Hiking up a high pass in the Cordillera Blanca, with Nevado San Juan (5843m) behind.

Nevado Ranrapalca (6162m, 20,217 ft.)

Nevado Ranrapalca (6162m, 20,217 ft.)

From the top of the pass, the view of the massive Nevado Ranrapalca (6162m, 20,217 ft.) was impressive. Notice how easy it is to see how the glaciers have recently receded.

Just as we got down off the pass and arrived in the Cojup valley, the clouds unleashed with pelting hail. We set up our camp and made dinner in the freezing cold.

Camping in the Cojup valley with Nevado Palcaraju (6110m) shining in the moonlight above. Notice the huge glacial moraines in...

Camping in the Cojup valley with Nevado Palcaraju (6110m) shining in the moonlight above. Notice the huge glacial moraines in the center of the valley below the glaciers.

Then after a lazy morning start, and a somewhat confused hike out the valley, we were eventually all back in Huaraz again that night to celebrate with fine Peruvian wine and food!

Happy in Huaraz!

Happy in Huaraz!

Postscript: Claudia and I were fortunate to have ample time to get to know each other on our Cordillera Huayhuash trek and this one, and we fell in love and ended up getting married a few years later! 

Posted in Backpacking & Trekking, Andes and tagged Peru, June.