Wow, the Vilcanota...remote, wild, dramatic and certainly rivalling with those other two in the north, Blanca and Huayhuash. In fact, it seems to me that the Vilcanota range is more glaciated than the other two...
Yep, the Vilcanota is indeed wild and dramatic! The new road from Cuzco to Tinqui (and beyond) makes it much less remote, so perhaps more mountaineers will find their way to it.
The glaciers are great, and I love looking at those big fluted faces like on Mariposa or Pachanta. The highest peaks of the Cordillera Vilcanota are no less glaciated than those of the Cordillera Blanca, but there are not nearly as many. All in all, I would say that the Vilcanota is more like a smaller version of the Cordillera Blanca. Just as dramatic, but fewer peaks. Still, it's easily big enough to spend a month - or even two - out there.
I haven't been to the Cordillera Huayhuash (yet, anyway), so I can't compare it with that. From what I've read about it and from the pictures I've seen, I think it's more dramatic still!
lsheen - Nov 4, 2011 12:28 pm - Voted 9/10
Just a great series...Well done. Please do write a trip report - I'm sure it would be MOST interesting!
Thanks for sharing all these awesome pics,
Big Lew
rgg - Dec 16, 2012 2:24 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Just a great series...Thanks Lew. And, although I've taken a long time for it, I finally got around to writing the report aksed for: A Peruvian fiesta, struggling with deep powder and making new friends - Four months in Peru, Part III
Cheers, Rob
Gido - Nov 29, 2011 7:50 am - Hasn't voted
Amazing sceneryWow, the Vilcanota...remote, wild, dramatic and certainly rivalling with those other two in the north, Blanca and Huayhuash. In fact, it seems to me that the Vilcanota range is more glaciated than the other two...
rgg - Nov 30, 2011 8:17 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Amazing sceneryYep, the Vilcanota is indeed wild and dramatic! The new road from Cuzco to Tinqui (and beyond) makes it much less remote, so perhaps more mountaineers will find their way to it.
The glaciers are great, and I love looking at those big fluted faces like on Mariposa or Pachanta. The highest peaks of the Cordillera Vilcanota are no less glaciated than those of the Cordillera Blanca, but there are not nearly as many. All in all, I would say that the Vilcanota is more like a smaller version of the Cordillera Blanca. Just as dramatic, but fewer peaks. Still, it's easily big enough to spend a month - or even two - out there.
I haven't been to the Cordillera Huayhuash (yet, anyway), so I can't compare it with that. From what I've read about it and from the pictures I've seen, I think it's more dramatic still!