Huayhuash - Peru

Huayhuash from Flávio Varricchio on Vimeo.

The Huayhuash mountain range (Ancash Quechua) lies in the Andes of Peru. It is located in the boundaries of the Ancash region, Lima Region and Huanuco Region. There are several lakes like Solteracocha, Hawacocha, Qarwacocha.

The range is 30 km long and has Himalayan characteristics and its peaks are, morphologically speaking, much more hilly and have more difficult access than those from the Cordillera Blanca. Aligned north to south, the main range of some twenty peaks stretches for approximately 25 km, with a subsidiary range of smaller peaks stretching out to the west for approximately 15 km. Six of the peaks exceed 6000 m. Included among them are Yerupajá (6617 m), the second highest mountain in Peru (behind Huascarán at 6746 m), and Siula Grande (6344 m), made famous by Joe Simpson in Touching the Void.

There are many lesser peaks surrounding those covered by ice, and several passes exceeding 5000 m. It is necessary to travel a considerable distance from the central range to find ground lower than 3000 m, even on valley floors, and the Cordillera Huayhuash is often taken to include this much larger area. The vegetated areas of the range are part of the Central Andean Wet Puna ecoregion.

The area is barely populated at all, with what hamlets there are being very small and generally only found below 4000 m (the snowline is found at approximately 4800 m). The nearest villages are Chiquían (3400 m) and Cajatambo(3375 m). Some mining takes place in the area, so to the north of the mountains there is an unsurfaced road leading up to as high as 4750 m. In 2002 the Peruvian Ministry of Agriculture declared the Waywash a "reserved zone" and prohibited certain economic activities, including any future mining.

Some of the mountains located in the Huayhuash range are Yerupajá (6617 m), Jirishanca (6094 m), Siula Grande (6344 m), Sarapo (6127 m) and Rondoy (5870 m).

Trekking

The circuit generally takes between ten and fourteen days, depending on the route taken.

Most of the walking, and most of the campsites, are above the 4000 m tree line, so the landscape appears rugged and mountainous, affording views over very wide areas. The area is noted for its spectacular glacial lakes. Hot springs can also be found in the area. Condors, Llamas, alpacas and viscachas can be seen. Trekking is almost always undertaken in the dry winter months of May to September, and the cities Huaraz and Caraz over 100 & 167 km away are the usual choice for organizing and hiring camping a/o logistical support. Chiquián was for a long time the "Gateway to the Huayhuash" but nowadays, daily buses (locally called colectivos) go deep into the mountains to the village Llamac (3300 m) and with private transport, as far as Cuartelhain camp, reached both by road built in the late 90s and 2000s, becoming now the new trail heads for starting/ending.

More challenging yet is the Alpine Circuit, which encircles the peaks at closer proximity. The Alpine Circuit involves some rock climbing and glacier travel, and takes 8-10 days to complete.

Only named peaks are included in this list. Most names are of Quechua origin.

Primary range

North to south:

• Ninashanca (5,607 m)
• Rondoy (5,870 m)
• Mitaraju (5,750 m)
• Jirishanca Chico (5,446 m)
• Jirishanca (6,094 m)
• Yerupaja Chico (6,089 m)
• El Toro (5,830 m)
• Yerupajá (6,617 m)
• Siula Grande(6,344 m)
• Seria Punta (5,567 m)
• Sarapu (6,127 m)
• Sarapucocha (5,370 m)
• Carnicero (5,960 m)
• Suyrucocha (5,625 m)
• Jurau (5,674 m)
• Huaraca (5,537 m)
• Quesillo (5,600 m)
• Trapecio (5,653 m)
• Suyrurahu (5,439 m)
• Cuyoq (5,550 m)
• Pumarinri (5,465 m)

Subsidiary range

East to west:

• Seria Norte (5,860 m)
• Seria (5,543 m)
• Seria Sur (5,230 m)
• Rasaq (6,040 m)
• Tsacra Chico (5,548 m)
• Tsacra Grande (5,774 m)
• Huacrish (5,622 m)
• Ancocancha Este (5,557 m)
• Ancocancha (5,560 m)
• Suyrucocha (5,350 m)