Alpine Mountaineering Course

in the Cordillera Blanca mountain Range,

Huaraz, Peru

August 2 - August 16, 2009

The Cordillera Blanca (white mountain range) of Peru is Richard's all-time favorite place to climb. The peaks are distinctive and beautiful, with many reaching elevations over 20,000 feet. The weather tends to be very stable in the climbing season, and there is a great culture of climbing in Huaraz, our "base camp" town at the foot of the mountains.

The Ishinca Valley is surrounded by beautiful mountains that provide an ideal progression for acclimatizing and honing your climbing skills. Our climbing goals are to climb Urus Este, at 17,783' then Ishinca at 18,143', and finally the jewel of the valley, Tocllaraju, a captivating peak rising over 6,000 meters, to 19,800 feet!

In addition to being a great introduction to bigger mountain climbing, the trip is also a true mountaineering course. Under the guidance of a local UIAGM  certified guide you'll learn proper ice axe and crampon technique, self arrest, glacier travel,  establishing alpine camps, and roped travel and rapelling. Even experienced climbers will learn new techniques on this course.

Peru Trip Itinerary:

Day One-Three: Our trip starts in Lima, Peru where you'll be met at the airport. If you are arriving early we'll help you make arrangements in Lima. From Lima we'll take a comfortable overnight bus to to the bustling little town of Huaraz. Walking around Huaraz is an experience in itself. The town is a magnet for the best climbers in the world. It's not unusual to sit down for coffee and recognize the person next to you from a climbing magazine or Patagonia catalog. We'll spend two days in Huaraz, resting from traveling and taking hikes in the hills outside of town to acclimatize.

Day Four: From Huaraz, it's off to the Ishinca Valley. We'll have mules to carry our loads, giving us a pleasant hike up through fields and forest to reach our base camp at approximately 14,000 feet. From our camp in the grassy valley we can see all our objectives- Urus, Ishinca and Tocllaraju.

Day Five: Once we are established in the valley we'll climb Urus in a day, followed by a rest day.

Day Six-Eight: After the rest day we'll attempt the more technical Ishinca climb, and return to the valley for another rest day. Then we'll move to our Tocllaraju High Camp at over 17,000 feet. From here we'll cross the glacier, and ascend the Northwest Ridge of the mountain. The route requires crossing a glacier, some steep snow, and the occasional jump over a crevasse. It's truly a mountaineering experience!

The summit of each peak rewards you with awesome views of the Cordillera Blanca, the Rio Santa Valley and the Cordillera Negra.

A detailed itinerary and gear list is available upon request.

Trip includes:

* This trip is led by a professional mountaineering guide, certified by the UIAGM
* Shared accommodations in Huaraz
* All meals while on the mountain
* Group camping gear- tents, kitchen tent and equipment, etc.
* Mules to carry gear to base camp.
* Bus transportation from Lima to Huaraz and back.

Please do not book airline tickets for this trip until you have been confirmed on the trip!

Pricing:
OAC Member: $2500
Non-member: $2600

Not included in the trip price is:

* Airfare to Lima
* Hotels in Lima, if necessary
* Restaurant meals in Huaraz
* Personal climbing and camping gear

Let us know if you have any questions about trip. Please send inquiries to peru@OutdoorAdventureClub.com

Ready to sign up? Download our registration form and either scan and email it to us at peru@OutdoorAdventureClub.com, or fax it to 415 771 1891 ATTN: Richard