Cordillera Huayhuash, Peru

Yerupajá, 6634 meters, in the background

Cordillera Huayhuash in Peru is probably best known for climbing. Part of the fame can be linked to Joe Simpson and Simon Yates' successful but disastrous and nearly fatal climb of Siula Grande in 1985. A book named "Touching the void" was published in 1988, and a documentary followed in 2003.

Cordillera Huayhuash was also one of the strongholds of "Sendero Luminoso" (Shining Path), a Maoist guerrilla insurgent organization in Peru. It was a few hostage situations until the party was broken down in 1992. The safety deteriorated between 2002 and 2004 with a few killings, but the area has now been considered safe for a long time.

Close to Rondoy

So, when did I go to Huayhuash? 2001! Not for climbing, but trekking around this stunningly beautiful mountain range. It is said to be 2-week trek. I did it in 8 days. Solo, in a rather bad locally bough tent. In my opinion the trekking was way better than the much more popular Santa Cruz trek closer to Huaraz. Since most of the trekking is above 4000 meters, you should be properly acclimatized before you go on this trek, but most of the passes are not too hard to get over.

I saw some traces of road construction in 2001 so I don't know if the area has been "destroyed" since then. However, for me this ranks as the best hike in Peru, followed by Ausangate and a rather demanding trek from Choquequirao to Machu Picchu. Maybe I will tell you more about those treks later on?