Quitaraju Mountain
Climbing Details:
Altitude Range: 2,900 / 6,036 m
Duration: 6 Days / 5 Nights
Route: French / West Face
Difficulty: Medium / Difficult
Season: May / September
Start: Conay Cashapampa
Itinerary:
Day 1 Huaraz (3,100 m) / Cashapampa / Ichiccocha (3,900 m)
Departure: 7:00 AM. We will head north of Huaraz City with our transportation to Caraz, visiting the typical villages of the Callejón de Huaylas. Then we will arrive at the town of Cashapampa (2,900 m), where the muleteers and donkeys will be waiting for us to transport our food and supplies to Ichiccocha. (L, D)
Altitude gain: +1,000 m (duration: approximately 3-4 hours)
Day 2 Ichicocha / Arhuaycoha Base Camp (4,350 m)
This day we will continue our trek to base camp, passing by the beautiful Ichiccocha and Atuncocha lagoons, appreciating some of the surrounding peaks such as Artezonraju, Taulliraju, and Quitaraju, before arriving at base camp. (B, L, D)
Altitude gain: +450 m (duration: approximately 4-5 hours)
Day 3 Base Camp / Camp 1 (5,450 m)
We will begin our ascent to high camp along a well-marked path with milestones within a forest of quenuales and ichu trees. We will cross a very loose moraine to reach the glacier. We will pass through a gully and then descend to high camp. (B, L, D)
Altitude gain: +1,100 m (duration approximately 5/6 hours)
Day 4 Camp 1 / Summit (6,036 m) / Camp 1
We will wake up very early to complete almost the entire ascent at night and take advantage of the best snow conditions. Temperatures range from -15°C to -20°C and the air is very cold. The difficulty level is medium, with an incline of 65° to 70°, and a wall of snow. From the summit, we will enjoy impressive views of almost the entire Cordillera Blanca. After taking some photos, we will rappel down, following our previous tracks, to Camp 1. (B, L, D)
Altitude gain: +586 m / -586 m (duration approximately 8/10 hours to ascend and descend)
Day 5 Camp 1 / Base Camp
We will return along the same ascent route to Base Camp, avoiding some crevasses and crossing the valley. The moraine to base camp. (B, L, D)
Day 6 Base Camp / Cashapampa / Huaraz Hotel
After breakfast, we’ll begin packing up camp and return with the donkeys to Cashapampa, where our minivan will be waiting for our transfer to Huaraz. (B, L)
What’s Included?
 Mountain Guide (UIAGM) (1)
 Cook (1), Porters (2), Muleteers (1)
 Private tourist transportation to the starting point for the trek
 Meals during the expedition (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner)
 Breakfast: Tea, coffee, milk, snacks, bread, cheese, butter, jam, pancakes, fruit salad, etc.
 Snack: Fresh fruit, chocolate, cookies, fruits, and candy  Lunch: Vegetable salad, pasta, tuna, HuancaÃna potatoes, ajà de gallina, chicken salpicón, ham.
 Tea Time: Coffee, herbal teas, cookies, fried guacamole, popcorn, etc.
 Dinner: A variety of soups, quinoa, chaufa rice, rolled chicken, fried trout, pasta, and lomo saltado.
 Optional vegetarian meal
 Camping equipment (2-person sleeping tent, dining tent, kitchen and bathroom tent)
 Kitchen logistics equipment (cooking utensils, pots, plates, cutlery, chairs, tables, gas)
 Hot water in the mornings for washing hands and face every day
 Boiled water for your bottle every day
 Donkeys for transporting luggage and food (10 kilos per person for the donkey)
 Emergency horse (1) in case of evacuation
 First aid kit
 Communication radio (satellite phone)
 Personalized assistance
What’s not included?
 Personal clothing for high mountains
 Personal technical equipment for high mountains (boots, ice axes, crampons, harness, helmet, etc.)
 Extra food and drinks in cities
 Entrance tickets (Huascaran National Park S/. 150.00 per person)
 Travel/Accident Insurance
 Sleeping bag (0°C – 20°C)
 Tips
What Do I Need to Bring?
 Bring appropriate clothing for day (hot weather) and night (cold weather), sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellent, swimwear, personal hygiene kit, hiking boots, camera, rain jacket, water bottle, sleeping bag, small backpack, headlamp (flashlight)
 10 kilos of luggage per person for the donkeys