Climbing in Peru: Chopicalqui Expedition
Climbing/Mountaineering in Peru with Southwest Adventure Guides, LLC
Highlights
- 16-day itinerary maximizes acclimatization and chance for success
- Bi-lingual guides ensure your trip runs smoothly
- Most favorable client-to-guide ratio in the industry
- Visit cultural sites around Huaraz
- Climb Chopicalqui, a 6000 meter peak
- Satellite phone access and pulse oximeters on all trips
Full Description
The Cordillera Blanca in Peru offers some of the most spectacular mountain scenery to be found anywhere in the world.
Tall jagged peaks of rock and ice dominate the eastern horizon from the small market town of Huaraz. Our main objective, will be the mammoth Chopicalqui (20,841'), one of the Cordillera's most striking peaks. It offers a challenging ascent requiring intermediate level alpine skills, and an excellent opportunity for climbers who want to make an ascent to high altitude. In order to acclimate, we will also attempt Nevado Pisco (18,997'), which offers breathtaking views all the way to the summit. This trip is perfect for those with previous mountaineering experience and the best way to prepare for either our Alpamayo and Quitaraju or Artesonraju expeditions.
Once we arrive in Lima, we travel by bus to Huaraz (9,500'), at the very foot of the Cordillera Blanca. After spending a day there checking and repacking gear, we drive north to Quebrada Llanganuco. We establish our first camp at 12,600 feet and with the help of burros, the next day move up to our second camp at 15,000 feet. The third day takes us to one of the most beautiful mountain camps in all the world, the col between Pisco Oeste and Nevado Huandoy. Our route to the summit, the Southwest Slopes, takes us through interesting crevasse fields and up some 30-45 degree slopes and provides us with spectacular views the whole way. With our gradual ascent, expedition team members should feel good on this climb, and upon its completion, be well prepared for an attempt on Chopiqualqui.
After resupplying in the valley, we drive to our departure point for Chopiqualqui. Since we will be acclimated to the elevation we can proceed directly to our moraine camp, and then the following day move to high camp. From our high camp we proceed towards our route, the Southwest Ridge, which takes us across the glaciated bench below the ridge, then climbs up along a broad ridge to the point where it steepens near the summit. After negotiating some technical terrain we reach the 6000 meter summit. Following our summit climb, we make the short descent to the road where we drive back to Huaraz, then Lima.
These climbs offer spectacular views of the Cordillera's premier peaks, and climb two very attractive summits. We ascend slowly, taking advantage of well placed camps, to acclimate properly for the climbs. Our trips are fully supported with burros, porters, and cooks. Pack weights are light to ease the adjustment to the altitude, and give us a greater chance for success.
Includes:
- An AMGA certified or trained alpine guide
- All ground transportation
- Hotels, tents, and food while on the mountain
- All group climbing and camping equipment
Excludes:
- Food and drinks in towns
- Personal climbing and camping equipment
- International air fare
- Costs of a personal nature
- Extra hotels or transportation due to illness, injury, or early return
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Lima where you will be met at the airport by the guide and taken to the hotel.
Day 2: Travel by bus to Huaraz.
Day 3: Today we visit the two thousand year old ruins of Chavin. This is also an acclimatization day.
Day 4: Travel by bus, then collectivo to base camp.
Day 5: With the help of burros, we travel to moraine camp.
Day 6: Rest day and further acclimatization.
Day 7: Summit day on Pisco.
Day 8: We travel to base camp on Chopicalqui.
Day 9: Carry to moraine camp on Chopicalqui.
Day 10: Rest day at moraine camp
Day 11: To high camp on Chopicalqui.
Day 12: Summit day on Chopicaliqui.
Day 13: Extra summit day
Day 14: Return to Huaraz.
Day 15: Return to Lima.
Day 16: Return to the U.S.
About The Operator:
Southwest Adventure Guides, LLC
Headquarters:
Durango, CO
Established:
January 1989
Southwest Adventure Guides LLC (formerly Southwest Adventures) has been conducting domestic and international trips and courses since 1989. We are not a travel agent. We guide our own trips with our own staff and support networks. Our courses and trips run throughout the year. In the spring and summer months we conduct rock climbing, mountaineering, alpine climbing, backpacking, and mountain biking trips and courses in Southwest Colorado and Southeast Utah, as well as high altitude mountaineering expeditions and courses in Peru, Bolivia, and Alaska.
In the winter months we conduct avalanche courses, backcountry skiing, ice climbing, and winter mountaineering trips in Southwest Colorado, as well as international high altitude climbing and trekking expeditions in Mexico, Ecuador, and Argentina.
In the fall and spring we conduct rock climbing trips and courses in Moab/Castle Valley and Indian Creek, Utah, as well as alpine climbing and backcountry skiing trips and courses in the San Juan Mountains. We also offer custom trips and expeditions to places like the Ruth Gorge in Alaska.
All of our guides undergo extensive training and have many years experience in the discipline in which they work. Additionally, all of our Senior Guides are either American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) Certified or Trained.
What sets Southwest Adventure Guides apart?
- Experience: Over the years we have conducted thousands of trips of all shapes and sizes, involving a wide range of activities.
- Small group sizes: Our trips usually have between two and six people plus one or two guides per trip. The trips are small and very personalized.
- Guide Certification: Many of our guides are AMGA Certified, and all of our guides have participated in AMGA courses and trainings. This means you will experience the highest level of professional service and technically proficient guide.
- Leadership: Our guides are experienced professionals that have developed highly effective teaching skills and have unparalleled training and experience. Our Senior Guides also speak the language in the countries in which we operate international expeditions, insuring that your trips runs as smoothly as possible.
- Pre-trip support: You have access to a small and personal office staff who have actually "been there and done that".
- Economy: If you're looking for a "tour bus" experience and five star hotels, you might want to look elsewhere. While we can arrange this type of experience for private groups, we believe that a "sanitized " experience isolates you from the culture, and from a rewarding experience.
- References: We maintain a data base of previous and current clients who can provide references for Southwest Adventure Guides' trips and guides.
- Strong Domestic Program: We are not an office in a large city, far from the mountains. Our office staff and guides live, train, and work in the mountains every day. We train international mountaineering clients weekly in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado.
What does all this mean?
What all this means to you is that your trip runs smoothly, with a high rate of success, no hassles, the highest possible safety margins and unsurpassed customer service. We know the places we run trips and love the job we do. It's that simple.
Whether you're looking to do a major high altitude climb, learn some new skills, or just have an enjoyable mountain adventure, Southwest Adventure Guides has the experience to pull it together for you.
Policies
Participants should have prior, basic mountaineering experience. They should be comfortable with self arrest, walking in crampons, and have basic roped climbing experience. If you do not possess these skills, or need review, we recommend doing a skills course with us in Colorado prior to your Peru trip.