Peru Trekking and Climbing Expedition 2007
Alpamayo and Santa Cruz Trek
All content copyright © Ashley Burke 2007. Not to be copied, duplicated or used for any purpose without permission.
Peru Trekking and Climbing Expedition 2007 Alpamayo and Santa Cruz Trek
All content copyright © Ashley Burke 2007. Not to be copied, duplicated or used for any purpose without permission. |
Evening light on Santa Cruz (6241m) from the Yuraccocha Valley
Introduction
About a day or so after our Huayhuash trek, Kendy and I set off on a 14 day trek in the Cordillera Blanca. Starting and ending at the tiny mountain village of Cashapampa, our route followed the Alpamayo trek for the first 8 days. We then spent a day in the town of Pomabamba to replenish our supplies for our return trek via the Santa Cruz route. The circuit thereby formed by this route enclosed some of the main peaks of the Peruvian Cordillera Blanca, such as Santa Cruz, Alpamayo and Pucajirca.
This trek contrasted with the Huayhuash circuit in the sense that it was unguided. Taking only ourselves and what we could carry, we were unconstrained by the requirements of guides, donkeys and their associated entourage, and thus we were free to take time to explore wherever we pleased. There was the added advantage that in the wilderness of the Parque Nacional de Huascarán we were free to camp wherever we liked, and on many occasions on this trek we found ourselves in expansive alpine valleys all to ourselves, with no other people around.
It was fantastic trekking, with tremendous diversity in mountain scenery as well as memorable cultural experiences of the friendly and cheerful Peruvian mountain people.
Although July is normally in the middle of the dry season, we experienced cloudy and stormy weather for much of the trek.
Just interested in the highlights of this trek? If so, click here!
To view photos from the trek select a day from the itinerary below or just click the Next button below to start the slide show.
| Day 1 | Sat 7 Jul 2007 |   |
Set out from Cashapampa |
| Day 2 | Sun 8 Jul 2007 | |
Climb from Hualcayan into Yuraccocha valley |
| Day 3 | Mon 9 Jul 2007 | |
Lake Yuraccocha to Lake Cullicocha |
| Day 4 | Tue 10 Jul 2007 | |
Lake Cullicocha to Alpamayo valley via Osoruri pass |
| Day 5 | Wed 11 Jul 2007 | |
Alpamayo North Base Camp and side trip to 5200m |
| Day 6 | Thu 12 Jul 2007 | |
Alpamayo Base Camp to Laguna Safuna Baja via Mesapata Pass |
| Day 7 | Fri 13 Jul 2007 | |
Exploring the Tayapampa Valley |
| Day 8 | Sat 14 Jul 2007 | |
Huillca, Yanacon Pass and Lake Sactaycocha |
| Day 9 | Sun 15 Jul 2007 |  |
Down to Pomabamba |
| Day 10 | Mon 16 Jul 2007 | |
Climb out of Pomabamba Valley, high camp above Rio Lucma. |
| Day 11 | Tue 17 Jul 2007 | |
Laguna Huecrucocha and Alto de Pucaraju pass (4640m). |
| Day 12 | Wed 18 Jul 2007 | |
Climb Punta Union (4760m) and thence to Taullipampa |
| Day 13 | Thu 19 Jul 2007 | |
Climb Sentillo and thence to Alpamayo South Base Camp |
| Day 14 | Fri 20 Jul 2007 | |
Alpamayo South Base Camp to Santa Cruz Valley |
| Day 15 | Sat 21 Jul 2007 | |
Complete the trek and return to Huaraz. |
All content copyright © Ashley Burke 2007. Not to be copied, duplicated or used for any purpose without permission. Page created 17 Sep 2007, last updated 18 Sep 2007. |
