Peru

At the end of a very successful Peru season for Alpenglow and our clients, Jaime and Gordon were, unfortunately, faced with a difficult decision about their summit bid on Huascaran. They wound up making the call to turn around despite feeling physically strong, mentally prepared, and having clear weather. There was fresh debris from serac fall at 6300 meters and more blocks were waiting to come down. The two kept their wits about them and opted out of the high level of risk that came with the hazardous terrain.

After a successful summit of Pisco and an excellent effort on Chopicalqui, our team has some great memories of a few weeks in the Cordillera Blanca. As they arrive home, another team has arrived in Huaraz to begin their mission, beginning with an attempt of Alpamayo's French Direct Route. Stay tuned.

We just thought we'd post a snapshot of Mike Stone and Will Renner on the summit of Pisco. There will be more to come. Right now they are back in town enjoying a well-deserved breakfast after high winds turned them around on Chopicalqui.

Alpenglow's Pisco and Chopicalqui Expedition is off to an excellent start. Yesterday the strong group made the decision to attempt the summit of Pisco direct from Cave Camp (14,200 feet), skipping the upper Moraine Camp at 16,000 feet. This made for a challenging 4,700 foot vertical ascent. The group left at 1:20 AM in perfect weather, quickly passing the moraine and getting onto the glacier. Snow conditions are reportedly excellent this year in Peru, and the team moved well on the glacier with good technical skills.

We just got word that the Pisco/Chopicalqui team is settled in at Pisco's Cave Camp. They've spent the last 2 days acclimatizing in the Llanganuco Valley below the peak, going out on day hikes and doing skills training. Today the team moved up to the grassy hanging valley immediately below the moraine and glacier of Pisco's South Face. The group is strong and enjoying good weather. Tomorrow they'll do another full day of glacier skills practice before moving up to their high camp at the edge of the glacier in preparation for their summit push! Stay tuned....

For the fourteenth year in a row, Alpenglow's guides will be leading groups on the peaks of the Cordillera Blanca of Peru. The season begins tomorrow with lead guide Jaime Avila meeting the Pisco and Chopicalqui group in Lima. These two peaks are a great next step to our introductory high altitude climbs. Each of the mountains require three camps as the team moves up from the green valleys to the moraines and ultimately onto huge crevassed glaciers. Pisco is first, famous for its stellar views of the entire Blanca range. Stay tuned for dispatches from the mountain!

With only two weeks to go before our first expedition of the summer in Peru, the Alpenglow office is a busy place. If you have any final questions regarding your upcoming expedition, or about a future trip, contact us today! We look forward to hearing from you.

Before the boys get too comfortable in Huaraz, we are heading to the mountains! The team arrived here complete yesterday morning, and ever since we have been eating excellent Thai, Peruvian, and Italian cuisine, with the excuse thaqt we have to fatten up before heading to altitude. there have also been some pisco sours, and even a rumor about some of the team visiting the local salsa club! So now it is time to get out and climb.

Our team of recent Wharton grads have brought us good luck and great weather so far this year! The weather has been stunning during our past week in the mountains and it was culminated by a warm, cloudless, windless summit day on Pisco (19,200)ft. After four days of setting camps progressively higher on the peak (acclimatizing and reviewing skills), our two teams made a 2am start to go for the summit. Tom Frasier climbed with Jaime, while Amit Kapur and Vijay Mayadas shared a rope with Adrian.

Our team of recent Wharton grads have brought us good luck and great weather so far this year! The weather has been stunning during our past week in the mountains and it was culminated by a warm, cloudless, windless summit day on Pisco (19,200)ft. After four days of setting camps progressively higher on the peak (acclimatizing and reviewing skills), our two teams made a 2am start to go for the summit. Tom Frasier climbed with Jaime, while Amit Kapur and Vijay Mayadas shared a rope with Adrian.