UJ #9 - Adventure in Peru
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
TREKKING IN PERU<br />
Eduardo Pedraza<br />
Eduardo Pedraza<br />
Luis Yupanqui<br />
ACLIMATIZATION AND<br />
ALTITUDE SICKNESS<br />
- DO VERY LITTLE<br />
PHYSICAL EXERCISE<br />
ON THE FIRST DAY AT A<br />
HIGH ALTITUDE.<br />
- EAT LESS AND MORE<br />
OFTEN DURING THE<br />
DAY.<br />
- DRINK PLENTY OF<br />
LIQUID.<br />
- DRINK COCA LEAF TEA<br />
AND INFUSIONS OF<br />
MUÑA.<br />
HUAYHUASH:<br />
THE HIGHEST MOUNTAINS<br />
The Cordillera Blanca, <strong>in</strong> the central highlands <strong>in</strong> the<br />
Department of Ancash, is the ma<strong>in</strong> dest<strong>in</strong>ation for lovers<br />
of adventure, because of the number of mounta<strong>in</strong>s<br />
—several of them over 6,000 metres— glaciers<br />
and treks. This range conta<strong>in</strong>s <strong>Peru</strong>’s two highest<br />
mounta<strong>in</strong>s, Huascaran (6,746 metres) and Yerupaja<br />
(6,617 metres), as well as the most beautiful mounta<strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>in</strong> the world accord<strong>in</strong>g to the magaz<strong>in</strong>e Alp<strong>in</strong>ismus<br />
(1966): Mount Alpamayo (5,947 metres).<br />
One of the best-known routes is that of the Huayhuash<br />
Range, a demand<strong>in</strong>g trek that crosses high and beautiful<br />
terra<strong>in</strong> and takes twelve days. The ma<strong>in</strong> access<br />
is from Huaraz, from which you travel to Cuartelwa<strong>in</strong>,<br />
the start<strong>in</strong>g po<strong>in</strong>t for the trek, <strong>in</strong> the Cordillera Blanca<br />
range; but some trips also start from the town of Huanuco.<br />
The Cordillera is a mounta<strong>in</strong> cha<strong>in</strong> 30 kilometres<br />
long, which is the source of several rivers that flow <strong>in</strong>to<br />
the Atlantic and others that jo<strong>in</strong> the River Marañon and<br />
flow through the Amazon bas<strong>in</strong>; it conta<strong>in</strong>s extensive<br />
forests of queuñas, the tree that grows at the highest<br />
altitude <strong>in</strong> the world, while its glaciers feed nearly fifty<br />
lakes, where some tour operators offer fish<strong>in</strong>g trips.<br />
For all of these reasons the Cordillera Huayhuash has<br />
been declared a Protected Zone with<strong>in</strong> <strong>Peru</strong>’s system<br />
of natural protected areas.<br />
For the Huayhuash experience, where the average altitude<br />
on the trail and at camp is 4 metres and the<br />
maximum (the Cuyoc pass) is 5,010, you must be <strong>in</strong><br />
excellent physical shape and spend some days acclimatis<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>in</strong> Huaraz or Huanuco. The tour operators<br />
also offer shorter treks from four to eight days duration,<br />
for those who do not want to cover the complete circuit<br />
of 120 kilometres, as well as other experiences <strong>in</strong><br />
Huayhuash, start<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the highlands north of Lima,<br />
Ancash and Huanuco itself.<br />
Dur<strong>in</strong>g the walk you cross n<strong>in</strong>e mounta<strong>in</strong>s passes at<br />
altitudes of 4,300 to 5,010 metres, as well as the Siula<br />
Grande glacier. You spend the night <strong>in</strong> the Cutatambo<br />
valley and alongside lakes and thermal spr<strong>in</strong>gs such<br />
as those at Viconga. You also visit communities of shepherds<br />
near the tourist trail, whose members act as<br />
guides, porters and cooks. You will share their lives,<br />
food and medic<strong>in</strong>al herbs, handcrafted textiles and<br />
cosmovision, all of which orig<strong>in</strong>ate <strong>in</strong> the remote past.