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Peru Climbing School

"Join Peru Climbing School by Alpenglow Expeditions to develop high-altitude mountaineering skills in one of the most stunning mountain ranges on the planet. Small team size and a low ratio of climbers to guides (3:1) make it a perfect learning environment to hone in on skills and set yourself up for success on bigger mountains around the world."

Peru Climbing School Expedition

Introductory 15 Days Peru
Join our Intro To Mountaineering course in Peru to develop high-altitude mountaineering skills in one of the most stunning mountain ranges on the planet. Small team size and a low ratio of climbers to guides (3:1) make it a perfect learning environment to learn alpine climbing skills and set yourself up for success on bigger mountains around the world.
Jun 15, 2024 – Jun 29, 2024
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Two mountaineering raising their arms in triumph while standing on a glacier at sunrise in Peru.

Peru’s Cordillera Blanca is a captivating mountain range boasting an array of accessible five and six thousand meter peaks – there is no better place to learn the foundations of high altitude mountaineering!

Our Intro To Mountaineering course’s Base Camp in the Llanganuco Valley offers quick access to our two target peaks: Yanapaccha (17,913’/5,460m) and Pisco (18,871’/5,752m). Additionally, the surrounding glaciers and mountains provide the perfect training ground to learn high-altitude skills, such as route assessment, roped glacier travel, crampon and ice axe use, and crevasse rescue. The primary goal of the Peru Climbing School is to use these two progressively challenging peaks to equip climbers with the skills necessary to climb higher and more complex mountains. Quick access to these formidable but attainable peaks makes Peru the perfect place to learn high altitude mountaineering skills.

FITNESS

Climbers must be in excellent physical shape to join this expedition. This is perhaps the most important aspect of high altitude climbing, and cannot be stressed enough. Regular, challenging exercise for many months in advance of departure is the only way to gain the necessary level of fitness that is needed on big peaks. We highly recommend a structured training regime with a gym or personal trainer to assist you in preparing for climbing at altitude. Please contact us for more information on physical training.

TECHNICAL

No technical climbing experience required.

ALTITUDE

No prior experience at altitude required.
A group of 5 mountaineers standing on the summit of a peak in Peru.

Peru Climbing Expedition Itinerary

Day 1
Arrival Day

Arriving in Lima between 6pm and 12am, clients will be transported to their hotel for a good night’s sleep before departing for Huaraz the next day.

Day 2
Drive to Huaraz (10,013 feet/3,052 meters) 8 hours

Welcome to Huaraz, the climbing capital of South America! After an 8-hour bus ride from Lima to Huaraz, we will arrive at the small, beautiful Olaza’s Guest House hotel where we will rest and regroup.

Day 3
Organize and acclimatize!

We’ll spend this day going over gear and logistics for our expedition and making sure that everyone is ready to spend the next several days in the Cordillera Blanca before our first acclimatization hike. Proper acclimatization is everything in high-altitude spaces.

Day 4
Hike to Laguna Churup (14,700 feet/4,800 meters).

Today, we will hike up to Laguna Churup (14,700’/4800m), a beautiful alpine lake that will help us prepare our bodies for the mountains. We’ll also use today to make any last minute preparations.

Day 5
Drive to Llanganuco Valley to Base Camp

Time to head into the mountains. We’ll drive from Huaraz into the incredible Llanganuco Valley, surrounded by views of snow-capped peaks and glacial lakes. Once we establish Base Camp, we will begin to discuss and develop high-altitude mountaineering skills, such as hazard management, equipment use and care, basic climbing knots, route and weather assessment, and high-altitude physiology.

Day 6
Acclimatization Day at Laguna 69 (15,100’/4,602m)

A few hours spent at altitude and a few thousand feet of elevation gain do wonders for the acclimatization process.

Day 7
Move to Moraine Camp on Yanapaccha/ Skills Day

Today we will pick up Base Camp and hit the Yanapaccha trailhead, hiking to Moraine Camp (16,076’/4900m). Then, we’ll spend the afternoon learning basic glacier travel skills, including crampon and ice ax usage. This is also our first night spent at an on-trail camp.

Day 8
Skills Day on Glacier

Continued skills development on the glacier as we prepare for Yanapaccha. Today we will review the equipment and skills needed for moving over technical ground found on the mountain, including advanced crevasse rescue, self-arrest practice, glaciology, and basic avalanche awareness.

Day 9
Summit day Yanapaccha (17,913 feet/5,460 meters).

With an early morning start, we will go for the summit of Yanapaccha (17,913’/5,460m). From the top, we’ll enjoy some awe-inspiring views of our next objective: Pisco.

Day 10
Move back to Base Camp.

Today we move back to Base Camp to resupply food and gear, using the remainder of the day to rest and recover.

Day 11
Move to Pisco Base Camp (14,107 feet/4,300 meters).

Next, we will hike to Pisco Base Camp (14,107’/4,300m) at the foot of the glacier and prepare to summit.

Day 12
Move to Pisco Moraine Camp

Move from Pisco Base Camp (14,107’/4300m) to Pisco Moraine Camp (16,400’/5000m). Adding an extra camp on our ascent of Pisco allows us to move methodically up the mountain and conserve our energy for summit day.

Day 13
Summit day on Pisco (18,871 feet/5,752 meters).

Move from Pisco Base Camp (14,107’/4,300m) to Pisco Moraine Camp (16,400’/5,000m). Adding an extra camp on our ascent of Pisco allows us to move methodically up the mountain and conserve our energy for summit day.

Day 14
Hike down trailhead for pickup and return.

We will hike back down the trailhead at Cebollapampa for a van transport back down to Huaraz for a celebration dinner complete with Pisco sours (the local’s popular concoction).

Day 15
Return to Huaraz and Lima, depart from Peru 

Today we’ll return to take our luxury bus ride back to Lima and catch our flights back home. All flights should depart after 11pm.

Peru Climbing School Trip Packet

Our Mountaineering Course Guides

Meet some of the guides who you might be climbing with in Peru.

Peru Climbing School Questions

Below are some answers to commonly asked questions about climbing in Peru
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