Family Adventures - Professional Guided Climbing and Trekking in South America - The Cordillera Blanca

COOPERATIVE ADVENTURES IN THE CORDILLERA BLANCA

LIVING & LEARNING TOGETHER

New this year at the Skyline Adventure School we are introducing the "somewhere in between" of our Guided Trips and Outdoor Education Courses. We're calling them "Cooperative", because that's what they'll require of you. This is for the adventurer who wants to go on a trip in South America, but doesn't quite like the idea of having their tents set up for them, their meals prepared (or dishes washed!), and wants to learn a thing or two about getting it all done in the outdoors.

Your hybrid guides/instructors will take you through the planning of the trip and its logistical needs, help create a menu and accompany you to the market to buy your food rations, and teach along the way about navigation, stove use and food prep, decision making in the outdoors, mountaineering skills for the trips that involve an alpine ascent, and more!

FEATURED TRIPS - SUMMER 2007

Quilquihuanca / Ishinca Cooperative Trek & Climb
14 days Strenuous - $1610

June 21 - July 4

The Quilquihuanca valley,visible from Huaraz, is "less trodden" than valleys like the Santa Cruz though equal in beauty and high in adventure. The passes are off trail so prepare yourself for a navigational adventure! Learn mountaineering skills on the glacier and summit Ishinca before packing up and hiking out the Cojup Valley. Due to terrain, this trip will require participants to carry a backpack up and over the high passes and will be donkey supported only the first few days of expedition.

Itinerary Info / Back to Top

Los Cedros Cooperative Trek
12 days - Moderate to Strenuous -$1380

May 27 - June 7

This challenging path winds it's way from the ruins of Hualycayan to the distant town of Pomabamba, taking you from the western slopes of the Peruvian Andes, all the way across and down their other side. Impressive views abound, and a visit to Alpamayo, "the Most Beautiful Mountain in the World" will send you home wondering if your fairytale vacation was real!

Itinerary Info / Back to Top

14 Day Quilquihuanca / Ishinca Trek & Climb

DAY	ACTIVITY
1	Morning arrival in Lima. Pick up at the airport by Skyline staff and transport to the bus station and on to Huaraz. (This is an 8 hour journey up into the Cordillera). That night settle in at the lodge and have a welcome banquet.
2	Meet at the Skyline office to discuss itinerary, answer questions, then take an afternoon walk up to the Ruins of Wilkahuain to begin your acclimitization. Evening is preparation for the expedition phase at your lodge.
3	Morning trip to the market to buy food and supplies for the trip. Afternoon is food packing and gear sorting. Evening on the town!
4	Day hike up to Lake Churup. Camp near base or back in town, depending upon acclimatization
5	Begin hiking up the Quilquihuanca. Camp near fork in the valley.
6	Hike to the base of the pass and camp.
7	Hike up and over the pass and camp near the Cojup valley head. That afternoon, meet resupply with new food ration and mountaineering gear.
8	Hike up and establish “Base Camp” at the foot of Ishinca. Begin the mountaineering progression that evening.
9	Mountaineering Skills day on glacier
10	Mountaineering Skills / Summit Possibility
11	Summit / Skills
12	Skills / Rest day. Move to valley floor to camp
13	Hike out. Transport to Huaraz. Celebration Banquet that evening
14	Last minute shopping before embarking on our return trip to Lima in the afternoon.

12 Day Quilquihuanca / Ishinca Trek & Climb

DAY	ACTIVITY
1	Morning arrival in Lima. Pick up at the airport by Skyline staff and transport to the bus station and on to Huaraz. (This is an 8 hour journey up into the Cordillera). That night settle in at the lodge and have a welcome banquet.
2	Meet at the Skyline office to discuss itinerary, answer questions, then take an afternoon walk up to the Ruins of Wilkahuain to begin your acclimitization. Evening is preparation for the expedition phase at your lodge.
3	Morning trip to the market to buy food and supplies for the trip. Afternoon is food packing and gear sorting. Evening on the town!
4	Day hike up to Lake Churup. Camp near base or back in town, depending upon acclimatization
5	Leave Huaraz early in the morning for Hualcayan where you'll begin your trek. Load the donkeys (yes, you'll have a few pack animals on this one!) Hike 5 hours to Huishcash, located 4000 meters above sea level!
6	Seven hour hiking day, taking you to your highest camp on the route at 4500 meters. Pass some beautiful galcier fed lakes, over the Osoruri pass (4850 meters), and then drop down to the camping site on the other side.
7	A longer days walk then the previous will take you from your Osoruri camp to a place called Jancarurish, where you'll catch your first breathtaking glimpse of the north face of Alpamayo. You'll leave the Cedros valley this day, have a layover at your camp the following day to really soak in the views, then get back on your way on day 9.
8	Well deserved rest day with optional hikes & exploration, with the lake of Jancarurish a short walk away for great views and sweet serenity.
9	2 high passes to navigate will take you out of the Alpamayo valley and into Huillca valley, a notable area of agricultural activity. We'll set up camp near the grazing alpaca herds and the homes of the indiginous farmers who care for them.
10	One more pass at 4600 meters will expose the lush Jancapampa valley, covered in the native quenoal tree which grows as high as the highest vegetation found in the Himalaya range. Lunch at a lake called Sactaycocha often lends views of the resident ducks and geese, and then camp in the fertile valley still awards a vista of the glaciers and waterfalls flowing from Pucajirca.
11	The walk out to Pomabamba starts today and your trek will soon be only a fabulous memory! Pass through a few villages then meet your transport in Pomabamba for the ride back to Huaraz. Cross the Andes once again, this time the easy way, and shower up and shave for a celebration banquet that evening!
12	Bus from Huaraz to Lima and catch your flight home or carry on to your next adventure!