Shaqsha sits only 20 kilometers or so to the south of Huaraz yet is rarely visited and even less often climbed. Skyline Adventure’s offers an ascent of this striking peak, not to its true summit but rather up the southwest spur to a sub-summit at 5697 meters. The climb is steep, technical, dramatic, and exciting and its proximity to the trailhead (east of Olleros) allows us to tackle the peak in just 5 days. The approach to the mountain is a gentle ascent and you often see herds of the endangered vicuña enroute. Basecamp can be reached in 4-5 hours and a high camp set up on the glacier is a few more hours onward from there. The climb crosses a bergshrund at the base of the spur and ascends snow and ice slopes between 60-80 degrees. Condors typically hover above this mountain adding a genuine Andean touch to the whole production.

Note: This itinerary is designed as an addition to another trip or can accept participants who have completed other climbs in the area during the season, with or without Skyline Adventures. Shaqsha is a technical summit requiring previous experience with climbing systems and vertical ascents & descents. All participants will be screened before approval onto the trips. There is no acclimatization period included in this itinerary section. You must be well acclimatized prior to the start date.

Difficulty: strenuous, technical.
Total nights in mountains: 4