Woodie Hopper - May 18, 2012 9:56 am Date Climbed: May 17, 2012
Southwest Route
Climbed via SW route from an "intermediate" camp at the foot of the glacier (usual high camp is higher on the glacier). It took just under six hours with tough snow conditions: thin icy crust with calf-deep soft snow underneath. We had to negotiate through a large field of seracs and crevasses in the dark, reconnoitering the afternoon before was invaluable. Afterwards, we hiked all the way back to our waiting truck which meant a long day: 14 hours starting from when we stepped onto the glacier. I have to wonder about the reported altitude of 6077m; a newer GPS system we used calculated 6130m just a few feet below the summit. Nearby Chearoco is without a doubt higher.
Woodie Hopper - May 18, 2012 9:56 am Date Climbed: May 17, 2012
Southwest RouteClimbed via SW route from an "intermediate" camp at the foot of the glacier (usual high camp is higher on the glacier). It took just under six hours with tough snow conditions: thin icy crust with calf-deep soft snow underneath. We had to negotiate through a large field of seracs and crevasses in the dark, reconnoitering the afternoon before was invaluable. Afterwards, we hiked all the way back to our waiting truck which meant a long day: 14 hours starting from when we stepped onto the glacier. I have to wonder about the reported altitude of 6077m; a newer GPS system we used calculated 6130m just a few feet below the summit. Nearby Chearoco is without a doubt higher.