I do agree that a park fee is fair to support local economy.
But being "guarded" at all time by a guide would be a real pain.

Guys;

Please spread the word. I just wrote the article on Cordillera Blanca. Its name is "New restriccions on Cordillera Blanca"

Well done for the article !!

A few corrections if you don't mind :

1. "Restrictions" not "Resticcions"
2. The link you gave doesn't reach anything, it has to be midified into :
http://www.thebmc.co.uk/news_det.asp?item_id=877
3. The second link doesn't work either

Again, great job for bring this up to us.
I hope SP elves will bring this article to light

Thanks:
I will correct this.

Quick access to ElCapitan's article -> Cordillera Blanca

Hello everybody,

Any news on the restrictions that may occur in PN Huascaran ?

bump

I wrote in the general forum about the need to post as a featured article "New restrictions in Cordillera Blanca" To whoever can do this please do it because is an access issue that concern all of us.

Maybe this all has to do with the recent rash of ill-fated incidents that has brought negative International publicity/feedback onto the Peruvain Mountaineering scene?

When people die on your mountains it brings very bad karma to your tourism.

Sadly, the $Buck$ always talks!!!

The Chief may have hit one of the nails on the head. There were several incidents this year that resulted in fatalities. There are also numerous cases of near incidents. Unfortunately for those who are capable of climbing on their own, there are others who lead to these problems. There are plenty of people out there (and no doubt some here as well) who are not as capable as they think they are. There are also less than competent guides who are willing to take money from the tourists.

Probably one of the other reasons for these regulations (again it relates to money) is to boost the employment that results from tourists and climbers in the park. There are lots of young trekkers who are too cheap to hire donkeys and arrieros, let alone cooks and guides. Outside guiding companies often make big money but only hire the lower priced help, not the local guides. The park is not too popular with some of the locals because it has taken away grazing lands. These regulations would put some money back into the local pockets and make the park valuable to the local inhabitants. The regulations may help get the cows out of Ishinca base camp.

For what it is worth, I have to admit that I have no axe to grind here. I know I'm not competent enough to climb without a guide, and I always go with a well qualified one. I also like having donkeys, arrieros, porters, cooks, etc. to make my vacation more pleasant, especially when these services are as reasonable as they are in Peru. I think the regulations will help some locals, but are unfortunate for those who prefer to and are competent enough to climb on their own.

It is true that a lot of people like to hire a full service for their trips in Cordillera. That's a choice. Even in Himalaya you are not forced to hire a guide, cooks or porters to go on K2 or Kanchenjunga. You may need them, but again is a choice. But, they are climbs and places that none of the guides, cooks or arrieros want to go. This is part of the argument, too.

ElCapitanKoolAid wrote:It is true that a lot of people like to hire a full service for their trips in Cordillera. That's a choice. Even in Himalaya you are not forced to hire a guide, cooks or porters to go on K2 or Kanchenjunga. You may need them, but again is a choice. But, they are climbs and places that none of the guides, cooks or arrieros want to go. This is part of the argument, too.

True that a guide is not required but...

a) The Permit fee this year for up to 7 climbers on K2 was $12,000.00
b) An additional fee of $5000.00 is added onto the Permit if "NO" local Porters are used and the fee for the "Required Liason Officer".
c) The Permit fee for Kanchenjunga for up to 7 climber's is $10,000.00 plus an additional fee of $7500.00 for a "Required Liason Officer"

With that, you climb K2 or any other hill in Pakistan solo, plan on paying $17,000.00 in fees to just get on the hill and the same goes for Kachenjunga etc!

Also its worth pointing out that, generally, the local businesses including guides in Huaraz are not in favor of the new regulations as they understand that the new regs will result in a HUGE drop in climber traffic in the Cordillera Blanca. I have this from someone I know who lives down there.

You are right. The regulations were crafted in a shady way and the proof is that the old chief of PNH was fired because of this. Many people in Peru want to overturn this regualtions, too.

On the topic of liason officers. Their function is totally different to what Peru wants to do. In Peru the objective is to curtail and funnel climbing in a non-environmental friendly way: greed as usual. On the other hand a liason officer its primary function is to make sure you climb what's stated in your permit. It does not matter what you do. In example, you can go on the magic line of K2 or the Abruzzi spur. The liason officer could care less. One of the problems with the new regulations in Peru, as I said ealier, is imposing arbitrary limits on adventure climbing.