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Hello,

Our group is working to put together a trip to one of the eastern Andean ranges similar to a couple of trips we've done in the past. A few years ago we made the hike from Pelechuco to Curva along the east side of Bolivia's Apolobamba and climbed Nevados Sunchulli, Posnansky and Cavayani along the way. http://www.climbingwithbob.com/bolivia2006/bolivia20061.html This year we climbed in Argentina's Ramada Range and summitted Cerro Ramada.http://www.climbingwithbob.com/argentina2010/argentinaintro.html. We try to get a bit off the beaten path and score a couple of peaks in the PD or AD range, see some less travelled ground and spend about two weeks doing it. Not the toughest trips, but off the beaten path and I think they generally make for a decent read as we try to put up a decent trip report so that we pay forward the folks who help out with info.

This year we are trying to gather some info on the Vilcabamba, Urubamba, and Vilancota ranges in the vicinity of Cuzco. We'd like to pick one of those areas and take about two weeks to climb two peaks, weather and bodies willing. Would anyone have a lead on a trip report or other climb narrative for 5500 to 6000 meter peaks in these ranges or personal experience they would be willing to share? We've batted around the idea of a standard route climb on Salcantay, anyone been there and done that? Of course, I acknowledge the SP section on the Vilcabamba range by Danschenk with high marks and John Biggar's excellent guide, but we need to take the next step, do some back and forth as to routes and ideas and put the pieces together.

For those who have lent a hand in the past or to whom I've forwarded info on some of our Andean trips as well as those who may need info in the future, same open door as always when it comes to paying forward the favor of information given us in the past as to lesser traveled areas. I'll share what I have in the interest of others enjoying some of the areas we have been to in the past. And of course a link to a quality trip report will follow after the trip is over.

Thanks in advance to anyone willing to pass on a bit of info.

Wyoming Bob

You might try sending a PM to Vic Hanson. He's out traveling in his newly built RV but I'm sure he's on here from time to time. I just spoke to him last week. Anyhow, he spent quite a bit of time living and guiding in Peru and I'd trust any information that he'd give up. Good luck..........Jerry

http://www.summitpost.org/users/vic-hanson/28256

Hello Jerry,

Thank you very much for the lead, I'll drop him a pm.

Bob

Originally posted last December looking for info on the Vilcanota range (Ausangate, Mariposa, etc.) Didn't seem to be much info out there. So we went and put together about a 70 mile combined climb and trek. Climbed Nevado Campa I and attempted Mariposa from Pachaspata; and climbed Cerro Lliani from Jampa. Entered from Tinqui and exited via Pitumarca. 11 day course across the range and down past Ausangate.

Our trip narrative with maps and photos for anyone interested is at this Link. The report is long and likely tedious for some but like I said, we pretty much struck out on getting much pre-trip info . . . so here is some for others who may have an interest in the area.

Funny to read, Bob. My girlfriend and I climbed Ausangate around June 15th, coming in from Tinqi and doing the circuit. Ausangate was a decent climb, worth the effort. There's some viewable pics at:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 92a&type=1

We got three horses in Tinqi, our two arrierors were great, but we did all our own cooking etc. Good value, given how much the horses carry.

After a few days in Cusco recuperating we took a van to Marcapata and trekked up the Sayapata valley and over the Apacheta Yanaruni pass to come out east of Paso Chimboya, then trekked down to Laguna Sibinacoccha. We had planned to climb and traverse the Quel'caya icecap but a big storm prevented that. Otherwise the weather was pretty good. This eastern end of the Vilcanota has almost no gringos visit but has some interesting peaks. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 7a8&type=1

I also took printouts of GoogleEarth images, which the locals loved. They also spent a lot of time looking over my Ocongate map, which I got no problem from Omnimap.com

Damien, sounds like a great trip as well, we must have literally passed along the way. Nice pics and we did the same thing with Google Earth pics. We take a along a couple of extra sets, laminated, and leave them with the arrieros . . . always a hit and appreciated.

Thanks for the thumbs up on the read.

Bob