Peak Summit!

To celebrate two years in Peru, the volunteers of Peru 19 in Ancash decided to take the ultimate challenge of summiting a mountain peak in Ancash! Since none of us has ever had any experience in summiting a peak, we decided to summit one of the lower peaks that takes only two days to reach the top. The peak we summited is called Vallunaraju and it is 5,686 meters high (18,655 ft). It was the most physically and emotionally exhausting experience of my life but also one of the most beautiful and amazing experiences that I have ever had in nature.

The first day, we hiked to base camp with all our camping and climbing gear in our back packs. That morning we had rented all the necessary climbing gear: picks, big boots with cramp-ons (metal points that go on the bottom of our boots), snow pants, a helmet, snow gloves, etc. So we arrived to base camp as a grueling 4 hour hike straight up with very heavy back packs from all our gear. We arrived to base camp and got our tents set up, hung out, cooked dinner and then tried to get in a few hours of sleep. We had to wake up at 1am to begin the climb!

Hiking up to base camp

Where we camped. What a beautiful view!

The view at sunset

We got up at 1am and by the time we hiked up a little farther to where the snow started and then got all our gear on, it was 2:30am by the time we started the actual climb. We all had to be attached to a thick rope together with our guide in front so that if anyone slipped, they wouldn’t fall to their death off the mountain. The first half of the climb was intense! Well it was all very intense actually and required hiking straight up in deep snow and ice picking out way up in some parts. It was also very, very cold. It took us about 5-6 hours to get to the top and we were ecstatic to make it because there were several points when we were so physically exhausted that we couldn’t go on. It may sound like I am exaggerating but I am not!  The very last 20 minutes of the climb was pure ice picking and climbing up vertically. Getting down that part was even trickier. But we made it and it was such an unforgettable experience!

Almost ready to start the hike at 2:30am!

Getting our gear on

Ready to start!

There was another big group from Canada who were also summiting the peak. The started a little bit before us so when we stated all we could see was a line lights from head lamps climbing straight up the mountain. Pretty cool! 

The sun finally started setting and it was beautiful! 

We had the most incredible views of the mountains around us. 

And then the top of the mountain peak finally came into view!

One of the less steep sections of climbing when using our ice pick wasn´t necessary. 

Taking a little break before tackling the last part of the climb

Climbing up the last part to the peak

A local brewing company in Huaraz told us that if we took some of their beers to the top and took some photos, they would give us 3 free cases of their delicious beer 

Almost to the top!

At the top!

Group shot at the top

It felt like we were on top of the world!

Heading back down

A cravass on the way down

By the way, went with two guides who are friends of a good friend of ours here in Huaraz. Since they were friends of a friend, they only charged us $10 each for the trip! It was such an amazing and challenging experience that I am so thankful to have had before leaving Ancash. I live in the most amazing and beautiful part of Peru!