Ranrapalca peak can be seen from Huaraz town, it has an attractive shape and its size of 6 thousand masl is shown as a giant mass of ice, this peak is located in the Quebrada Ishinca with the peaks: Urus, Ishinca, Tocllaraju, but this is the only 6 thousand of technical climbing on this canyon.
The sunset from the Vallunaraju moraine camp shows a Ranrapalca peak with its beautiful wall illuminated in pink and orange colors, resembling a folded wall of sapphire or pink opal colors.
Specifically, this mountain is located between the Cojup and Ishinca canyons, with a long ridge that starts at Vallunaraju peak and ends at Palcaraju peak. Ranrapalca peak is located between two peaks: the difficult and vertical Ocshapalca peak, and the accessible and friendly Ishinca peak. The etymology of its name comes from the quechua words «ranra» and «pallca», which mean respectively «rocky terrain» and «bifurcated».
Ranrapalca peak has different routes, but the most climbed during the season are the Northeast and North routes, the latter being the most demanding because it is a technical and sustained climb, ideal for those who enjoy rigorous technical mountains.
Huaraz (Google Map)
7:00 am (Pick up at your hotel)
Participants must be in excellent physical condition to join this climb. Andean Raju Expeditions recommends previous and constant preparation as a crucial factor to take on this challenge, then, the physical stress caused by the days of climbing will be minimized.
We strongly advise all participants to have an adequate training plan in gyms, outdoor sports, climbing peaks, bearing weight and long day hikes.
If you would like our advice, we can provide you a training plan after evaluation of your experience in hiking and sporting activity.
You must have knowledge of glacier progression, technical climbing on ice walls
you must have a knowledge of mountain rescue, safety and equipment management. These skills allow you to optimize your safety and generate a collaborative work with our guides during the climb.
Participants should have experience in altitude the last week prior to the begin the climb Ranrapalca, which ensures adequate acclimatization and conditioning of the body to the altitude. It is recommended to stay above 5,000 masl before starting the climb.
We suggest an acclimatization program before your expedition, it can be mountains of the Cordillera Blanca with a minimum of 6 days of anticipation. We recommend previously climbed peaks such as Yanapaccha, Huarapasca or Janyaraju.
Our expedition starts in Huaraz, we will pick you up at your hotel with private transportation. After pick up we will head north through the Huaylas valley to Paltay village, from this point we will turn off with the transport to the east side by a road towards Pashpa village. Our donkey driver and donkeys will be waiting for us to transfer the logistic equipment to the campsite. To get to Ishinca base camp we will hike through a plain all along the Ishinca canyon, we will be able to observe the vegetation and the glacier river on the trail. After 3 hours of walking we will be able to see the Palcaraju massif and its peaks, then we will continue along the trail until we reach the impressive Tocllaraju snowy mountain.
Finally, after a total of 4 hours of hiking, we will arrive at our campsite.
Lodging: Mountain tents.
Meals: Box lunch, lunch and dinner
Transfer by car: 2 hours
Estimated hiking time: 4 hours.
Elevation: +1250 (3100 masl to 4350 masl)
The second day of the expedition will begin early in the morning. After breakfast and personal hygiene we will start our hikking to the Ishinca-Ranrapalca col. After 3 hours we will arrive to the Longoni Bivouac located at an altitude of 5000m, from this point we will be able to see our objective: Ranrapalca peak, this is shown as an imposing mass of ice and rock that dominates this side of the Cordillera Blanca. We will continue surrounding the lake along rocky sections until we reach the glacier of the Ishinca peak, here we will equip and rope ourselves to arrive safely to our second day of camping on the col.
Finally, when our dinner time arrives, we will eat and rest to continue with the next day’s journey.
Lodging: Mountain tents.
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, lunch and dinner.
Estimated hiking time: 6 to 7 hours.
Elevation: +850 m (4350 masl to 5200 masl)
This is the most desired day: the climb to the summit. We will start the climbing day at midnight, after breakfast we will climb over crevasses and small sections of rock and ice. We will arrive at the base of the wall and begin the climb by the shovel (55º), depending on the conditions and accumulation of snow, the guide will choose the best route to overcome the areas of rock falls.
After about 8 hours of continuous climbing, we will reach the plateau of the mountain and we will go to the final ridge that will take us directly to the summit. From the summit you will see a great part of the Cordillera Blanca with its beautiful mountains: Tocllaraju, Pucaranra, Chinchey, Vallunaraju, Ocshapalca, Humashraju, Huantsán, Rurec and more.
We remain at the summit to rest, hydrate and take pictures. Finally we make the rappels of down by the same route of ascent, we arrive to our camp, we will feed and rest.
Lodging: Mountain tents.
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, lunch and dinner.
Estimated climbing time: 10 hours up and 5 hours down.
Elevation: +962 m (5,200 masl to 6,162 masl
This day, after breakfast, we will begin our downhill to base camp. Our cook will be waiting for us with a delicious lunch to replenish our energy and rest satisfied with the achievement.
Lodging: Mountain tents.
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, lunch and dinner.
Estimated trekking time: 3 hours
Elevation: -850 m (5200 masl to 4350 masl)
Our expedition has come to an end. After breakfast we dismantle the tent for the return down, the donkey driver and donkeys are ready to carry all the logistic equipment. We hike downhill through the Ishinca canyon until we reach Pashpa village. The transport will be waiting for us at this point to transfer us to Huaraz.
Lodging: Mountain tents.
Meals: Breakfast
Estimated hiking time: 4 hours
Transfer by car: 2 hours back to Huaraz.
Elevation: -1250 (4350 masl to 3100 masl)
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