Alpamayo

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Nevado Alpamayo is one of the most conspicuous peaks in the Cordillera Blanca mountain range (which is made up of about 50 peaks), part of the Peruvian Andes.

Alpamayo is a steep (sixty degrees), almost perfect pyramid of ice, one of a number of peaks that compose the Santa Cruz massif, the northernmost massif of the Cordillera Blanca. Although smaller than many of its neighboring peaks, it is distinguished by its unusual formation and overwhelming beauty. It actually has two sharp summits, North and South, separated by a narrow corniced ridge.

In 1966, the Alpamayo mountain was declared "the most beautiful mountain in the world" by UNESCO.

Its name comes from Quechua (Allpa = earth Mayu = river: muddy river).

The most common ascending path, known as the Ferrari route, is situated on the southwest face of the mountain. It was opened in 1975 by a group of Italian alpinists led by Casimo Ferrari. It is considered a difficult climb, demanding good crampon and axe technique. The ascension rewards with incomparable views of steep ice faces, penitentes, gigantic white walls and ridges like those of Huandoy Norte, Artesonraju and Huascaran Norte, which mimics the finest of the Himalaya scenery.

There is also an alternative climbing path known as the Vasque-French route.

External links

[Expedition to Alpamayo] - numerous photographs

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