Machu Picchu

Yesterday we completed our speedy trip to Machu Picchu. The day was amazing with everyone in awe of the Inca site. Even the rain managed to stay mostly away to allow for lots of exploring of the ruins and old temple sites. The guide added masses of detail of how the site must have worked and what the buildings were used for – all very interesting!

 

The team at Machu Picchu.

We are now heading back to Lima for our return flight to the UK, which should arrive on Friday morning. This will be the last update apart from some minor modifications on return to the UK.  Thank you for all of your support throughout the expedition.

Off to Cusco.

With the amended objective mountain achieved and now being located in the south of Peru there is just time to move to Cusco (another overnight bus!). From there the plan will be to go to Machu Picchu in a one day trip in order to visit the best cultural site in Peru. We are heading off tonight (now) and so should arrive in Cusco in the early hours of tomorrow Sunday). This phase, albeit very brief, will add a cultural dimension to the expedition and hopefully make an exciting finale.

Coropuna (Peru’s 3rd highest peak) climbed! (Part 3)

It is never pleasant waking up at 0030 hours to start the day, but at 5400m in a frozen tent with significant wind chill it requires some sort of motivation – luckily the challenge of scaling Peru’s 3^rd highest mountain was just what was required! The climb from high camp immediately started on ice hard snow with just the glow of head torches and some moonlight to find sound foot placements. Shortly into the climb we donned crampons and moved onto steeper terrain to ascend through ice covered rock buttresses, it was probably just as well it was still dark. The team were doing really well at this stage with everyone doing well to stay warm and keeping moving. As we reached the end of the mixed snow and rock ridge the sun was begging to rise bringing much needed warm to the team struggling with the freezing temperatures – water bottles frozen solid, down jackets and even full balaclavas on, in the case of LCpl Bayliss. As the never ending convex snow down began to reduce in steepness we drew closer to the summit. By this stage movement was either at leopard (LCpl Eaves) or monkey (Cpl Berry) crawl pace. Alternatively for Spr Hill, getting to the next zig or zag was sufficient for a collapse and a regaining of breath session. However, perseverance and overcoming fatigue and hardship beyond the levels ever experienced by the soldiers paid off and the whole team (100% success) were standing on the summit of Coropuna – a truly incredible and hard won experience.

Moraine, snow slopes and rock ridges - the route to Coropuna.

Coropuna summit - 100% success! Down jackets a plenty - it was very cold.

Coropuna (Peru’s 3rd highest peak) climbed! (Part 2)

The move to high camp was uphill over lose scree and rock, in big mountain boots and full packs it proved to be a challenge. We were all acclimatised to 5000m but with such a lack of oxygen at that height just breathing is hard enough. On arrival at high camp (just below the height of Ishinca) we pitched the tents and took stock of the task ahead – 1100m of ascent through snow covered moraine, rock buttresses and steep snow slopes to the summit of Coropuna. With an alpine start ahead we retired to the tents after a huge pasta meal to give us maximum energy for the following day.

The team moving up to high camp - nothing is easy at 5300m!

The view ahead - Coropuna is the right hand peak.

Spr McDonagh with the Coropuna glacier behind.

High camp set below the Coropuna ice cliffs.

Cpl A'Hara and Spr Rosyln relaxing at high camp.

Spr Wagstaff at high camp.

The sun sets at high camp with Cpl A'Hara (orange) and Spr Roslyn brushing their teeth.

Coropuna (Peru’s 3rd highest peak) climbed! (Part 1)

The move from Arequipa to Coropuna base camp was going well up until 40 minutes into the journey when one of the 4x4 vehicles started to produce lots of steam. Luckily the driver, Carlos, was able to tinker with more spanners than most garages possess and after about 2 hours we were back on the road. The drive was through extremely barren terrain with the dusty volcanic landscape only very briefly interspersed with green where the occasional river enabled plants to grow. The 8, now 10 hour journey ended at 5000m where we established base camp in a desolate spot in the shadow of Coropuna.

Breakdown just 40 minutes into the journey! Luckily Sapper "MT" Sheldon was on hand to provide advice.

Sapper Roslyn at base camp, packing for the move up the mountain.

The desolate landscape - even the lake makes little impact on the hostile countryside.

Arrival in Arequipa

After 24 hours of coach travel from Huaraz to Lima (7 hours, 400km) and Lima to Arequipa (17 hours, 1014km) we have arrived in the beautiful town of Arequipa, Peru's second city. After some interesting taxi antics we have arrived at the hostel and are preparing for the move to Coropuna (6425m). Logistics (transport and food) have been arranged so the plan for the next 5 days is as follows:

Tue 13 May 14 – Administration

Wed 14 May 14 – Move to base camp

Thu 15 May 14 – Move to high camp (5500m)
Fri 16 May 14 – Attempt Coropuna (6425m)
Sat 17 May 14 – (TBC) return from Coropuna.

The weather is looking good, so fingers crossed for success.

 

12 soldiers and 24 large grip bags and bergens = a very full collectivo. The bus just about to leave the hostel in Huaraz, luckily this was only a 30-minute trip to the main bus station.

 

The move south

With continued bad weather forecast and climbers reporting woeful conditions on Ishinca (5530m) yesterday, we have decided to move to southern Peru to the Cordillera Occidental. The high plains generally have more stable conditions and current weather forecasts are not predicting precipitation of any sort. The new base will be Arequipa and the plan will be to attempt Nevado Coropuna (6425m). The move will be by bus and will be from Huaraz to Lima, then Lima to Arequipa with an expected arrival on Tuesday 13 May 14. From Arequipa we will plan the mountain phase (likely to be a 4/5 day expedition).
So more to follow and hopefully the move south will bring better weather and more luck!

Huascaran forecast - snow!

Coropuna forecast - no snow and wind reducing.