Nevado Ishinca 5530m Mountain Climb
The guide in charge of your climb will be one of our local experienced & professional IFMGA – AGMP Certified Mountain Guides.
Ishinca 5530m Mountain can be climbed without previous climbing experience. It is a rewarding climb for both experienced and beginner climbers with long enjoyable slopes of good snow. Most of the way is not very steep and not technical.
There can be short steep sections or some hard ice in some years which can be difficult to navigate for beginner climbers, depending on conditions. For fit, strong and well acclimatized hikers, this is a great challenging adventure.
We use Refugio Ishinca Mountain Hut and they provide us food and shelter.
Length : 2 nights and 3 days climb
Route : NW Slopes
Grade : 1/A
Start/Finish : Huaraz
Maximum Altitude : 5530m
Average : 4390m
Season : May – September
Day By Day Itinerary
Day 1: Huaraz – Cochapampa – Ishinca Base Camp & Hut
You are picked up at your accommodation and begin the journey with a spectacular scenic drive along the Callejon de Huaylas Valley and then up to the Village of Pashpa and then up to Cochapampa (3400m) 1 hour drive. Here our gear is loaded onto the donkeys and we walk up the valley Quebrada Ishinca on a gently rising path to our camp at the head of the valley. This is a lovely walk, passing through Quenual forest. As we walk up the valley it opens out, and we see Tocllaraju ahead. Base Camp is at 4390m. 5 hours hike.
Day 2: Summit Attempt
Climb Ishinca. We leave camp around 2am. A steady climb initially on a good path to Lake Ishinca 3 hours. And then another hour to the glacier. Some of the way is over loose rock and large moraine rocks until we reach the glacier. We climb the north-west slopes of Ishinca, a steady slope, not too steep apart from the final 25m to the summit. In some years depending on the condition of the glacier, there can be some short steep sections or hard ice, but we will assist with this. About 3½ hours on the glacier to the summit. Depending on conditions on the mountain, we may instead climb the East face of Ishinca, approaching from the Ranrapalca glacier. This side is also a moderate climb (not technical) and suitable for beginners. Return the same way to Base Camp. 12 hours activity.
Day 3: Walk down the Ishinca Valley to Cochapampa and return to Huaraz
Altitude & Acclimatization
It is very important that you are well acclimatized to the altitude before attempting to climb Ishinca Mountain. Climbing above 5000m is physically demanding, even if the climbing is not technical.
What to Bring:
*Backpack – to carry your gear
*Layers of warm fleece or polypro clothing
*Sleeping bag
*Warm hat
*Sunhat or cap
*Mountaineering Sunglasses (UV)
*Sunscreen
*1 pair of Goretex gloves with 1 pair woollen inside gloves
*Socks – 1 pair for climbing in
*Down jacket
*Rain proof jacket
*Rain proof overtrousers
*Thermal long johns
*Personal First aid kit.
*Small bottle of hand disinfectant recommended
*Water bottle
*Head lamp + batteries
Technical Gear
*Helmet
*Walking axe
*Harness
*Leather climbing boots
*Semi-automatic crampons plus snow anti blocks
