Day 4. Siula Pass
Summary: An easy hike with some great views but shared with Valley Circuit hikers, making it feel crowded at times.
Elevation Gain: 700m Elevation Loss: 900m Distance: 13km
Descent #1: Hike down (S) from camp at Chaclan Lake (4487m) on the W side of the creek to the Carhuacocha Valley (4150m) and cross it (higher is drier).
Ascent: Walk through the mini-valley to the E of the moraine wall that circles Gangrajanca Lake. Pass Gangrajanca on its E side, a new lake caused by a rockslide on its W side, and Siula Lake on its E side. Make a rising traverse, following a well-worn trail, up a steep grass slope. Eventually gain a shoulder/viewpoint and walk into a hanging valley. Meander up a switchbacking trail at the end of the valley to reach Siula Pass (4834m). An adventurous, quiet, and scenic alternative is to traverse the peaks (including Cerro Yanacocha) directly south of Carhuacocha and directly east of the Siula Lakes chain to reach Siula Pass. It has been completed at least twice: Vance's gpx Quique's gpx
Descent #2: Walk down from the pass, aiming for a second pass on your right (S). Cross through this second pass (4710m), then follow a faint trail down a long, gentle valley to Carnicero Lake (4441m) and beyond to the Valley Circuit campsite called “Huayhuash”. Camp there and pay a trekking fee (S/30).
Summary: An easy hike with some great views but shared with Valley Circuit hikers, making it feel crowded at times.
Elevation Gain: 700m Elevation Loss: 900m Distance: 13km
Descent #1: Hike down (S) from camp at Chaclan Lake (4487m) on the W side of the creek to the Carhuacocha Valley (4150m) and cross it (higher is drier).
Ascent: Walk through the mini-valley to the E of the moraine wall that circles Gangrajanca Lake. Pass Gangrajanca on its E side, a new lake caused by a rockslide on its W side, and Siula Lake on its E side. Make a rising traverse, following a well-worn trail, up a steep grass slope. Eventually gain a shoulder/viewpoint and walk into a hanging valley. Meander up a switchbacking trail at the end of the valley to reach Siula Pass (4834m). An adventurous, quiet, and scenic alternative is to traverse the peaks (including Cerro Yanacocha) directly south of Carhuacocha and directly east of the Siula Lakes chain to reach Siula Pass. It has been completed at least twice: Vance's gpx Quique's gpx
Descent #2: Walk down from the pass, aiming for a second pass on your right (S). Cross through this second pass (4710m), then follow a faint trail down a long, gentle valley to Carnicero Lake (4441m) and beyond to the Valley Circuit campsite called “Huayhuash”. Camp there and pay a trekking fee (S/30).
crossing the valley above Carhuacocha
Final ascent to Siula Pass.
from Cerro Yanacocha on the optional, more adventurous alternative route to Day 4
Nearing "Huayhuash" camp with Carnicero behind.
Huayhuash Camp with the Puscanturpas behind
The only way was into the icefall [below the NE face of Yerupaja, shown over there ->], and it was an unholy place... An improbable ice fin crossed a vast crevasse, and today, as we were on it, it was splitting apart. Twenty minutes later we heard a thunder behind us; the fin had died. Going on or going down both looked equally bad, so we ate some food where we stood, trying not to think about the creaks and groans from under our feet. It really hotted up when a sérac fifty feet away keeled over, crashing through our route, as we ran nowhere looking for shelter. All this spoiled our breakfast... |
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