Day 7. Rasac Pass
Summary: This is the second most technical day on the Circuit. The majority of the terrain is straightforward. However, 1km of glacier travel, a convoluted descent, and a rappel or down-climb might keep some parties on their toes. The views of Rasac and its West Summit on the ascent are a highlight.
Elevation Gain: 500m Elevation Loss: 1000m Distance: 9km
Ascent: Start at camp beside Caramarca Lake (4575m). Hike up the crest of a moraine immediately W of the lake to gain a boulder-strewn plateau. Boulder hop past a small lake to the edge of the Seria Glacier (2h). Hike up the glacier (15 degrees), passing a few minor crevasses. Unavoidably, the route crosses an avalanche path coming off Rasac Oeste. The glacier culminates in a 35-degree 50m headwall just below the pass. Above the headwall, turn left (W), walk horizontally on scree under a rocky cliff then grab a chain (added in 2025) to ascend 8m of exposed hard-packed moraine dirt to reach the minor West Col 100m west of Rasac Pass. 3h from Caramarca to the Col.
Descent: The first 1km of descent is not intuitive. Pay close attention to the instructions. Boulder hop downwards for 50m from the West Col then traverse horizontally left (toward the NW), just below cliffs on Huacrish Norte, for 700m. Look for a place where you can walk straight down hill and then switchback along a hanging bench (cairns). Traverse the bench toward the E, staying high, then either make a 25m rappel from a bolted rappel station (added in 2025), or descend a 20m 4th class down-climb starting just past the station (or some combination of the two) to reach the top of a grassy moraine. The rest is walking. Walk along micro-valleys past the place where Barrosococha (lake) used to exist and then join the cows near Rasacocha. Camping near Rasacocha is not recommended due to the extensive effects of cattle on the water and ground. Follow trails for about 1km N of Rasacocha, then cross the creek to the E side and follow an exposed, traversing trail that curls to the E into the area between Jauacocha (4050m) and Solteracocha (4120m). Camp near the outflow of Solteracocha (S/30 fee).
Summary: This is the second most technical day on the Circuit. The majority of the terrain is straightforward. However, 1km of glacier travel, a convoluted descent, and a rappel or down-climb might keep some parties on their toes. The views of Rasac and its West Summit on the ascent are a highlight.
Elevation Gain: 500m Elevation Loss: 1000m Distance: 9km
Ascent: Start at camp beside Caramarca Lake (4575m). Hike up the crest of a moraine immediately W of the lake to gain a boulder-strewn plateau. Boulder hop past a small lake to the edge of the Seria Glacier (2h). Hike up the glacier (15 degrees), passing a few minor crevasses. Unavoidably, the route crosses an avalanche path coming off Rasac Oeste. The glacier culminates in a 35-degree 50m headwall just below the pass. Above the headwall, turn left (W), walk horizontally on scree under a rocky cliff then grab a chain (added in 2025) to ascend 8m of exposed hard-packed moraine dirt to reach the minor West Col 100m west of Rasac Pass. 3h from Caramarca to the Col.
Descent: The first 1km of descent is not intuitive. Pay close attention to the instructions. Boulder hop downwards for 50m from the West Col then traverse horizontally left (toward the NW), just below cliffs on Huacrish Norte, for 700m. Look for a place where you can walk straight down hill and then switchback along a hanging bench (cairns). Traverse the bench toward the E, staying high, then either make a 25m rappel from a bolted rappel station (added in 2025), or descend a 20m 4th class down-climb starting just past the station (or some combination of the two) to reach the top of a grassy moraine. The rest is walking. Walk along micro-valleys past the place where Barrosococha (lake) used to exist and then join the cows near Rasacocha. Camping near Rasacocha is not recommended due to the extensive effects of cattle on the water and ground. Follow trails for about 1km N of Rasacocha, then cross the creek to the E side and follow an exposed, traversing trail that curls to the E into the area between Jauacocha (4050m) and Solteracocha (4120m). Camp near the outflow of Solteracocha (S/30 fee).
Approaching Rasac Col.
Seria Glacier (2010)
Seria Glacier (2025)
on the Seria Glacier
steepest mandatory part of the Seria Glacier (near the top)
Final ascent to Rasac Col up hard-packed moraine dirt (2019). I added a chain to this section in 2025.
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Final ascent to Rasac Col (2025) with the newly added chain. This section is easier with snow (early season)
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4th class descent below Rasac Col. rappel anchor added in 2025.
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rappelling over the 4th class section below Rasac Pass
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Critical routefinding below Rasac Col.
camp between Jauacocha and Solteracocha
Almost immediately, a small section broke away beneath Harrah; and he was pitched over the western precipice. Fortunately, the 120 or more feet of rope were neatly coiled; and Harrah fell the entire distance, giving Maxwell time to grab his axe as it, too, started to fall, throw himself prone on the ridge top, and drive the axe into the snow. (There are arguments both pro and con jumping over the other side of the ridge.) Harrah, though festooned with pitons, crampons and axes, was not punctured by them, because he fell free about 50 feet and then hit nothing worse than 75-degree ice... Without surprise, without gratitude, he felt a sickening jerk at his middle. The stretch in the nylon had absorbed much of the shock; his ribs had absorbed the rest.
~ Graham Matthews & David Harrah, 1951 on/off the summit ridge of Yerupaja
