The peaks of Peru's Cordillera Huayhuash are pristine ice pyramids. Yet the valleys have developed a trash problem. Locals have taken the lead on preventing the problem from getting worse. But it's going to take an expeditionary force to clean up decades worth of dumping.
Simon Yates, the legend from the Touching the Void epic, donated --- you can too!
I've been visiting the Huayhuash for 26 years and along the way wrote a guidebook about it, discovered the Alpine Circuit, and created the HuayhuashAlpineCircuit.com website. I hope to leave the Huayhuash as beautiful and pristine as how I found it.
Relations with the local communities of the Huayhuash have, at times, been strained in recent years. Part of the concern from the communities is that trekking groups are leaving trash behind. This clean-up mission is about more than aesthetics. It's about showing respect and good will to the people who call the Huayhuash their home, and it's about expressing gratitude to them for allowing us to visit.
In collaboration with La Cima Logistics (Huaraz) and a local alpine institute (Instituto de Educación Superior Tecnológico Público), and led by Huaraz guide Joel Vargas, I am organizing a fundraiser to DeTrash the Huayhuash. The aim is to do the clean-up in November, 2026.
La Cima Logistics, the local alpine institute, Joel, and I are working 100% volunteer, pro bono. Joel will lead the team to do the clean-up, with a team of 21 students and 3 professors from the institute. La Cima Logistics and I each donated to the cause.
Raised funds will cover the following strictly operational field costs:
Simon Yates, the legend from the Touching the Void epic, donated --- you can too!
I've been visiting the Huayhuash for 26 years and along the way wrote a guidebook about it, discovered the Alpine Circuit, and created the HuayhuashAlpineCircuit.com website. I hope to leave the Huayhuash as beautiful and pristine as how I found it.
Relations with the local communities of the Huayhuash have, at times, been strained in recent years. Part of the concern from the communities is that trekking groups are leaving trash behind. This clean-up mission is about more than aesthetics. It's about showing respect and good will to the people who call the Huayhuash their home, and it's about expressing gratitude to them for allowing us to visit.
In collaboration with La Cima Logistics (Huaraz) and a local alpine institute (Instituto de Educación Superior Tecnológico Público), and led by Huaraz guide Joel Vargas, I am organizing a fundraiser to DeTrash the Huayhuash. The aim is to do the clean-up in November, 2026.
La Cima Logistics, the local alpine institute, Joel, and I are working 100% volunteer, pro bono. Joel will lead the team to do the clean-up, with a team of 21 students and 3 professors from the institute. La Cima Logistics and I each donated to the cause.
Raised funds will cover the following strictly operational field costs:
- Pack Animal Logistics: 20 donkeys (burros) for 11 days on the trail to haul the decades worth of trash out.
- Food for the 24 guide-school volunteers and professors working the trail for nearly two weeks.
- Support Staff: Fair daily wages for 2 professional cooks and 4 muleteers (arrieros).
- Trailhead Transportation: Transport to and from the remote circuit trailheads.
- Camp Equipment Rentals: Kitchen and dining tents for the 30-person crew.
- Community Rights & Awareness: Local community grazing fees for the pack animals and project shirts for the 33-person crew and staff.
DeTrash Expedition Leader, Joel Vargas
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the local Alpine Institute volunteering a 24 person team for the mission
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Instituto de Educación Superior Tecnológico Público, Chacas
