Cordillera Huayhuash: Pack It Up

By Rob Rachowiecki

Huayhuash by night (Rob Rachowiecki)

Just because Huayhuash is the lesser-known cousin of the Cordillera Blanca doesn't mean you won't find in-your-face mountain views and challenging hikes. Famed for trout-filled Andean lakes surrounded by a compact series of near-vertical walled peaks, the range offers mountains like 21,766-foot Yerupaja, Peru's second-highest peak, along with four others in excess of 20,000 feet. Many hikers make a complete circuit of the range, climbing over several 16,000-foot passes and taking up to two weeks, though shorter options are available. Mules can be hired from the village of Chiquian, reached by bus from Huaraz.

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