by Rick McCharles, editor
When we named our top 10 hikes in the world, #11 was the Huayhuash Circuit.
Personally, it’s been my most dramatic, inspiring hiking adventure, of all.
While there my camcorder / camera broke half way around the 11-day trip. The tape was somewhat damaged, as well.
Happily, I’ve salvaged a few clips. (Featured are our pack horses and fantastic mule driver who spent his days worrying about getting us back alive.)
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Interested?
WHY WE LOVE HUAYHUASH
* PERU, all things considered, offers the best alpine hiking in the world
* the remote, forbidding Huayhuash range was made famous when Joe Simpson & Simon Yates climbed Siula Grande in 1985. The book & film Touching the Void were both hits.
* getting high at Punta Coyoc pass 5490m (18,012ft) !!
* Peru’s second highest summit, Yerupaja (6634m)
* non-stop vistas — entire Circuit is above treeline
* intensely glaciated, intensely beautiful
* condors and other wild birds
* fantastic natural hotsprings half way round the Circuit
* limited road access, few people
* travel in Peru for as little as US$20 / day
* a trip with pack animals is good value
* lifetime experience you will never forget
CONSIDERATIONS
Huayhuash is dangerous. Hikers have died there. This is arguably the best hike in the world but is appropriate only for robust, experienced high altitude trekkers.
The greatest danger is altitude sickness. We hired horses instead of mules so we could evacuate by horse, if necessary.
Huayhuash Circuit in Peru – besthike information page
besthike.com 