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Telkwa
1176 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2009 : 11:05 PM
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After reading trip reports from Peru for so many years I decided I better go on down and see what all the fuss was about.
Peru...wow...I would go back in a heartbeat - what a great place and wonderful people. Did all the tourist stuff including Manu biosphere in the Amazon jungle, inca trail to Macchu Piccu, the homestay in Lake Titicaca etc etc. And all was wonderful and fine but well reported but...there is a place...Cotahausi canyon. And now, ya'll know I'm hooked on canyons so just had to go see.
And you're not going to...except for an incredible spot where mummies and artifacts are tumbling out of a hillside. No this trip report is going to be about Firuna and the first recorded ascent in recent times (a couple of volcanoists might of beat us but it wasn't noticed by the locals and maybe not so)And what locals anyway? It was one desolate peice of landscape.
I met up with Vic from Summitpost who was the Cotahuasi guide. We were going to do Coropuna but stayed down in the canyon way too long and weren't acclimatized for a big one. So we decided that a first ascent on a minor peak far away from anywhere might be in order. Well certainly an adventure anyway. First we did an acclimation hike up to the Rock gardens el. 12500. And then it was time to try the drive up the fresh new bulldozed road to somewhere that had never had road access before. The switchbacks were not for the faint of heart. Even in just a Toyota van you had to back down to make each corner. And it was a long long long way down. I don't normally get worried about one lane roads up impossible cliffs but this one was not for looking out the window if you happened to be on the long drop down side. But once we got to the small village and found a great Peruvian shepherdess we were on our way. The first part was through a break in the cliff band onto sort of a high plateau. Through this stretch trails were for llamas and herders. Once past that it was a trek past lakes and rocks to the Christian brothers hovel. We cooked inside the enclosure to their hut but camped in freezing conditions outside. My camelbak resevoir had leaked while in the van and soaked my down sleeping bag. Need I say more. Next morning dawned bright and cold. It was a rapid ascent to the main rock strewn plateau of around 17,000 feet and then a long long slog of precarious boulders leaning every which way until the actual summit block. The ascent up on snow is good and easy, soon you are on the flat summit ridge with little bits of higher rock and which one is it? They all seem to be the same size. We reached the summit ridge at dark (maybe 8 pm) and it was incredibly breezy and cold - elevation at around 18,000 or so. Yes, I said a minor peak. But it was possibly first and certainly first woman (yay!) and definitly first Canadian woman etc.                             |
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Jasper, ab
Canada
1028 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2009 : 11:08 PM
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| excellent pictures and very good TR |
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 Simpson quoting tree hunter and canyon rapping rockhound who longs for the return of his trapped Toyota
Salt Lake City, UT
USA
2268 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2009 : 1:49 PM
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Congratulations on your first "person who did not end up being mummified in the end" ascent! That Peruvian canyon country certainly has a lot of pull for me-very much envious of your trip. |
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Hope, BC
Canada
7093 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2009 : 2:06 PM
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Nice report and pics, only an 18,000ft ascent eh? Bummer, just a walk in the park...LOL!
So could you educate us more on these so called mummies? Those are amazing!
Thanks in advance  |
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Hope, B.C.
Canada
617 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2009 : 4:49 PM
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| Wow Telkwa! So beautiful and thanks for sharing this adventure! |
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Fungi Filmin', Wine Drinkin', 'Shroom Eatin', Early Risin', Deer Whisperin', Curry Cookin', Macro Maniac
Chilliwack + Osoyoos
3618 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2009 : 5:02 PM
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Peak bagging, bushwhacking, zamboni driving, snowshoeing, self portrait artist, and speed demon who loves to hang out on Mt. Seymour
3994 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2009 : 5:48 PM
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There doesn't seem to be a lot of snow for the middle of winter down that way, but you got the cold temps though. I take it that it's a pretty dry area anyway?
Congratulations on a first ascent and some great pictures. |
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Utah's canyon trekking,deck chair packing desert explorer who dreams of visiting Canada someday
3988 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2009 : 7:09 PM
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Way cool! Great pictures! That first picture looks like me at my desk all week long at my soul crushing job where I have four bosses..and two auditors. I come back to life, though; every Thursday afternoon. hehe
You are amazing! What a great, world class destination. Congratulations on your summit! I couldn't even imagine going up that high. I get dizzy (more than me natural state) at 8,000
You should make a calendar or sell some card stock? awesome!! |
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Telkwa
1176 Posts |
Posted - 07/23/2009 : 07:27 AM
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| The Cotahuasi canyon was certainly an experience unto itself. Hey TMC and RM I'm in Zion during the week of Sept 13 trying to get down some canyons and doing some climbs. Maybe we'll meet up again. I have a couple of daughter's weddings in LV so we're doing a family affair of canyon descents. |
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Simpson quoting tree hunter and canyon rapping rockhound who longs for the return of his trapped Toyota
Salt Lake City, UT
USA
2268 Posts |
Posted - 07/23/2009 : 9:00 PM
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| Ha ha-I wish I could get down there, but I think I used up all my canyon karma on Reunion! For future reference, would you be up for Kolob or Imlay, should the opportunity arise? |
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Utah's canyon trekking,deck chair packing desert explorer who dreams of visiting Canada someday
3988 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2009 : 2:42 PM
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If ya wanted to do a family type hike without ropes? A nice 5 1/2 mile hike is going up Ashdown gorge from the bottom up rattlesnake creek to the two waterfalls and back out, again.
Then, pizza at Pizza Factory in Cedar City. Sep would be nice, cool weather. But, any later and it could be quite cold. Let me know if you're interested in a family type walk without rappels up a beautiful, quiet canyon. |
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Telkwa
1176 Posts |
Posted - 07/28/2009 : 12:41 PM
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TMC - you betcha - let me know when you are thinking about it.
RM - the crew might be into a nice canyon but probably we might just be able to dinner while passing through. I'll email you closer to the time. |
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First ascent? or who's your mummy? Peru
