// Trip Reports  

Report name	Coombeshead College Peru 2007
Date submitted	Aug-07

Coombeshead College students are heading back to England after an exhilarating expedition to the Corderilla blana area of north Peru.

They set off on the 14th July arriving in Lima to be met by Mike (the legend) who escorted them to their hotel for the night.

The following day was spent traveling through contrasting scenery to Huaraz, a bustling town where we were out of breath, having climbed to over 3000 metres.

The acclimatisation process started with a fun day spent White Water rafting down the Santa River.

The next day they were raring to get going on their 60km trek following the Santa Cruz trail.

The Peruvian team composed of a cook, 3 guides, 3 Burro men, 15 donkeys & 3 horses.

The trail took them past Alpamayo base camp & over the Punta Union Pass (4750m.

James one of our team members, helped the Peruvians catch fresh Trout which they later ate for dinner. During the trek we took 5 chickens which we fattened up & later ate! Throughout the trip the food provided was amazing, very impressive considering the equipment & the environment we were in.

On day 8 the group crept through a small village where were could see how basic rural Peruvians lived. Keen to sell us drinks & chocolate. During lunch we interacted with a school group who we played ´Dodgeball´ with.

That night the team was stuck by disaster….. 2 of the team members were struck with ´the bug´. The next day with no energy to walk they received a horse ride for 7 hours. Crossing another pass of 4750m, were we first saw our target the mountain of Pisco, then down to base camp for the night.

Luckily, a rest day came in at an appropriate time giving the ill time to recover. However ´the bug´ was spreading amongst other members of the group!

The team took full advantage of this time & familiarized themselves with mountain equipment and tied themselves in knots!

Not wanting to delay the expedition any further the team soldiered on up to camp, where a welcomed hot chocolate and ham & cheese toastie awaited the team.

That night the team celebrated a members 17th birthday with a luxury meal & a huge unexpected birthday cake & a bottle of Champagne, which the team decided to save for summit evening!

The team had a slight setback with ´the bug´ striking the few remaining members of the group yet to receive it! However one member of the group never did received ´the bug´, lucky him…! We spent one extra day at this camp to rebuild the group’s health & fitness. To prepare for what they were about to achieve.

On the 26th the team were ready to move with heavy backpacks containing their mountain equipment up to Morraine camp. They had to cross a boulder field, which they named Elephant graveyard in order to get there.

During the night the weather closed in with winds & snow. In the morning the sky cleared and expectations of reaching summit looked more promising with the weather & health of our side!

The team reached the bottom of the glacier and put on their harnesses, ice boots, crampons, helmets & carried their ice axes! They were roped up and travelled safety to coal camp, where they spent the next 12 hours snug in their tents before their 3am wake up call! Throughout the night the weather was not promising with heavy snow & winds.

However at 4.40am the team left coal camp with good weather. There were 5 rope teams, excellent guide to student ratio. They climbed their way over crevasses & along mountain ridges. As the sun rose over the mountain stunning views were revealed & the teams spirits lifted as the summit was in sight!

At 8am all members of the team stood at 5752m on the summit of Pisco. The views were stunning. After their success the team descended back to camp where they celebrated in style with a glass of champagne. Well deserved after a 12 hours day of climbing & walking!

It was then time to return to Huaraz where the team visited the rural school of Parquishca where they were greeted with traditional Peruvian song & dance. Throughout the day they spent time teaching the children English & playing games using some of the gifts which they had bought.

After their final meal in Huraz the team finally travelled back to Lima, where the team concluded their expedition with a sightseeing tour around Lima & Ten Pin bowling!

Last minute souvenir hunting was done on the last day before heading to the airport for a long flight home.