Getting High in Peru, Year 2: Ascending Volcano Misti 5830m/19,355ft.

Getting High in Peru: Climbing Arequipa’s volcano 

4 x 4 dropoff point--note the big packs

*The students caught a typo I made below. The title is correct--5830m = 19,355ft. I made a typo below, which I have corrected. Gracias, estudienes.

I was pleased to make the arrangements for the ascent of Volcano Misti through Quechua Tours here in Arequipa with the help of Katia. I was also pleased to ascend with this year’s students at San Pablo University as I did in 2013. I chose a route for the ascent that goes way behind Misti to ascend it from the east. This route takes you quite a ways through the Aguada Blanca Reserve, which is home for the vicunas (and other wild life) and the desolate pampa grasses. These are dirt roads through the pampa grass that I have biked on over the past two years. I have always enjoyed biking it because of the desolation, or should I say because it is just the vicunas and me.  

Volcano sand up with the pampa grasses

Everyone is happy in spite of the load

Where the 4 x 4s dropped us off was at 4161m/13,815ft at 63K. I chose this route of ascent already with last year’s climb, because students need to carry their food, 5 liters of water, tents, sleeping bags, clothing, etc. in a large backpack for the 5 kilometers to base camp. Once there, they pitch their tents and wait for supper, which this year was a delicious veggie soup followed by spaghetti.  

Pitching tents

Misti is behind us

Taking a break on the way to base camp

At base camp with Arequipa's water in background

All smiles

 

Supper time at base camp

By supper time the clouds were below base camp--creating below

Not an island but clouds below the mountain

Even with this route, it is a 2 ½ hour to 3 hour hike up though volcanic sand (up 2000 feet in elevation) to the basecamp at 4761m/15,807ft. This year we were up at 1 AM to begin our 6-hour ascent of Misti at 2 AM (wearing headlamps), and all of us arrived together at the peak at 8:09 AM. About 2 hours into our slog up, on the switchbacks, we began to get nailed by fierce winds, snow, sleet and other inclement weather so that by the time we did reach the summit, my coca tea had frozen. We had taken several breaks, but I did not care to eat frozen energy bars without my (now frozen) coca tea. My fingers were frozen and I was unable to take pictures, including group shots. Some students had troubles with their cameras due to the weather but, I know that some students did manage to get some shots off. I’ll grab some of their shots and repost them Monday, Nov 17. I had my own GPS as I did last year, but today two others and me held our screenshots as we stood beneath the cross up on Misti—5830m/19,355ft. We may have been holding them a meter or so off the ground. We were unable to see ANY part of the volcano’s cauldron, which does have active vents releasing gases into the air. It was so uncomfortable on the peak that we stayed perhaps ten to fifteen minutes before we began our descent.

Climbing at 2 AM. Note the head lamps.

Yes, I too have a headlamp.

We made it to the summit (Me in middle in back)

Correct elevation according to 3 GPSs, 19,355 feet

Note the ice on them

Other shots from the summit above and below

Note the ice

It takes 6 hours to reach the summit going our way and only 90 minutes to slide down the scree back to the basecamp. Going up, you need to use the switchbacks, but going down, you slide through the scree and kick up volcanic dust into the face of the person behind you. You never know how deep the scree is; you fall and you could injure a leg or two. Back in camp we took a 30-minute much-needed break in our tents since it was raining and then began to pack them and our packs in the rain. Still raining, we carried our packs back to point where the 4 x 4s dropped us off. Since this was downhill though through the volcanic sand, it took us only 37 minutes. The 4 x 4s took us back to the warm and sunshine city of Arequipa arriving there a bit after 1PM. Misti remained shrouded in clouds.     

The final shot shows Volcano Misti from our apartment TONIGHT at sunset. Why wasn’t Misti this clear earlier today? 

Back at base camp

Back at base camp before taking down the tents. The scree switchbacks are behind them

On our way back to catch the 4 x 4s. Hiking again through volcanic sand and pampa grass

My ascent this year was not painful like last year after which I did say that I would not be climbing it again. I believe that my 5-day trek to Choquequirao just two weeks ago was the reason. That trek was extremely painful to my thighs (quads) for most the five days. I had a chance to recover from Choquequirao and maintain fitness in Arequipa before climbing Misti, once again. Sunday’s weather made the climb miserable but not painful (except to my fingers).  

At least half of the pictures were taken by Adelyn, Bonnie, David, Deanna, and Paige. The others are by me. Paz y Caio