Mountain of the Week - Huayna Picchu

May 31st, 2007 Wade

As many of you know, I recently booked a trip to Peru in late July. While I’m there I’ll be doing the Salcantay trek to Machu Picchu and if weather permits I’m going to take a crack at summiting Huayna Picchu. This is one of the most commonly photographed peaks, yet most people don’t know it’s name or even where it is.

Huayna Picchu - (8,860 ft/2,701 m)

From Wikipedia:

Huayna Picchu or Wayna Picchu (Quechua: “Young Peak”) is a mountain in Peru around which the Urubamba River bends. It rises over Machu Picchu, the so-called “lost city of the Incás,” and divides it into sections. The Incas built a trail up the side of the Huayna Picchu and built temples and terraces on its top.
The Temple of the Moon is located on the mountain.

Other helpful information

DAILY CLIMBING TIMES (MANDATORY): The trail up Huayna Picchu closes at 1pm while the ruins are open only from 7am to 5pm daily . It is illegal to stay inside the ruins at night.

WEATHER:
When I say I’ll climb it if weather permits, I mean, if the climb is wet or if it is raining at all I have been told that this peak should not be attempted. Wet rocks + 1,000 foot drops = bad.

Entry Filed under: General, Mountain of the Week