The Huascarán expedition was a 37‑day mountaineering project undertaken in July and August 2000, aimed at summiting Huascarán Sur—the highest peak in Peru and the tallest mountain in the tropics at 6,768m. The expedition successfully reached the summit on 29 July 2000 despite weather setbacks and physical challenges.
The team began their journey in southern Peru after arriving on 1 July. To ensure proper acclimatisation, they completed a demanding 100km trek around Mount Salcantay, reaching altitudes of 4,900m, and later followed sections of the Inca Trail. This initial phase allowed the team to adjust progressively to high altitude while carrying full packs, simulating the conditions expected on Huascarán.
They then moved north to the Cordillera Blanca, establishing a training base in the Ishinca Valley. Over a week, they gained essential high‑altitude experience by climbing Ishinca (5,530m) and Toqllaraju (6,032m). Toqllaraju required a high camp at 5,300m and involved technical climbing on steep, glaciated terrain—valuable preparation for Huascarán.
The ascent of Huascarán itself took eight days instead of the planned six due to poor weather and route‑finding difficulties. The climb included negotiating seracs, a 15m ice wall of Scottish Grade IV–V difficulty, and navigating crevasse fields in darkness. After an aborted summit attempt due to low visibility, a second attempt succeeded, with three members reaching the summit while the medical officer remained at Camp 2.
