Safe Water
Water is not a major problem on Alpamayo. There is no shortage of agua, but you must treat by:
- boiling
- chemical disinfection
- filter
- purifify
We prefer a quality ceramic filter, but weight is a consideration.
Be Prepared
Do not treat Alpamayo lightly. It is far more difficult than Santa Cruz.
The many high passes may force the most fit hiker to turn back due to weather or altitude sickness.
Have a back-out plan in case you need to evacuate.
You must be prepared mentally & physically. You must haul the right gear <checklist>.
You must be informed. Do your homework. Take notes from — or print — sections of this website. Get your hands on a copy of Lonely Planet Trekking in the Central Andes.
First Aid Kit
Prepare for the worst! You need a far better First Aid kit than usual on Alpamayo as you will probably find no one else to care for you.
Someone in your group should be qualified to administer First Aid. This is a serious responsibility.
Hiking Technique
- Be cautious. A minor injury could ruin this once-in-a-lifetime adventure
- Avoid the strain of big lunge step-ups, and the impact of big drop step-downs, whenever possible.
- Step OVER a rock or obstacle to a foot placement of similar height to your back foot when you can.
- Zigzag on steep sections. Many small steps are better than taking one big step up or down.
- To assist with a big step-ups (when unavoidable) push down on your knee with your hand as you extend that leg
- Take many short rests. Do not exhaust yourself at altitude.
Earthquakes? Floods?
It didn’t worry us on Alpamayo.
But this region is disaster prone:
- 1941 - flood killed 5000 in Huaraz
- 1962 - town of Ranrahirca destroyed by avalanche
- 1979 - earthquake destroyed most of Huaraz
The 1979 tremor caused 70,000 deaths, the most tragic earthquake in the history of the Western hemisphere. Yungay was completely buried. Huaraz is still rebuilding.
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