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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Do I need to speak Spanish to hike Huayhuash?
The Quechua people of the mountains speak Spanish, but not English. If you do not speak conversational Spanish hire an English speaking guide. These cost more but it is money well spent. Local information is critical in these remote mountains. What would happen if you have an injury & need to negotiate for help with people who cannot understand what you are talking about? A few essential Spanish words for hikers: Yes, we were often lost. We heard stories of many other hikers lost. You need a guidebook, map & compass for sure. Now, if you stay on the main animal trail you are unlikely to be sidetracked for long. But many days you have higher, wilder, more scenic hikers only options. If you want to try these, you should really hire a guide to walk with you while the animals & arriero take the lower route. The section where hikers are most commonly lost is Carhuacocha to Carnicero. We painstakingly followed map & guidebook description and still got lost climbing up to Siula Punta 4834m. Another group in 2004 got so lost there they ended up back in the campground from where they had started. In bad weather, or if you get injured, getting lost could be fatal. The high valleys are virtually unpopulated. Many days you see no other people up high. It is better not to hike alone. Carry an emergency whistle just in case you fall out of sight and need to alert other hikers. The international emergency signal is 6 blasts on the whistle, a pause, & then 6 more blasts. Use your flashlight, at night, to signal emergency. Again it is 6 flashes, a pause, then 6 more flashes. The Huayhuash Circuit is virtually unsigned. It is not a Park. Be warned. Yes, great idea. Our recommended map is GPS ready with a 1km UTM/WGS84 grid and pre-marked control points. What special gear should I bring? Don’t forget:
We recommend you bring disinfectant gel (sometimes called instant hand sanitizer) which you use to clean your hands before snack breaks & after toilet stops in the woods. Alcohol gel is essential hiking gear. You can buy it in Peru, but it can be difficult to find. Stove fuel for almost any stove system can be purchased in Huaraz. Do not fly with it, obviously. Consider renting a large trekking stove if you hire pack animals. Our best decision was to rent a cook tent (US$5 / day), a shared space out of the wind to eat & socialize. Peruse our general hiking gear checklist. If you hire pack animals, bring everything you might want. Weight is not much of an issue for once. Plan to leave your identification, passport, etc. locked up safely in Huaraz. Bring very little cash — US$50 or less. If you have two cameras, bring the less expensive one on the Huayhuash. Theft is a real risk. What footwear is best for Huayhuash? You want to wear what fits you best & what works for you. No blisters! Most experts recommend hiking boots. Modern boots are remarkably light & comfortable. A pair of good boots & gaiters make you feel invincible in the scree. If you hire pack animals, bring all your footwear. Huayhuash is long & rugged. It is easy to get your feet wet. The more options you have, the better. You definitely must treat water. Most of the campsites are on grazing land. You must either filter, boil, use iodine or water purification tablets on the Huayhuash. Some experts make a distinction between these two:
Viruses are too small to be filtered so purifiers add something to disinfect them. We were glad we brought our heavy ceramic filter purifier on Huayhuash. Make sure your purifier is well maintained & frequently cleaned.
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