Where can I buy / rent gear?
It is easy to buy fuel & rent basic gear in Arequipa.
Check around in the many outdoor shops & tour operators near the main plaza or on Jerusalan. Price varies with quality, but expect to pay US$3-6 / item / day. (i.e. tent, sleeping bag, stove, etc.)
Start with the impressive Colca Trek agency (Jerusalan 401B) which has an astonishingly comprehensive array of gear available. E-mail them in advance if you like at ColcaTrek@hotmail.com. There are similar agencies nearby open longer hours.
You might purchase basic gear too. Quality, selection & price are, of course, not what you might hope for. Many items cost about double what we pay in Canada.
Best is to bring everything with you to Peru.
Do I need a Reservation to hike?
No. Nada.
This near-6000m peak is completely unregulated. (Except for getting your vehicle through the gate at the dam. Lonely Planet says you need a permit for that — but our driver did not seem to need one.)
Misti is red-tape free. No fee. Hike when you want.
You appreciate this if you have gone through the hassle of the Inca Trail which officially requires a minimum of 30 day advance booking.
Where else can I get information?
The best source by far is South American Explorers Club in Cuzco. Their Lima clubhouse would be the second best.
Ask if anyone around has hiked Misti recently. Post a note there if you want to find hiking partners.
Our favourite guidebook is the excellent & essential Lonely Planet Trekking in the Central Andes.
Next best are the many Arequipa tour operators offering free information. Of course their real agenda is to sell you on hiring their services.
There is not much information you need actually. The one question to ask is, What are conditions like at the top?
The official tourist information office on the main plaza is able to answer simple questions about hotels & restaurants (though the bus schedule for Colca Canyon was out-of-date).
Who should NOT climb Misti?
NOT those with chronic knee, ankle or back pain.
But really anyone can summit this peak.
What's the most difficult section?
Only the last scramble at the top.
Of course the main challenge is altitude.
