This year we enjoyed two trips to the Ishinca area of Peru's Cordillera Blanca. On the first we were joined by Atlantans Derek Porter and Jim "Woody" Woodward, as well as longtime adventurer and Coloradan, Dick Dietz. Weather was a challenge, with afternoon showers most days, but fortunately it was good when we needed it, such as our summit days on Tocllaraju and Palcaraju Oeste. As always, we were joined by our friend-porter-cook-camp manager-logistics man, and (as Derek says) "secret weapon" Emilio Alvarado.

As with many or our trips, we began the acclimatization process with a day hike out of Huaraz. Here is Laguna Churup with Nevado Churup behind. The lake is about 14,700 feet above sea level, and makes a great destination for the day.

Kathy Dick and Derek, hiking out from Laguna Churup. Far down in the valley below, lies Huaraz. The dry Cordillera Negra lies behind.

Fields and Eucalyptus groves not far from Huaraz.

On our second day, we hiked into the Ishinca Valley. Kathy, Woody and Derek enjoy the good trail. Behind is Vallunaraju.

Our base camp in the Ishinca Valley. Tocllaraju is the pyramidal summit in the background.

We took two acclimatization days once we arrived at our base camp in Ishinca. On the first we climbed up to about 5200 meters, close to Nevado Ishinca. On the second we hiked up to the pass between the Ishinca Valley and the Aquilpo Valley to the north. Here, Kathy looks over the Laguna Aquilpo. The glacier behind pours off of Tocllaraju and Aquilpo Sur.

Our third day was spent doing a day climb of Urus Este, a relatively easy route just above our base camp. Dick and Kathy in descent.

And then, up to high camp on Tocllaraju. Behind is Palcaraju Oeste, who's right hand skyline, or Southwest Ridge, we climbed later in the trip.

Looking SW from Tocllaraju high camp. The Urus peaks are just out of view to the right.

Kathy and Dick, high on Tocllaraju, not long before the clouds engulfed us. Behind is Copa and the Callejon de Huaylas, the large valley to the west of the main cordillera.

After Tocllaraju, we set our sights on Palcaraju Oeste, a 20,040 foot peak to the south, covered with glaciers. Here we are at high camp.

Woody struggles up through deep snow on the SW ridge of Palcaraju Oeste. Behind is the headwaters of the Cojup valley.

Woody and Kathy arriving on Palcaraju Oeste's summit.

The summit photo! Derek, Dick, Kathy and Woody pose with Ranrapalca.

Descending Palcaraju. The main ridge of snowy peaks in the background are the Cashan group.

Descending Palcaraju Oeste. We are looking SW toward Ranrapalca. Nevado Ishinca is the much smaller bump on the ridge in front or Ranrapalca.

The rosy light of the setting sun on Tocllaraju.

Base Camp backdrop, with Tocllaraju on the left and Palcaraju Oeste on the right.