Ranrapalca, Mountain summit in Ancash Department, Peru
Ranrapalca is a mountain summit in the Cordillera Blanca with an elevation of 6,162 meters (20,219 ft), featuring steep terrain composed of rock and snow. The peak offers different climbing routes that vary in technical difficulty depending on which face is approached.
The first ascent was completed in 1939 by German mountaineers, marking the peak's entry into climbing history. Since then, it has become an established destination on the mountaineering circuit.
The name comes from the Quechua language, combining 'ranra' meaning stony with 'pallqa' meaning division, which reflects how indigenous communities named geographic features. Local people have long used such descriptive terms to identify the character and position of peaks in this mountain range.
Access begins from Pashpa village, leading to a four-hour trek to Ishinca Base Camp as the staging point. Plan your visit during the drier season when weather conditions are most stable for climbing attempts.
The northeast face offers the standard climbing route with moderate technical difficulty, while the south face presents much steeper terrain for advanced climbers. Experienced mountaineers appreciate the contrast between these two sides of the same peak.
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