Yanapaccha, Mountain peak in Cordillera Blanca, Peru
Yanapaccha is a mountain summit in the Cordillera Blanca with an elevation of about 5,460 meters (17,913 feet) in Ancash Department. The peak features steep glaciers and snow-covered slopes on its western face that remain frozen year-round.
An American mountaineering team reached the summit for the first recorded time on June 23, 1954, when many surrounding peaks remained unexplored. This ascent marked an important moment in mapping the lesser-explored peaks of the Cordillera Blanca.
The name Yanapaccha comes from Quechua words: 'yana' meaning black and 'paccha' meaning waterfall, which captures the mountain's natural features. Local communities use these linguistic elements to describe the peaks and water flows across the Cordillera Blanca.
The best climbing window occurs from May through September when conditions are most favorable. Expeditions typically depart at 2:00 AM from the base camp located at approximately 4,900 meters (16,076 feet).
From the summit, mountaineers can see more than ten major peaks exceeding 6,000 meters, including clear views of neighboring Huascarán and Huandoy. This vista offers a visual window onto the region's highest mountain chains.
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