Location Ancash Region, Peru First ascent July 1956 | Elevation 6,126 m Parent range Cordillera Huayhuash | |
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First ascenders Toni Egger, Siegfried Jungmeir Mountain range Cordillera Huayhuash, Andes Similar Yerupajá, Rondoy, Siula Grande, Sarapo, Rasac | ||
Jirishanca is a 6,094 metres (19,993 ft) high mountain in the Huayhuash mountain range in west central Peru, part of the Andes. Other sources cite a height of 6,126 metres (20,098 ft). It is the tenth highest peak in Peru and the third in the Huayhuash range (after Yerupajá and Siula Grande). Jirishanca translates as "hummingbird bill peak".
Contents
Map of Jirishanca, Peru
Ascents
The mountain is notoriously difficult and has seen very few successful ascents. The first ascent in July 1957 by the Austrian mountaineers Toni Egger and Siegfried Jungmair over the (north)east face has been called "one of the boldest climbing feats ever performed in the Cordillera". Their route has only been repeated once. In 1964 Gary Colliver and Glen Denny of an American expedition climbed the north ridge to the slightly lower north summit, but a traverse over the "cockscomb of ice" connecting to the main summit has so far not been attempted. On July 6, 1969, an Italian team led by the 60-year-old Riccardo Cassin forged the first route through the West face. On July 31, 1971 the Americans Dean Caldwell and Jon Bowlin first climbed the southwest face in two days. Leaving their expedition below, Bowlin and Caldwell forged their own route and reached the peak on August 1, and were back at base camp by August 2. In 1973, a Japanese team led by Masayuki Shinohara succeeded in climbing the south east face for the first time, though it took them 49 days.
Climbing
It is one of the hardest 6000 meter mountains of the Andes. The easier route to the summit is quoted TD but more difficult routes exist, many on them on vertical ice and with overhanging section of mixed terrain such as the Cassin route (70° ice and a pitch rated UIAA IV+).