This horseshoe-shaped range, which lies a few kilometres south-east of the Cordillera Huayhuash (their outlying spurs interlock), is some twenty-five kilometres long from north to south and is characterized by rock and ice peaks, deep blue lakes and swampy valleys. One of the features of the
area is the large and active Mina Raura, which is situated at over 4600 metres in the central portion of the range. The climate is similar to that of the Cordillera Huayhuash and good weather is most likely in June-July.
Details of the range are given in John Ricker’s guide. The principal sub-divisions from north to south are Azuljanka ice plateau, the western outliers (Portachuelo), the Rumiwayin-Yarupa region, the Patron massif and Torre de Cristal, Nevado Chirajanka and the Siete Caballeros, Santa Rosa and Condorsenga.
The first recorded visit to the area was made in 1906 by Annie Peck who ascended part of the northern glacier of Nevado Santa Rosa. The cordillera was accurately surveyed in 1927 by O.M.Miller and K.M. Hodgson of the American Geographical Society expedition. In 1939 two American engineers employed by the Cerro de Pasco Copper Corporation, W.F. Jenks and J.H. Moses, reached the north-west ridge of Santa Rosa, attempted the south-east ridge of Patron Sudeste, and came within 100 metres of the summit of Pichuyqocha. In 1955 members of an A.A.V. Munich expedition, led by
H. Huber and accompanied by A. Cardich, made first ascents of Yarupaj Norte and Pucaranra. At the end of their campaign in the Cordillera Huayhuash in 1957 Toni Egger and his friends made several ascents, including that of Santa Rosa, the highest point.
Various parties have visited the range in the past twenty years or so. In 1976 Japanese climbers put up a fine new route on the south face of Torre de Cristal. They fixed rope on the lower 250 metres of the face, over rock and ice, and on the third day reached the summit via a steep ice couloir.
Getting ThereThe Cordillera Of Raura geographically it is located between the limits of the departments of Huánuco, Lima and Pasco, to 320 Kilometers to the northeast of Lima by the highway of Lima - Sayán - Churín - Oyón, to a 4 altitude of 750m on the level of the sea.
VIAS OF ACCESS (Terrestrial transport):
To the visitors who wish to travel from Lima to company RAURA. The company of Transport that offers the service is:
Company of Transports "ESTRELLA POLAR S.A.." Address: Luna Pizarro # 330-338 La Victoria Teléf. 01- 3328183 Branch: Av. Carlos Zavala Loayza 100 - 1 Files Schedules of Exit: Mornings: 7:30 A.M. Nights: 7:30 p.m.
Cerro de PASCO:
To the visitors who wish to travel of Hill of Pasco to company RAURA. The company of Transport that offers the service is:
Company of Transports "JAVIER BROTHERS limited liability company." Address: Jr Amazonas Nº 130 Cerro de Pasco Teléf.: 063-721257 Schedule of Exit: Noon: 12:15 p.m.
Both companies of transports have their agencies in the Terrestrial Terminal of the Province of OYON.
Red TapeAdd Red Tape text here.
Mountains Conditions.The best season is June - July - August.
Camping and Trekking.
Raura- Lauricocha Lagoon.
Starting off of the facilities of the Raura mine a long walk between imposing begins made snow-white and small lagoons. The beautiful lagoon of Tinquicocha is the first of a series of lagoons non touched by driving miner, like Chuspi lagoon of incredible turquesa color, accompany to the traveller by a footpath that goes in reduction passing by the lagoon of Patarcocha and places of great beauty, arriving until the enormous lagoon of Lauricòcha, that like in the previous ones the trouts abound. If we have a little luck, one can obtain a guide between the villagers who show the caves to us that there are in several sectors, the return way is the same one by which we came but with always the vision of the snowed ones that are growing as we approached our final destiny.
Day 01: Beginning Raura Mine (4600)---Lg Lauricocha (3840). Distance 19 km.
Day 02:. Lag Lauricocha - Lag Chuspi (4,150 msnm) Distance 11 km.
Day 03:. Lag Raura Chuspi - Mine (4,600 msnm) Distance 8 km.
Raura - Surasaca Lagoon - Viconga Lagoon.
This new route allows to see most us of the mountain range of Raura, with its beautiful snow-covered mountains. Always starting off of the Raura Mine we went towards the lagoon of Surasaca of several kilometres of length, of there to a group of lagoons but small, following the way we arrived at opens between the Ichicayco Hill and the made snow-white Quesillojanca, from this point the see of the mountain range is impressive, the eternal snows shine by effect of solar rays. We descend until the lagoon of Viconga we went there of return by opens portachuelo, one you see but the way gives an incredible Vista to us, the South end of the Huayhuash mountain range illuminated by the sun.
Mountain Routes.PEAK LIST:
1.-Azul Janka Ice Plateau Region:
Summit: 5,094 msnm: 1-1971 via W. slopes, S.ridge.
Nevado Azuljanka (Nev. Kuajadajanka, Leon Huacañan) 5,421 msnm: 1-1959, probably via W. slopes:
S.W. slopes, S. ridge-1971: Traverse from 5,094 msnm, N. ridge, descend S.W. slopes.
Nevado Sillajanka Norte 5,200 msnm: 1-1972 from Sillajanka - Azuljanka col, W. side.
P.5,348 msnm: 1-1971 via W. slopes, N. slopes, N. ridge.
Nevado Portachuelo.5,100 msnm: 1-1957 via S. flank & E. ridge (probably).
5,100 - 5,250 msnm (Pucaranra): 1-1955, on rock.
P.5,280 msnm: located North Surasaka Lagoon on E. side of track: 1-1969.
Nevado Gonapirla 5,300 msnm: 1-1958 from Cajatambo, easy.
Nevados Rumiwayin - Yarupáj Region:
Pukacalle (Kuli,Quesillojanca) 5,259 msnm: 1-1968 via S.S.W. face, S. ridge: S.W. ridge?-1969.
P.c.5,100 msnm (Calua): 1-1968 via E. face, mixed.
P.c.5,050-5,100 msnm (Torre, Torre Monzino): 1-1968 via E. face, ice.
Rumiwayin (Checchi, Matador, Puchka, R-3) 5,580 msnm: 1-1968 via N.W. ridge, ice.
Rumiwayin Oeste (Kuli) c.5,300 msnm: 1-1968 via W. & N. glaciers, N. ice slopes: E.S.E. ridge (mixed),descend N. slopes.
P.c.5,095m (Nev. Curpa Curpa Norte): 1-1969 via N.E. rock ridge, easy.
Nevado Yarupáj Norte c.5,675 msnm: 1-1955 via N. side (ice) of W. ridge: N.E. ridge (probably)-1957:
N.W. ridge, W. face to N. peak-1961: W. glacier/ice buttress to N. peak.
Yarupáj Sur 5,685 msnm: 1-1957 via N. ridge traverse: W. ridge, S.W. face, S. ice ridge-1968.
Yarupáj Chico (Central) 5,400 msnm: 1-1969 via S. facing glacier & E. ridge.
Cerros Yanku (Murugallo) 5,168 msnm: 1-1964, probably via N. ridge: From east-1969: Huambara-hargrashga glacier-1969.
Yanco Este 5,025 msnm: 1-1967 via S.W. spur.
3.-Nevados Patron 263, North-Torre de Cristal-Gaiko Region:
Nevados Patron 263
--Sudeste 5,236 msnm: 1?-1957 during traverse: S.E. slope (ordinary route).
--Central c.5,250 msnm: 1?-1957 by traverse.
--Noroeste 5,273 msnm: 1?-1957 during traverse: W. face also climbed 17 (1971)
--Norte c.5,275 msnm: 1-1957, probably S. ridge during traverse.
P.5,230 msnm (‘Alexander’): may be on spur S. of Patron 263;n Sudeste: 1-1961 via W. ridge.
Torre de Cristal (Flor de Loto) 5,529 msnm: 1-1957, probably S.E. spur: S.W. variant start-1972: S. face-1976.
Matapaloma 5,307 msnm: 1-1961 via S.W. face direct, N.W. ridge.
Niños Perdidos (Huambraocrashca) 5,148 msnm: 1-1965. Routes via E. wall, N.& S. ridges.
4.-Nevados Chirajanka-Antakallanka Region:
Nevado Chirajanka c.5,050 msnm: 1-1971 via S.W. face.
Nevados Siete Caballeros - Santa Rosa - Condorsenga Region:
Nevados Siete Caballeros (cima.4,950 - 5,100 msnm)
--No.1 5,050 msnm: )
--No.2 5,100 msnm: )
--No.3 5,050 msnm: )
--No.4 5,100 msnm: ) Many ascents. Also traversed in both directions.
--No.6 4,950 msnm: )
--No.7 4,950 msnm: )
P.5,250 msnm (Daniel,David): 1-1961 via S.E. ridge.
Nevados Pichuyqocha c.5,150 msnm: 1-1961, probably N.W. glacier.
Nevado Santa Rosa 5,717 msnm: 1-1957, probably N.W. ridge: Severe snow/ice face, descend S.W. ridge-
1961: E. side, N. ridge west. face-1982.
Nevado Santa Rosa Norte 5,479 msnm: 1-1961, probably N.W. ridge.
Santa Rosa Chico 5,400 msnm: 1-1961: N. face-1967.
P.5,250 msnm (Santa Maria): 1-1961 via snow ridge from west.
Nevado Condorsenga 5,379 msnm: 1-1957, probably N. side: N.E. buttress-1965: E. face centre, descend N.E. ridge-1971: E. face-1977.
5.-Other recorded climbs:
Traverse of western arm: Azuljanka, Rumiwayin Oeste, Rumiwayin & Yarupáj:
Juraopata (Punta Chacua) 5,000 msnm: 10 km N.E. of Oyon in S.E. of range: 1-1970 from Mina Uchuc Chacua.
Nevado Huachash 5,000 msnm 1-1957.
The following appear to be mainly Peruvian school expeditions south of the main range:
Parag: 5,000 msnm.
Yurahuayna: 5,190 msnm.
Auquin: 5,010 msnm.
Jatunchacua Central: 5,000 msnm.
Challanya: 4,760 msnm.
Rajucusunan Grande: 5,178 msnm.
Rajucusunan Chico: 5,100 msnm.
Potrero Grande: 5,110 msm.
Jatunchacua Este: 5,000 msnm.
Jatunchacua (Menor Ichic): 5,180 msnm.
Mamapuncu: 4,880 msnm.
Huishcahuair: 4,750 msnm.