Pisco / Chopicalqui, August 2004

I recently was a part of an 8 day Pisco / Chopicalqui expedition.  The team consisted of three climbers, two guides, a cook, and plenty donkeys to carry the load. Climbing with Alex and his assistants was a memorable experience, in terms of it’s planning, execution, organization, transportation, safety, and especially the food. 

The excursion was well planned from beginning to the end and everyday was purposeful in our acclimatizing and preparation to climb the big peaks. Transportation was the best you can get in Peru - our own personal full time driver and van for us and our staff only!  This makes all the difference in the world.  

With all of the experience Alex and his assistants bring, the safest camping areas androutes were selected.  

The food menu was not only delicious and accompanied with plentiful snacks, it was high energy and easily digestible.  You can tell time was taken to select ideal foods for maximum energy and great taste.

When I envision a trip into high mountains I imagine success, and expect safety, comfort and good food.  I have gone on trips with Skyline three different times over four years and they excel in all of the above areas.

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Mountaineering Course / Vallunaraju, September 2004

My wife and I found out about Skyline Adventures through the Lonely Planet "Peru" addition. Not having any climbing experience what so ever we were nervous about how we would fare high on a mountain, so we signed up to do a three day mountaineering clinic before the climb. The clinic was held right at the glacier and I was amazed at how much we fit into each day and how very hands on and thorough the classes were. Kind of like going back to school!

No one else in our group had been climbing before but after the course all of us knew how to tie many knots, put in ice screw and pickets, build anchors for belaying eachother, and how to pull someone out of a crevasse. We were ready to climb Vallunaraju! Our instructors and guides were gifted teachers and really good at getting us to understand even the most complicated systems.

During the climb of Vallunaraju Lauren and I were very impressed with our guides careful attention to our well being and focus on safety. Even on the steep summit ridge we felt secure and in good hands. I am running out of room on this page to even say how good the food was! All in all this trip was fantastic and we will be back in 2005. Alpamayo, here we come! .

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Urus / Ishinca / Tocllaraju, July 2004

Just want you to know what a great time I had in Peru. We really packed a lot into two weeks. The first day's tour of the ruin at Willcawain was very interesting and the hike back down to town was a pleasant way to begin acclimatizing. The hike to Laguna Churup and the ice climbing at Pastoruri set new altitude records for me two days in a row! Needless to say the climbing and views on Urus and Ishinca were fantastic. Rock scrambling in crampons at 17,000+ feet is just plain wild! And seeing crevasses and seracs first hand is truly awesome. I learned a lot about mountain climbing from my guides and had a great time getting some serious experience. Not bad for a 59 year old day hiker like me. The day trip to Chavin at the end was just icing on the cake. I think I owe you guys big time!

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Mountaineering Course, June 2004

Thanks Jenn and Alex for the great adventure on Pastururi learning and laughing. We leave for home tomorrow and will have fond memeories of our time in Huaraz, including Ad and me hauling Lid out of the crevasse.

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THIS COULD BE YOU!!!