The start of the trip: we arrived at the trail-end in a small settlement at 3300m. The support team also arrived in time, with a truckload full of food, tents, stoves, etc.
 

Mich running off (left) up the trail to Ishinca Base Camp, and (right) arriero coming down with mule-loads from a descending climbing party. Even the very young boys go up with these mule caravans.

More mules on the trail(left) and me on looking cool on the right.

Mich looking cool (left) and Ivry looking cool (right).

Ishinca Base Camp is just at the end of the trail...where all the clouds are... Seconds later it started to rain at this spot, and after reaching BC, all soaked, we dived into the refugio that was built there by a charity organization.

Ishinca BC established at 4300m. with the dining (red) and cooking tent (to the right of it) in the back.

Cows drinking the warm washing water of Tom and Roger.

Besides cows, also llama's wondered around in these valleys... The local Peruvians use these valleys for their cattle. A gate at a narrow passage in the valley keeps the cattle locked inside the valley. Of course, the Base Camps in these valleys provide attractive nutricial extras for these animals.

Looking up from BC to Urus (left), and looking down from Urus to BC (yellow dots!) from about 4850m. Urus(5495m.) was climbed about halfway up from BC. We just touched the snow border, which is quite high in this region, and has a summer/winter difference of barely a hundred meters.

Filmed from halfway up Urus, the other side of the valley shows the peaks of Ishinca(5530m.), and, following the skyline ridge to the right, its larger neighbour Ranrapalca (6188m.).

This eerie picture is hardly hell on earth, but merely a nice effect of the sun on photosensitive film at 4850m. on Urus.

Going down again from the high point on Urus to BC.

Drying out everything in Base Camp.

The second day in BC starts early: 03:50am. The aim is the reach the base of the Ishinca glacier at daybreak, and then proceed to reach the summit of Ishinca (5530m.).

We reached the glacier (4900m.) at 06:15am, roped up, and reached the summit of Ishinca (5530m.) at 09:35am in bright sunshine. From left to right: Jeroen, Ivry and Mich.

Looking down from the summit of Ishinca to the tracks we made. We went down at 10:00am, and reached BC again at 12:45am.

A final glimpse at Ishinca...