Punta Olympica: Triple Heart Bypassing
The Peruvian rainy season provides us with ample rainy days to tick our way through Huaraz’s various restaurants, cafes, street markets, (plentiful) panaderias and of course sampling some exceedingly strong ale courteousy of the Sierra Andina brewery.
Just as things start feeling a bit too comfortable to contemplate moving, blue skies and clear views of Peru’s highest peak Nevado Huascaran offer a seemingly brief window of weather by which to lift us from our sugar induced comas.
As the months pass by, it seems the urge to lay even the shallowest roots in places like Huaraz conflict with the need to keep going on a bearing vaguely north. After a couple of shaky days we eventually uproot and head north toward the town of Carhuaz.
Dubiously dubbed the Triple Heart Bypass, a triple pass medley of Punta Olympica (4890m), Pupash (4050m) and Portachuelo de Llanganuco (4676m) sees us cross the Cordeillera Blanca looping our way back to a little over 10mks further north in the town of Yungay.
With some sadness I bid my farewell to hostal dog Scrappy Doo, playmate, nipper and all round endearing pup.
Weaving our way through the dug up streets of Carpo Barrio, the latest harvest is sifted. After a round of photos, my parting gesture to the ladies has us all in fits of laughter. Hermosa, muy muy hermosa.
Finding the merest sliver of dirt, we weave through a handful of small villages before being spat on to tarmac. Nevado Huascaran looming large over the local villages at its base.
Climbing quickly on tarmac we enter the Huascaran National Park with jaw dropping views out to snow capped mountains. A ribbon of tarmac taking us quickly to the base of Punta Olympica and an alpine amount of switchbacks taking us ever upward.
As we climb upward views across the Cordeillera Blanca open up. Chopicalqui in the distance.
Taking us closer and closer to vast glaciers, creaking and groaning in the late afternoon sun.
As we reach the tunnel at the top of the new pass, we take the old dirt road over Punta Olympica proper. Snow patches linger before we drop down to camp on a glacial moraine overlooking a vivid blue glacial lake.
By morning we descend the other side of the pass down to Chacas, famous for its Andean Andalusian architecture. Narrow streets and intricate wood carvings courteousy of Italian trained craftsmen in the Don Bosco church, synonomous throughout much of the Cordeillera.
Dropping further and further down the warm afternoon temperatures becomes too much and we sit by the river waiting for temperatures to drop, climbing in to the coolness of the early evening toward to Yanama.
As we continue climbing in the following afternoon, the mountains are concealed under clouds, as rain showers pass.
Climbing out of Pupash the clouds once again lift. As we winch out way to the square cut nick of the Portchuelo high above.
As the light begins to drop, glaciers begin to look dark and oppresive.
More rocky ridgelines, sharks teeth and mirror like bodies of water.
We hit the top of the pass as the sun sets, Flo looking out to Yanaphaqcha and the Llanganuco valley.
Our descent; Portchuelo Llanganuco. Switchback after switchback.
We linger at the top of the pass watching as the sun sets behind the mountains. Yanaphaqcha batched in light.
Riding down in the dark we find our camp site spotted from on high. Chopicalqui detail set off in the clear morning light.
That classic Cordeillera view. The vivid aquamarine Llaganuco lakes.
Bound for Yungay.
The loop makes for a spectacular three and a half riding with high alpine views. Weighing in with some hefty days climbing, make sure you bring your climbing legs.
Route
Carhuaz – Punta Olympica – Chacas – San Luis – Yanama – Pupash – Puertochuelo Llanganuco – Yungay
8 Comments
Neil
01/12/2014Wow, great shots! Glad you felt the urge to start putting down roots in Huaraz too…
Mike
01/12/2014Thanks Neil!
Yeah Huaraz was a fantastic place. Plans brewing for a return visit at some point.
Hopefully with your new guidebook in hand!
Cass
03/12/2014Awe-some!!!
Looks like the weather shined down upon you. Beautiful.
See you up north…
Mike
09/12/2014Yup. Almost 2 weeks of glorious sun and no rain.
Amazing. I may need to change my war cry to: Cordillera Blaaaaanca!
Caraz to Ecuador - Mike Howarth
20/01/2015[…] Punta Olympica loop neatly deposits Flo and I in the town of Caraz, the starting point for one of Peru’s most […]
Punta Olympica: Triple Heart Bypassing – Mike Howarth | interpedalers
23/02/2015[…] This article was originally posted here […]
Francois
14/03/2016Mike would you say this route is possible without camping?
I only have a 10 day cycle trip in the area and want to determine if I should bring my camping gear.
Mike
14/03/2016Its certainly possible to do it without camping, we rode from Caraz and just over the Punta Olympica in a day. Without the weight of camping equipment and food you should be able to make it further down the pass where there are a few villages you may be able to find accommodation in. As I remember your best bet is Chacas, where you would be able to stay at the Don Bosco church for free.
On the backside of the loop you should be able to stay in Yanama fairly easily, there are a number of restaurants and possibly a guest house as a I remember.
In total we rode the loop in two days, although we were very well acclimatised. Without any means of camping I would potentially suggest that it may be better to divide it in to three shorter days to ensure you are able to find accommdation each day.