Previous Post: Day 5 – Rio Jallpa Below Jistana Khota To the Upper Kelluani Valley
- Tme: 7:45 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Distance: 9 kilometers
- Hgh point: 5350 m
- Campsite: altitude: 4460 m – on banks of the Chachakumani River at a site also used as a base camp by Chachakumani climbers
- Route: kml file for the day here; open in Google Earth app
Day 6 – distance and elevation
On leaving our campsite, during the first hour of our day’s walk we headed down the Kelluani Valley on a faint trail that led us higher and around the corner to a hidden valley. I looked west towards the Altiplano before we started up the valley; one of the shots can be seen three images below.
Trans-Cordillera Real Day 6 (Rio Kellhuani to Rio Chachakumani)
Day 6 – Kelluani to Chachakumani – view from other direction
looking west towards the Altiplano from the start of the hidden valley above the Kelluani Valley (6-track on the map)
As the elevation gain/loss chart shows, the ascent to the day’s high point was a gradual one. Along the way we were treated to more stunning views of this section of the Cordillera, with the Chearucu and Chachakumani massifs the main attractions. The weather – for the sixth day in a row – was clear and sunny. Our climbing goal for the day was a trekking peak named Cerro Chachatuju at about 5350 meters. The pix below show us at the start of the final ascent and then the action as we came up to the top of the peak itself. It was about noon when we got there and we would make it the day’s lunch stop.
the Cordillera Real at the top of Kelluani Valley
trekkers’ line to the day’s peak – a shot by Tony C.
getting closer to our peak experience of the day – the ridge to the right of the hump
a bit of a break before the final push to the top
reaching the top of Cerro Chachatuju
scramble to the top of a Cordillera Real trekking peak
The Reward- the view from the top …about 5350 meters
the west face of Nevado Chearoco (6127 m) – climbing info here!
Nevado Chachakumani to the south of Chearoco
looking west towards the Altiplano and Lago Titicaca
And then it was down to the Chachakumani valley and our campsite of the day. when we came to the final ridge with a clear view of the valley we could see that the tents were already up not far from the banks of the river.
It has been another day of stupendous mountainscape views. We headed down knowing that the next day we would not be moving – it was the one designated rest day in our itinerary and I was looking forward to the luxury of staying in my sleeping bag until the sun hit my tent (that is, around 7:45).
During the trek usual get up time was around 6:20. The first half-hour or so was spent putting all of our personal gear – sleeping bags, Thermarest pads, clothing – back into the duffels. Then, while we were having breakast in the dining tent, the tents would be taken down and packed away by the arrieros. By the time we were ready to leave (usually around 7:45), the camp was pretty much dismantled except for the dining and cook tents.
On Day 6 we got to see yet again the efficiency of the cook team and the muleteers – 3 p.m. and the tents were already up! It would take us another hour to make the descent and head to the dining tent for afternoon tea.
on the way down to the Chachakumani Valley
our Chachakumani Valley campsite
heading down to our campsite – Chachakumani Valley and River
3 p.m. and the tents are up and waiting for us on the banks of the Chachakuman River
The Chachakumani Valley – our campsite and Nevado Chachakumani
Next Post: Day 7 – Rest Day In The Upper Chachakumani Valley
Hello,
I’m reading your account about the Cordilera Real trek and it sounds really amazing. Looks like a pretty awesome trip overall. I’m wondering if you have the rest of the kml file or the gpx file for the whole trek? The kml files were only up to day 4 I believe.
We’re here in Cusco by the way, bikepacking most of the Americas and really interested in trekking the Real as we’ve already done the Cordi Blanca and Huayhuash circuit before.
Thanks. Hope you can share the rest of the kml or gpx files for the trek.
Dean
Isn’t Cusco an amazing place! I was expecting Namche Baazar – amazing in its own way – and found a massive and vibrant urban center 3500 meter up!
I’ve been meaning to post the rest of the kml tracks. Thanks for the nudge! I’ll send you the link ASAP!