South America, Peru, Cordillera Central, Cordillera de la Viuda, Ascents

Publication Year: 2003.

Cordillera de la Viuda, ascents. In late June 1999 Gerardo Telletxea and I arrived at the village of Culluhuay, in the northwest part of this cordillera. From the Leóncocha lake shore, where we camped, we explored the valleys draining west. On July 1 we climbed Nevado de la Viuda (5,200m/17,061'), a second ascent—two Peruvians had been on top in 1959. Ours may have been a new route up the south face, on rock and ice. From base camp we had noticed a bold, massive, rock tower (ca 4,750m/15,885'), which we climbed by a technical route on its west face, on excellent rock. We named it Torre del Curco, after a local hunchback duck. Three days later, we attempted another equally fine rock tower, but bad weather forced us to abandon the climb.

Jorge Malles, Spain