In November, John Biggar (Scotland) led an international team consisting of Ulli Bayer, Daniel Choquet, Vito Ricciardi, and Andrew Thorburn to the mountains south of ice-capped Ritipampa de Quellcaya, in the southern Cordillera Vilcanota. They made base camp in the valley of the Río Challapampa, about 15 kilometers west of the village of Quellcaya, at 4,850 meters.

On November 11, the group ascended Pumanota Norte (5,474m) by the northwest glacier, reached from the headwaters of the Río Challapampa. The next day Bayer, Biggar, and Thorburn climbed Nevado Pumanota (5,516m) by its west glacier. Both may have been first ascents. On their way back to camp, the Pumanota climbers also reached the minor summit of Jampatune (5,333m). At 5,200 meters, they crossed a line of fresh puma footprints.

Finally, on the 13th, all team members ascended Cerro Culi (5,290m map, 5,312m GPS). [In April–May 2025, John Biggar led a ski mountaineering group to two areas of the Cordillera Vilcanota, skiing seven 5,000-meter-plus peaks, the highest being Huayruro Punco (5,550m). Details and photos are at Andes.org.uk.]

—Marcelo Scanu, Argentina