| Salcantay (Nevado Salcantay) or Salkantay (Nevado Salkantay) is the
highest peak of the Cordillera Vilcabamba, part of the Peruvian Andes.
It is located in the Cusco Region, about 60 km (40 mi) west-northwest of
the city of Cusco. It is the 38th highest peak in the Andes, and the
twelfth highest in Peru. However, as a range highpoint in deeply incised
terrain, it is the second most topographically prominent peak in the
country, after Huascarán.
OVERVIEW:
Salcantay is a large, steep peak, "the most spectacular peak of the
region", with great vertical relief, particularly above the low valleys
to the north, which are tributaries of the Amazon River.
Salcantay was first climbed in 1952 by a French-American expedition
comprising Fred D. Ayres, David Michael, Jr., John C. Oberlin, W. V.
Graham Matthews, Austen F. Riggs, George I. Bell, Claude Kogan, M.
Bernard Pierre, and Jean Guillemin. All except Oberlin, Riggs, and
Guillemin made the summit.
The standard route on the mountain is the Northeast ridge. Accessing the
route typically involves three days of travel from Cusco. The climb
involves about 1,800 m (5,900 ft) of vertical gain, on glacier, snow,
ice, and some rock. The route is graded AD on the French adjectival
scale.
The name Salcantay is from salqa meaning wild, uncivilized, or savage,
and was recorded as early as 1583. The name is thus often translated as
"Savage Mountain".
Directly to the north of Salcantay lies Machu Picchu, which is at the
end of a ridge that extends down from this mountain. Viewed from Machu
Picchu, the Southern Cross is above Salcantay's summit when at its
highest point in the sky during the rainy season. The Incas associated
this alignment with concepts of rain and fertility, and considered
Salcantay to be one of the principal deities controlling weather and
fertility in the region west of Cuzco.
|
Salcantay |
|
Elevation |
6,271 metres
(20,574 ft)
or 6,264 metres (20,551 ft) |
|
Location |
Cusco Region,
Peru |
|
Range |
Cordillera Vilcabamba,
Andes |
|
Prominence |
2,540 metres
(8,330 ft) |
|
Coordinates |
13°20′09″S,
72°32′57″W |
|
First ascent |
August 4,
1952 by Fred D. Ayres, David Michael, Jr., W. V.
Graham Matthews, George I. Bell, Claude Kogan, M.
Bernard Pierre |
|
Easiest
route |
Northeast
ridge: technical glacier/snow/ice climb (French
grade AD) |
|
|
