The time we álmost summited Chachani (6.075 m) 🌋
We stood at 6,030 meters with the summit of Chachani Volcano (6,075 m) just 45 vertical meters above us. So close… and yet that’s where our climb ended. 🏔️❄️
Chachani, near Arequipa, is often called one of the most “accessible” 6,000-meter peaks in Peru. Not because it’s easy, but because it’s non-technical and you start high. No ropes, no crampons, just a long, slow battle with altitude, cold, and your own limits.
We began hiking at 3 AM, headlamps cutting through the darkness, the ground frozen beneath our boots. Step by step, breath by breath, we climbed higher as the air got thinner and every movement took more effort. After seven hours of steady climbing, the mountain reminded us who’s in charge. Dark clouds gathered, the wind picked up, and our guide
@franz_checca made the call to turn around.
It hurt to be that close. But in the mountains, ego comes second. Safety always comes first. As climbers say: “Getting to the summit is optional, getting down is mandatory.”
We didn’t stand on the top, but we pushed our bodies to a height we never thought possible. Weeks of hiking at altitude paid off, and we walked away tired, proud, and grateful to come down safely.
👉 Our new blog about the Chachani climb is now live, where we share the full story, how we prepared, what we packed, and what this climb is really like.
Would you turn around that close to the summit? 💭
#Chachani #volcanoclimb #Arequipa #hikingPeru #6000mpeak
