Yerupajá

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Yerupaja

Yerupaja, May 2006
Elevation 6,635 metres (21,769 feet)
Location Ancash Region, Peru
Range Cordillera Huayhuash
Coordinates 10°16′00″S, 76°54′00″W
First ascent 1950
Easiest route glacier/snow/ice climb

Yerupaja or Nevado Yerupaja is a mountain of the Cordillera Huayhuash in north central Peru, part of the Andes. At 6,635 m (other sources: 6,617 m) it is the second highest in Peru and the highest in the Cordillera Huayhuash. The summit was first reached in 1950 by Jim Maxwell and Dave Harrah, and its northern peak (Yerupaja Norte) in 1968 by the Wellingtonian Roger Bates and Graeme Dingle.

The mountain's local name is El Carnicero, which means Butcher. This name refers to the knife-edge-sharpness of its summit ridge. Many visitors consider Yerupaja to be the most spectacular peak in South America.

There have been only a few successful ascents of the peak because it is one of the hardest Andean high peaks to climb. The most popular route is the southwest face. The approach is normally made from Huaraz southwards via Chiquián and Jahuacocha.