Ranrapalca facts for kids
Ranrapalca is a very tall mountain in Peru. It is part of the Andes mountain range, specifically in the Cordillera Blanca (which means "White Mountain Range"). This mountain stands at an amazing height of 6,162 meters (about 20,217 feet) above sea level!
Ranrapalca is located in the Ancash area of Peru, to the east of another mountain called Ocshapalca. It is also found within the Huascarán National Park, a special protected area in the province of Huaraz. The name "Ranrapalca" might come from the Quechua words ranra (meaning stony) and pallqa (meaning a split or division into two parts).
Quick facts for kids Ranrapalca |
|
|---|---|
Ranrapalca (on the left) and Ocshapalca (on the right) as seen from the north-east (near the Ishinca glacier)
|
|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 6,162 m (20,217 ft) |
| Prominence | 2,909 m (9,544 ft) |
| Parent peak | Chinchey |
| Geography | |
 Ranrapalca
Location in Peru
|
|
| Location | Ancash, Peru |
| Parent range | Andes, Cordillera Blanca |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | Northeast ridge 06/25/1939 - Hans Schweizer, Karl Schmid, Siegfried Rohrer and Walter Brecht (Germany) |
Contents
Climbing Ranrapalca
Climbing Ranrapalca is a challenging adventure! The most common way to reach the top is by following the northeast ridge. This path is considered to be of medium difficulty for climbers.
The Normal Route
The normal route involves climbing a steep, rocky ridge. This ridge leads from a spot called the Ranrapallqa-Ischinca col up to the snowy parts near the summit. Once climbers reach about 6,000 meters high, they have to carefully cross a narrow, sharp ridge to get to the very top.
Easier and Harder Paths
There's also a slightly easier way to climb Ranrapalca. Instead of going directly up the rocky northeast ridge, climbers can use the snow slopes to the left of the ridge. However, this path can be more dangerous because of falling ice (called seracs) and loose rocks.
Many other climbing routes exist on Ranrapalca. Some of these are very difficult, like the routes on the east ridge and the south face of the mountain.
First Time Climbers
The first people to successfully climb Ranrapalca were a team from Germany. They reached the summit on June 25, 1939. The climbers were Hans Schweizer, Karl Schmid, Siegfried Rohrer, and Walter Brecht.
How Tall is Ranrapalca?
Ranrapalca is 6,162 meters (20,217 feet) tall. It is considered a very important mountain in its area. Its "parent peak" (the taller mountain it is connected to) is Chinchey.
Images for kids
-
Ocshapalca (on the left) and Ranrapalca (on the right), the Llaca Glacier and the Llaca Lake
-
Vallunaraju, Ocshapalca, Ranrapalca (the snow-covered mountains on the right) as seen from Huaraz
See also
In Spanish: Ranrapalca para niños
