Discovery of the Cololo
The Cololo’s summit was tread uppon for the first time in 1957 by the Germans Karl Warner, Hans Wimmer, Hans Richter. They reached the western slope (Altiplano) while attempting to make another record. Thereafter, the traditional route used by andinists to attempt the summit will mainly be by the eastern slope, starting from Pelechuco and through the Lake Kotani.
In our case, we realize the climb in its original release by its western side.
The camp that we have renamed Cololo Camp is a real paradise to laze around the lake as the scenery is idyllic. It take place in a valley between the Cololo and Huanacuni in which nest three beautiful lakes, Nube Lake, the largest at the entrance to the valley, the Chonkormani Lagoon and the Phauchi Lagoon.
From the camp, you can see on the right a huge glacial plateau topped by two main peaks at both ends. Our goal is the right peak, Cololo, the highest. This mountain is actually called Antakjawa (meaning snakeskin in Aymara), Cololo is the name given to the valley.
An approach walking in bofedals make us reach the foot of the main peak on the right of the massif. A quiet climb brings us on a gigantic and aesthetic white plateau. Then arrive steeper slopes (55º) leading to a ridge at 5720m at the foot of the top wall. This last rise of 150m, inclined at 65º, is technical and brings beautiful sensations before touching the summit, at 5915m. From there, the landscape extends north to the edge of the endless Huanacuni and farther on Pics of Chaupi Orco and Peruvian mountains.
