McGill’s Mountains x Peru
Summit Scholarship
This scholarship is made possible through funding from McGill’s Mountains. The scholarship includes the expedition fee for an all-female 14-day expedition to Ishinca and Tocllaraju in the Cordillera Blanca of Peru, a $500 flight stipend, top-notch mountaineering footwear from LOWA Boots, premium trekking poles from LEKI, and more. The scholarship’s total value is >$4,000.
This Scholarship is reserved for aspiring female mountaineers who are African citizens/passport holders, with a preference for candidates currently residing in African countries.
A word about Jeanette McGill of McGill’s Mountains: ‘Jeannette McGill is a proud South African high-altitude mountaineer who thrived in the rugged mountains of the Eastern Cape and Drakensberg. In her twenties she was fortunate enough to go to Bolivia and Peru as her first ever overseas mountain-climbing expedition. Peru is where she subsequently has cut her mountaineering teeth returning on various occasions, allowing her to become the first South African woman to summit Manaslu in 2018 and also climb Dhaulagiri, bad weather stopping her at Camp 3 in 2019. She loves supporting and mentoring others to experience the outdoors and achieve significant outdoor goals. In 2022 Jeannette will be paying-it-forward by sponsoring a Summit Scholarship for a female African mountaineer to be inspired like she was by the mountaineering experiences available in Peru.’
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Jagged peaks. Glaciated, crevassed terrain and expedition climbing at 6,000 meters — without the typical 3 week+ expedition time frame: that’s mountaineering in the Cordillera Blanca in Peru. This is one of the America’s most understated mountaineering destinations, with several introductory-level 18,000-20,000ft peaks beckoning.
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With a 14-day itinerary, we’ll access the Cordillera Blanca to develop and solidify glacier travel at high altitude on Nevado Ishinca (18,143ft) prior to getting in position to attempt a summit on 19,790ft Tocllaraju. Thanks to uncomplicated access to these peaks from the city of Huaraz, known as South America’s outdoor capital, it is possible to combine both summits in a stunning two-week itinerary without compromising acclimatization.
Ishinca is a terrific introductory high altitude climb suitable for first-time mountaineers. Tocllaraju is a more challenging climb that includes crevassed terrain and several sections of steeper angle snow climbing. It is a prize objective for the aspiring mountaineer after honing their foundational glacier climbing skills on Nevado Ishinca during the acclimatization phase.
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June 13 - 27, 2022
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No prior mountaineering experience is required. Participants must be in excellent physical condition. Previous hiking experience is required. Previous backpacking experience is highly recommended.
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Guiding & logistics support on the mountain with a US-based female AWExpeditions guide in addition to an experienced local guide
All in-country transport
Meals on the mountain
Accommodation in Lima, Huaraz & on trail (double occupancy)
A $500 flight stipend to help offset airfare costs
Top-notch mountaineering footwear from LOWA Boots and premium trekking poles from LEKI
The Summit Scholarship award does not cover:
Airfare to & from Lima
Travel insurance or mandatory rescue insurance
Extra hotel nights in town in case of early departure from the mountain
Beverages, and personal expenses such as battery charging fees, hot showers on the trail, etc.
Personal mountaineering gear (backpack / sleeping bag / sleeping pad / crampons / axe - rentals are available)
Guide gratuity
Travel insurance
Love the Summit Scholarship,
and want to help increase the number of available scholarships?
It’s easy, fun, and doesn’t break the bank.
If virtual challenges aren’t your jam (though how do you know unless you try?), a straight up donation of any size also helps. $10 and $20 increments welcome!