Heads up, ice climbers: For a remote backpacking trip culminating in not-so-technical work up an ice mountain, it's hard to do better than this 18,340-foot peak in the Cordillera Blanca. Whether you're a beginner ice climber or an ice-hound looking to warm up and get acclimated for higher and more difficult peaks, one thing's for sure: Ishinca gets you away from the crowds. A two-day hike up the Ishinca valley deposits you near Lago Ishinca, a good base for the summit attempt. Crampons, ice axes, and rope are needed, but crevasse danger is minimal. The reward from the top is a stunning view of the vertical walls of 20,200-foot Ranrapalca, seemingly just a snowball's throw away.

Break away from the crowds
at Ishinca

Trip Facts
Difficulty rating: Difficult
When to go: May through August