ARTESONRAJU SOLO KIT

This striking mountain rises between the Paron & Santa Cruz valleys and is an absolute classic of the range. It is famously known for being the basis of the “Paramount Pictures” logo, but to climbers it beckons because of its beautiful appearance and steep nature. Of all the mountains I saw in Peru during my time prior to this solo, this one stuck out to me and demanded attention. From the Paron Valley, the mountain offers a remote experience relative to many other sought after peaks of the park. The valley is guarded by Paron Lake and the mountain is hidden around the corner. Upon arriving to Moraine Camp, one looks out over an iceberg-filled lake, hanging ice shelves, a long glacier tongue, and a perfect summit. The camp is surrounded by many striking technical peaks in the likes of Pyramid Peak, Caraz 1, Chacaraju, and the Huandoys. In 2022, no one had yet climbed Artesonraju to summit via the Paron Valley. It was a climb I gravitated towards and was fortunate to find success through challenge & adversity on, in hindsight, what turned out to be the hardest night I’ve ever had in the mountains. Lonely, cold, at times frightened- I recall the ultimate chess match and the result was a stalemate: Artesonaju 1, Me 1. I summitted at 3:35AM in the pitch black and returned to camp shortly after sunrise humbled, tired, fulfilled. Artesonraju pushed me and I hiked out to the road with a new found respect for alpine climbing and for the blackness of a lightless night.