Pico humboldt
Climbing & Trekking
NATIONAL PARK SIERRA NEVADA
Pico Humboldt is 4942 meters above sea level and Venezuela's second highest mountain. The ascension is done in a few kilometers but therefore it is a steep walk almost all the time. Just before we reach the peak there is a part where we walk on the glacier.
4 days / 3 nights :Difficulty degree 3 1/2 (scale 0 to 5)
Day 1:
Mucuy- Laguna la Coromoto (2130 m - 3200 m / 9 Km / 3.30 - 5.30 hours walking).
A 1 hour jeep drive takes us to the entrance of SIERRA NEVADA NATIONAL PARK in la Mucuy. Through tropical forest we hike uphill for several hours going over to cloud forest, bamboo forest and finally reach the green transparent clear Laguna Coromoto at the exit of the woods. Camping.
Day 2:
Laguna Coromoto - Laguna Verde (3200 m - 4000 m/ 6 Km / 3.00 - 5.00 hours walking).
The path turns out to be quite rocky and steep today. We'll pass "el puente quemado" and are forced to make little climbs on all 4 legs to get over the huge rocks from the glacial period. We camp somewhere close to Laguna Verde. Snow-white Humboldt thrones close at sight.
Day 3:
Laguna Verde - Pico Humboldt (4000 m - 4942 m/ 6 Km / 4.30 -7.30 hours walking).
We seem to contour Pico Humboldt and first walk up a side valley to Laguna el Suero, a turquoise blue shimmering lake at the foot of the glacier. There, a fastidious, long and steep rock ascent awaits us. Higher and higher till we reach the ice of the glacier and another tiny lake we pass seems like an emerald in the brown, white and black colored stones. Time to use our ropes, crampons, ice axes and harnesses. In less than 30 minutes we cross the glacier and climb up the last rocks towards the peak. Weather permitting we enjoy one of Venezuela's best sights... breathless is the word for it. We climb down again and sleep in our base-camp at Laguna Verde.
Day 4:
Laguna Verde - Mucuy -Mérida (4000 m - 2130 m - 1600 m/ 15 Km /4.30 -6.30 hours walking).
The same path we walked up in 2 days we now walk it down in one and reach Mérida in the afternoon sometime. We are tired, maybe exhausted but full with images of an unspoiled nature and a great adventure in the outdoors.
PICO BOLIVAR: 5 d / 4 n (climbing and trekking)
PICO HUMBOLDT: 4 d /3 n (climbing and trekking)
PICO PAN DE AZUCAR: 3 d /2 n (trekking)
