Peru- Huascaran National Park new regulations

[Chad_A]

Directly from the American Alpine Club website:

 

"Action is still needed to help reverse new regulations that would dramatically alter the climbing experience in the Cordillera Blanca of Peru. The UIAA recently approved a motion introduced by AAC President Mark Richey: “The UIAA strongly encourages that the PNH [Huascaran National Park] and INRENA [Peru’s interior department] work cooperatively with their Peruvian Mountaineering Federations and those of other countries with an interest in the park to establish and adopt policies and use regulations regarding climbing and trekking within the PNH that are fair and beneficial to both local and visiting climbers, environmental concerns and the local guiding agencies as well.”

 

If the new regulations are implemented as written, climbers will only be able to access the most popular peaks and routes (an estimated 80 of the 600 or so known routes within the park), must climb with a local mountain guide (at a ratio of one guide per two clients), and will not be able to visit the park between December and March.

 

To voice your concerns, email Leoncio Alvarez Vasquez (Mr. Alvarez) at lalvarez@inrena.gob.pe. Please copy any emails to Mr. Alvarez’s assistant at jbarrios@inrena.gob.pe and to the head of protected areas, Carlos Salinas, at csalinas@inrena.gob.pe. Though communication in Spanish is ideal, any language will work. See a copy of Mark Richey’s letter to the Peruvian authorities at http://www.americanalpineclub.org/docs/R...ez--9-2005.doc. A background article on Huascaran National Park regulations by AAC member Jim Bartle is posted at www.americanalpineclub.org/docs/2004_Winter_AAN.pdf."

 

 

I've sent an email to them all; if anyone else wants to, please do. I'd like to see another solution, rather than having it regulated to death.

 

Thanks for helping out.

[larrythellama]

who would have thought that the local people and the govenment would want to profit from the over use of their lands.

 

climbers=selfish children

[AlpineK]

Actually they'll probably lose money. If the only way I can climb in an area is on a route selected for me by a guide then I'll take my money elsewhere.

 

They'd be better off with moderate peak fees which you could obtain with the drop of a hat.

[cj001f]

who would have thought that the local people and the govenment would want to profit from the over use of their lands.

 

climbers=selfish children

 

shhhhhh!

 

With the exception of Nepal/Pakistan (sketchy politics) most places around the world are raising, or want to raise, their peak fees/requirements. Off the top of my head Tanzania, Peru, Argentina. Travel and tourism is booming, with minor attention to requirements.

[Chad_A]

Actually they'll probably lose money. If the only way I can climb in an area is on a route selected for me by a guide then I'll take my money elsewhere.

 

They'd be better off with moderate peak fees which you could obtain with the drop of a hat.

 

That's what I mean. When I sent my letter, I suggested working with the climbing community to set regulations that might benefit the area a bit more.

 

I would think that setting such strict regulations would cut the tourism drastically, and that is a major source (if not the main source) of income to the city of Huaraz.

 

I can see the closure of some areas might be necessary to limit the impact of use, but the requirement of a guide, well, that'll keep me home.

[griz]

It's good old fashioned third world thinking...

 

"we are a poor country, now how can we fuck it up more?"

 

agree that reasonable peak fees are the way to go. knocking available climbs down to 80 is a cruel joke. Forcing guides on climbers is even worse. the best thing about Peru is you can have a 20k peak all to yourself. Now it will be like Muir on a weekend or some BS... well assuming people still want to go.

[Chad_A]

It's good old fashioned third world thinking...

 

"we are a poor country, now how can we fuck it up more?"

 

agree that reasonable peak fees are the way to go. knocking available climbs down to 80 is a cruel joke. the best thing about Peru is you can have a 20k peak all to yourself. Now it will be like Muir on a weekend or some BS... well assuming people still want to go.

 

I should state (I forgot to mention) that I would be willing to pay fees; the guide part is what gets me...oh, and only 80 routes, well, that's not exactly great either.

[Chad_A]

Griz- Isn't your avatar pic of Peru? I seem to remember you mentioning it somewhere...from what I can see, looks beautiful.

[griz]

Yeah, it is of the most pleasant view from my tent and the purdy mountain in the background is Toclaraju.

[cj001f]

It's good old fashioned third world thinking...

 

"we are a poor country, now how can we fuck it up more?"

 

true, true