Huayhuash from Joey Schusler
“¿Huayhuash?¿¡Huayhuash con bici’s!? No. No noooo… Es imposible.” In the winter of 2014, three friends set out on a self supported ride, looking for nothing more than a truly genuine experience. The goal: to circumnavigate one of the most wonderful and wicked mountain ranges in the world – the Huayhuash, by bicycle.
This was all a spur of the moment idea; part of the vicious cycle of making every adventure more thrilling than the last. January was the off-season, or rainy season, for the Andes so the wilderness would be completely desolate. The three friends hoped to be the second group to complete this trek on bikes. However, they underestimated the relentless weather they would encounter as they traveled for a week above treeline.
The friends tagged first descents down rocky couloirs and 16,000ft passes, watched sunrises against the tallest peaks in the country, and slept to the sounds of serac fall at night.
In the end, they didn't quite make it as far as they had hoped. Between rain storms, concussions and waving guns the Huayhuash had ripped at their eager ambitions. A sense of wonder was fulfilled and the friendship of three adventure loving friends was reinforced. Huayhuash is the story of genuine adventure and the challenges that come along with it.
