| Shelters There are practically no high mountain shelters in Peru except in the Cordillera Blanca which features a single, well-prepared shelter at the end of the approach to the Pisco glacier. There are also shelters near the Parón lagoon in Ancash owned by a hydro-electric power station and another on the ascent route to the Misti (Eagle’s Nest) volcano in Arequipa. These must be trusted to highly trained guides. In the Cordillera Blanca and Huayhuash areas, rescue efforts are coordinated by the Guides’ Association (Casa de Guías), which should be contacted to carry out search and rescue missions. The victims or their relatives must pay the corresponding expenses. When helicopter support is needed, the respective consular authorities will negotiate rental fees with the Peruvian Navy or Air Force. Total rescue expenses usually fluctuate between US$3,000 and 5,000. Generally the UIAA scale is used to rate the ascent’s degree of steepness and difficulty whether on rock, snow or ice. Easy (E): snow slopes up to 40º. Slightly difficult (SD): snow slopes up to 45º with an occasional harder short segment. Mixed or rock to degree II. Moderately difficult (MD): snow slopes up to 45º with an occasional harder, somewhat longer segment. Mixed or rock to degree III. Difficult (D): slopes up to 55º on snow with one or two long ice segments between 60º and 70º, or shorter but harder segments. Mixed or rock up to degree IV. Very difficult (VD): numerous long, sustained segments at 60º on ice and one or two long ice passages between 70º and 85º or shorter somewhat harder passages. Mixed or rock to degree V. Extremely difficult (ED): long vertical passages on ice. Mixed or rock to degreee VI and occasional artificial surface. Exceptionally difficult (XD): long haul itinerary of degree VII mountaineering difficulty, involving long, sustained and exposed passages |