Tomas and Silvestro Franchini conclude Los Picos 6500 across the 16 highest mountains in the Andes

Tomas Franchini and Silvestro Franchini have concluded their tour across the highest mountains in South America. As previously reported, the two Italian mountaineers had started their 'Los Picos 6500' project together with Franco Nicolini in spring this year and, after having climbed 13 of the highest mountains above 6500 meters in just 43 days, the trio had returned to Italy. The brothers then made their way back to Peru in the middle of September to bag the last mountains on their list, without Nicolini who stayed at home to run his Rifugio Tosa Pedrotti hut the Brenta Dolomites.

After having ticked Huascarán Norte four days upon arrival, the two have now tackled the 6617m high Yerupajá. The mountain is known to be the most technical of all, and the brothers climbed not without difficulty up the west face, stopping a few meters below the summit and turning back wisely due to looming cornices.

Silvestro recounted on Facebook "September 25th, it’s just past midnight when we emerge from the west face, two huge mushrooms and inconsistent snow cornices separate us from the highest point of the Jerupaya, with what we hear as we cross the slope, tells us that she doesn’t want her highest point to be touched… On few occasions have I ever felt so alive, illuminated by the moon we look in each other’s eyes, satisfied with having done our best ... "

Talking to planetmountain.com briefly after the ascent, Tomas stated "It’s been a wonderful experience ... now we really understand the severity of the mountains of this Cordillera!"

1. Aconcagua 6965 m
2. Volcan Tupungato 6570 m
3. Mercedario 6701 m
4. Cerro Bonete 6759 m
5. Nevado Pissis 6795 m
6. Incahuasi 6621 m
7. Ojos del Salado 6893 m
8. Volcán Nacimientos - Walther Penck 6658 m
9. El Muerto 6505 m
10. Tres Cruces Sur 6748 m
11. Tres Cruces Central 6629 m
12. Llullaillaco 6739 m
13. Nevado Sajama 6542 m
14. Huascaran Sur 6768 m (2015)
15. Huascaran Norte 6,654 m (Tomas Franchini, Silvestro Franchini 15/09/2018)
16. Yerupaja 6617 m

Links: FB Franco Nicolini, FB Tomas Franchini, FB Silvestro Franchini