Mountaineers and representatives of indigenous communities revived with great emotion the route that “Niño del Cerro El Plomo”(The Child of Plomo Hill) travelled more than 500 years ago.

It was the first sport-cultural event in high mountain in Chile. Last February, the company “Flecha Extrema” brought together mountaineers and indigenous communities from Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru and Chile to travel the Kauripaxa route, known as the “Niño del Cerro El Plomo”, a small boy about 8 years old that was given as an offering to the Inca god Inti to 5,400 meters high, five centuries ago. His remains were found in perfect condition in 1954.

Our helicopters were the sustenance of a wide logistical deployment, which included telecommunications equipment, rescuers, paramedics, cooks, hospital tent and a complete mountain camp. In total 129 people participated in this 4-day adventure, which started in Valle Nevado and culminated in the summit of El Plomo hill.

On the third day, before leaving for the summit, a ceremony in charge of the indigenous groups was held at a height of 4,200 meters. “It was a very exciting moment, with a lot of symbolism. Musicians with their instruments participated in a place that is sacred to the Andean cosmovision”, explains Victor Troncoso, owner of Flecha Extrema, who is seeking support to repeat the expedition (more information at www.kauripaxa.cl).