Vallunaraju lies on the north side of Quebrada Llaca, a remote valley where a milky blue glacial lake feeds a serpentine river that runs through the narrow valley floor. The mountain is capped by two peaks: the north, which is more variegated and difficult to climb, and the south, which is formed by a symmetrical coned pyramid that sits above an ice cave toothed with menacing icicles. When the clouds descend upon the peaks they create spectacular light patterns but make for difficult navigation among Vallunaraju's numerous hazards. Giant cornices and gaping crevasses appear and disappear among the mist, like icebergs in a fog, adding an eerie atmosphere to what is normally a straightforward climb.
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