View source for Rasac

{{short description|Mountain in Peru}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Rasac
| photo = Rasac_South_Face.jpg
| photo_caption = South face of Rasac, July 2010
| elevation_m  = 6017
| elevation_ref =
| prominence_m =
| prominence_ref=
| range = [[Andes]], [[Huayhuash mountain range|Huayhuash]]
| location = [[Peru]]
| map = Peru
| range_coordinates =
| map_size = 200
| label_position = left
| coordinates  = {{coord|10|16|31.0|S|76|55|15.0|W|type:mountain_region:PE_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_ref =
| first_ascent = unknown
| easiest_route = glacier/snow/ice climb
}}
'''Rasac'''<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=Peru 1:100 000, Yanahuanca (21-j)|publisher=IGN (Instituto Geográfico Nacional - Perú)}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Alpenvereinskarte 0/3c. Cordillera Huayhuash (Peru). 1:50 000|publisher=Oesterreichischer Alpenverein|year=2008|isbn=9783937530079}}</ref><ref name=":02">{{Cite book|title=The Andes: A Guide for Climbers|last=Biggar|first=John|publisher=Andes|year=2005|isbn=9780953608720|pages=98}}</ref> (possibly [[Quechua language|Quechua]] for toad)<ref name=":02" /> is a [[mountain]] in the [[Huayhuash]] mountain range in west central [[Peru]], part of the [[Andes]].<ref name=":0" /> It has a summit elevation of  {{convert|6017|m|ft|0}},<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":02" /> although other sources cite a height of {{convert|6040|m|ft|0}}.<ref name="neate">{{Cite book|url=http://www.rgs.org/NR/rdonlyres/B11E3D06-3E97-45FC-9E82-D394EFA751BD/0/MAPeru.pdf|title=Mountaineering in the Andes|last=Neate|first=Jill|publisher=RGS-IBG Expedition Advisory Centre|year=1994|isbn=0-907649-64-5|pages=23|chapter=Peru}}</ref> Rasac is a long, relatively squat mountain on the western edge of the Huayhuash range, across the glacier from the tallest peak in the range, [[Yerupaja|Yerupajá]]. Although it is a 6,000 metre mountain, Rasac's broad profile is dwarfed by Yerupajá.
==Geology==
{{further|Marañón fold and thrust belt}}
{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2016}}
As the rest of the Huayhuash, Rasac is made mainly of [[limestone]], interbedded with [[sandstone]] and [[shale]]. These sediments were originally laid down on the ocean floor and have been pushed up and folded due to the convergence started about 90 million years ago when the Nazca oceanic plate started to slide under the South American continental plate. The limestone has a coarse, sharp texture and is light to dark grey in colour (although sometimes a slight bluish tint can occur). Marine fossils ([[Bivalvia|bivalves]] and [[Ammonoidea|ammonites]]) may be found within some of the limestone beds. Some volcanic activity has also influenced the geology of the Huayhuash.
==Climbing==
{{More citations needed section|date=August 2016}}
Rasac is considered to be the easiest 6,000-metre peak in the Huayhuash range, but it is still a challenging climb. The long, snowy West Face is divided by a series of buttresses, most of which have routes in the D range according to the [[Climbing grade|International French Adjectival System]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Climbs and Treks in the Cordillera Huayhuash of Peru|last=Frimer|first=Jeremy|publisher=Elaho Pub.|year=2005|isbn=9780973303551|pages=107–108, 173}}</ref> The Right Buttress is still unclimbed. The East Face is almost all rock, most of which seems in the condition not to be climbed. There is allegedly a snow route of moderate difficulty (considered to be the normal route and rated around AD) up a gulley on this face that looked in the summer of 2007 to be totally out of condition.
Even if Rasac is overall the most climbed peak of the Huayhuash range, it remains a mountain climbed very rarely (less than a climb per year). The mountain lies in a remote and wild setting. Expeditions willing to climb in this area have to be fully self-sufficient in case of an accident or emergency.
A traverse of the mountain begins with five pitches of rock up the east face to gain the south ridge, a long airy corniced snow and ice ridge to the summit followed by descending the north ridge and down NE face of mixed snow, rock and ice. V 5.8 AI 3–4 James Garrett, Paul Gonzales spring of 1996.
==External links==
{{Portal|Andes}}
* [http://www.summitpost.org/rasac/311978 Rasac on Summitpost]
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Mountains of Peru]]
[[Category:Mountains of Ancash Region]]
[[Category:Mountains of Lima Region]]