Claudio Lliuya and Takao Mitsui

On July 25th, 2009, Peruvian mountain guide, husband & father, Claudio Lliuya, 52, was killed by an avalanche at around 6200 meters on Huascaran (6768m) in Peru’s Cordillera Blanca. He was lost along with Takao Mitsui, 68, from Japan, a long time client & friend below the south summit of the mountain that Claudio called his favorite. Claudio first summited Huascaran when he was 16 years old with his father. Over 36 years he would total more than 70 summits. Claudio was part of a very special guiding community, the Casa de Guias; a multi-generational membership of Quechua climbers based in Huaraz, Peru.

Claudio Lliuya was a skilled & cautious climber, carried a warm smile, soft voice and was always happy to show foreign climbers “his mountains”. He worked in them to support his family and sadly has now left his wife and young son. After several attempts the bodies of Takao and Claudio were not recovered.