Explore the real-world places that appear in Touching the Void by Joe Simpson. Each location on the map shows what happens there in the novel, the real history of the place, and what's there today. Featured locations include Siula Grande Summit, Crevasse Rescue Site, Huaraz City Center, Pucahirca Peak, Vicuña Meadows (Pampas) and 8 more.
Cordillera Huayhuash, 6,344m — The peak where everything changed
Joe Simpson and Simon Yates successfully summited Siula Grande on June 8, 1985, achieving their mountaineering dream after a grueling ascent. At the summit, euphoria and relief filled both climbers as they stood on the remote Peruvian peak. However, this triumph would be immediately followed by catastrophe — during the descent, Joe Simpson fell 150 feet into a crevasse in whiteout conditions, shattering his leg and initiating the harrowing survival ordeal that forms the core of the memoir.
Siula Grande is located in the Cordillera Huayhuash, one of Peru's most remote mountain ranges. The peak sees very few ascents due to its technical difficulty and isolation. The area has been inhabited by Quechua peoples for centuries, though the high altitudes remain largely untouched by permanent settlement.
Siula Grande remains an extremely challenging and remote peak, rarely summited. The mountain is accessible only to experienced mountaineers with proper expedition support. The Cordillera Huayhuash is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and remains one of the world's most pristine mountain wilderness areas.
Lower slopes of Siula Grande — Where Joe fell and Simon descended
Joe Simpson plummeted 150 feet into a deep crevasse during the descent in a whiteout. Simon Yates, securing the rope in the snow, heard no sound and assumed Joe was dead. After an agonizing decision, Simon cut the rope to save himself, believing Joe could not possibly survive. Joe regained consciousness deep in the crevasse, trapped on a ledge with a shattered leg, and somehow managed to climb out using the slack rope that had fallen with him.
The Cordillera Huayhuash's glaciers have been receding significantly since the 1980s due to climate change. The crevasse fields that existed when Simpson and Yates climbed in 1985 have substantially changed in shape and position over the past four decades.
The glacier continues to retreat, making the terrain different from 1985. The crevasses that were once deadly traps have shifted position or disappeared entirely. The area remains dangerous and inaccessible to casual visitors.
Plaza de Armas, Huaraz — Base of operations and recovery
Huaraz was the starting and ending point of Simpson's expedition. After the rescue, Joe Simpson was brought to hospitals in Huaraz for emergency medical treatment of his shattered leg. The city represented civilization and help after days of crawling through the mountains. Simpson's account of reaching the town, limping into a refugee camp, and finally receiving proper medical attention is the climactic resolution of his survival ordeal.
Huaraz was devastated by a catastrophic earthquake in 1970 that killed approximately 70,000 people in the region. The city was rebuilt but remains one of Peru's more modest urban centers. It has long served as the gateway to the Cordillera Blanca and Huayhuash mountain ranges, making it essential for mountaineers and trekkers.
Huaraz is today a thriving mountain town and the de facto capital of Peru's mountaineering tourism. The Plaza de Armas remains the heart of the city, surrounded by shops, restaurants, and hotels catering to trekkers and climbers. It is the jumping-off point for expeditions to nearby peaks and is home to numerous mountain guide services.
Visit: Plaza de Armas, Huaraz (landmark)
Cordillera Huayhuash, 6,050m — The initial acclimatization climb
Before attempting Siula Grande, Simpson and Yates climbed Pucahirca as an acclimatization peak. This climb served as a test of their skills and fitness for the more demanding route ahead. The successful summit of Pucahirca built their confidence but also consumed precious time and resources that would later become critical during their survival struggle.
Pucahirca is a technical peak in the Cordillera Huayhuash that requires mountaineering experience. The peak is less frequently climbed than Siula Grande but offers similar alpine challenges. The area has been sacred to Quechua mountain peoples for millennia.
Pucahirca remains an infrequently climbed peak accessible only to experienced mountaineers. The mountain is part of the protected Huayhuash range and requires permit and guide arrangements through Peruvian authorities.
Lower slopes of Siula Grande — Joe's crawl through the wilderness
After emerging from the crevasse, Joe Simpson crawled and limped across high-altitude meadows below Siula Grande, dragging his useless leg. These desolate grasslands, inhabited only by vicuñas, witnessed his extraordinary will to survive. Simpson navigated these featureless terrain at altitude with a compound fracture, rationing minimal food and water, pushing his body to the absolute limit of human endurance over three days and nights.
The high meadows of the Cordillera Huayhuash are home to vicuñas, the wild relatives of llamas, which have inhabited these mountains for thousands of years. The vegetation is sparse but hardy, adapted to extreme altitude and weather conditions. Quechua herders have grazed domesticated animals in these areas for centuries.
The meadows remain largely unchanged, still inhabited by wild vicuñas and other high-altitude wildlife. The area is part of the protected mountain zone and is inaccessible except to trekkers and mountaineers undertaking guided expeditions.
Outskirts of Huaraz — Expedition base camp operations
Simpson and Yates operated from a base camp near Huaraz before launching their expedition into the Cordillera Huayhuash. This was where they prepared equipment, hired porters, and made final provisions. The base camp represented their last reliable shelter and support system before entering the alpine wilderness where they would be entirely self-reliant.
The foothills around Huaraz have long been used by mountaineering expeditions as staging areas. Local communities have supported mountain expeditions for decades, providing porters, supplies, and logistical assistance. The practice of base camping near towns dates back to early mountaineering in the region.
Multiple mountain lodges and outfitters operate around Huaraz, providing base camp facilities and expedition support. These establishments cater to climbers and trekkers heading into the Cordillera Blanca and Huayhuash ranges. Modern facilities now include internet, hot meals, and equipment rental services.
Visit: Huaraz Mountain Guides & Outfitters (various) (tour)
Southeast of Siula Grande — The refuge camp where Joe collapsed
After crawling and limping for days, Joe Simpson finally staggered into a refugee camp near Yanama, a high-altitude settlement. Herders initially mistook him for a man who had been missing and presumed dead. Simpson collapsed here, unable to go further, delirious with pain and exhaustion. Local residents and an American trekker named Richard provided him shelter and eventually arranged his evacuation to Huaraz for medical treatment.
Yanama is a traditional Quechua herding settlement in the high Andes, inhabited seasonally by alpaca and sheep herders. These settlements have existed in the high mountain valleys for centuries, representing one of the world's highest permanent or semi-permanent human habitations. The communities maintain traditional livestock practices adapted to extreme altitude.
Yanama remains a small herding settlement accessible primarily by foot or horse. It serves as a waypoint for trekkers on the Huayhuash Trek circuit. The settlement has basic facilities but limited services, as it remains primarily a traditional pastoral community.
Visit: Yanama (Huayhuash Trek waypoint) (landmark)
East of Huaraz — The mountains Simpson could see from base camp
While preparing in Huaraz, Simpson and Yates could see the snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera Blanca on the opposite side of the valley from the Huayhuash. The Cordillera Blanca appeared in their plans as an alternative option if conditions proved unfavorable. Though they ultimately chose Siula Grande in the Huayhuash range, the Cordillera Blanca represented the more accessible and popular climbing region.
The Cordillera Blanca is home to Huascaran, Peru's highest peak at 6,768 meters. The range has been a major destination for mountaineers since the early 20th century. The peaks were sacred to Inca peoples and continue to hold spiritual significance for Quechua communities.
The Cordillera Blanca is one of Peru's premier mountaineering destinations with well-established trail systems and guide services. Multiple peaks attract hundreds of climbers annually. The range is home to numerous glaciers that are retreating rapidly due to climate change.
Visit: Cordillera Blanca (guided expeditions available through Huaraz outfitters) (landmark)
Avenida Luzuriaga, Huaraz — Joe's emergency medical treatment
Joe Simpson was transported to Hospital Regional de Huaraz for emergency treatment of his catastrophic leg injury. The hospital's medical staff tended to his compound fracture and serious dehydration. Simpson underwent surgery and received the critical medical intervention that likely saved his life. The hospital represents the culmination of his three-day survival ordeal and the beginning of his long physical recovery.
Hospital Regional de Huaraz was rebuilt after the devastating 1970 earthquake and has served as the primary medical facility for the Ancash region. The hospital represents modern healthcare infrastructure in a remote mountain region. It has treated countless mountaineering injuries and medical emergencies from climbers and trekkers.
Hospital Regional de Huaraz continues to operate as a modern regional medical facility. The hospital is equipped to handle trauma cases and serves the broader Huaraz population. It remains the primary emergency facility for mountaineering accidents in the region.
High plateau between peaks — The whiteout descent route
Simpson and Yates descended from Siula Grande toward this pass during the catastrophic whiteout conditions on June 9, 1985. Visibility dropped to nearly zero as they rappelled down the mountain. In these blinding conditions, Joe Simpson fell into the crevasse that fractured his leg. The pass marks the point where the mountaineering achievement transformed into a desperate survival scenario.
The high passes in the Cordillera Huayhuash have been traversed by Quechua peoples for centuries using traditional routes. These passages represent crucial connections between valleys and represent routes of historical trade and migration. The terrain has claimed numerous climbers and trekkers over the decades.
The pass remains a technical mountaineering route used only by experienced climbers. Glacial recession has altered the terrain significantly since 1985. The area continues to present serious hazards including crevasses, altitude sickness, and rapidly changing weather.
Avenida Luzuriaga, Huaraz — Regional history and mountaineering exhibits
While not directly mentioned in Touching the Void, the Ancash Regional Museum contextualizes the indigenous Quechua culture and history of the region where Simpson's ordeal occurred. The museum's exhibits on Inca heritage and regional geography provide context for understanding the landscape where Simpson survived.
The Ancash Regional Museum was established to preserve and display the cultural heritage of the Ancash region. The museum houses artifacts from pre-Columbian civilizations including pottery, textiles, and religious objects. It documents the region's history from pre-Inca times through the present day.
The Ancash Regional Museum operates as a public institution showcasing Peruvian Andean culture and history. Visitors can see artifacts from Chavin culture, Inca period items, and colonial-era displays. The museum provides educational context about the indigenous peoples of the mountains where modern mountaineering adventures unfold.
Visit: Ancash Regional Museum (museum)
Center of Huaraz — Earthquake memorial and civic landmark
The rebuilt Plaza de Armas and Huaraz represent humanity's resilience after the devastating 1970 earthquake that killed tens of thousands. Simpson's arrival in this reconstructed city symbolizes his own physical and psychological reconstruction after his near-death experience. The plaza embodies both regional trauma and recovery.
The 1970 Ancash earthquake was one of the deadliest natural disasters of the 20th century, with approximately 70,000 deaths in the region. Huaraz was nearly completely destroyed. The city was systematically rebuilt with modern infrastructure. The Plaza de Armas was reconstructed as the symbolic heart of the revived city.
The Plaza de Armas remains the central gathering place and civic heart of Huaraz. The square is surrounded by restored colonial architecture, shops, restaurants, and government buildings. It serves as the main orientation point for visitors and locals alike.
Visit: Plaza de Armas, Huaraz (landmark)
Outskirts of Huaraz — Modern mountaineering expedition route
Though Simpson and Yates made their expedition as a climbing expedition rather than a formal trek, the Huayhuash Trek route that now exists follows similar mountain passages. The route represents modern mountaineering tourism in the same mountains where Simpson fought for survival. Today's trekkers follow paths through terrain that witnessed his desperate crawl.
The Huayhuash Trek circuit was formalized as a trekking route in the 1990s and 2000s, offering mountaineers and trekkers a high-altitude circumnavigation of the range. The route incorporates traditional herding paths used for centuries by Quechua pastoralists. The trek has become increasingly popular as a mountaineering alternative to the more crowded Cordillera Blanca routes.
The Huayhuash Trek is one of Peru's premier high-altitude trekking routes, typically requiring 10-12 days and summiting multiple passes above 4,500 meters. Multiple outfitters in Huaraz offer guided treks along the route. The trek provides access to the same remote mountains featured in Touching the Void.
Visit: Huayhuash Trek (guided expeditions) (tour)
More by Joe Simpson: All Joe Simpson books