Ichic Ulta, also written Chico Ulta or Ulta Chico, sits at the head of the Quebrada Ulta directly above the high point of the Punta Olímpica road between Carhuaz and Chacas. Because the road climbs to roughly 4,700 m, you can step out of the vehicle and be on the glacier within an hour, which makes this one of the few genuine technical summits in the range that fits comfortably into a single day from Huaraz.
The climb itself is short but engaging. From the base of the glacier you ascend steep snow, work through a narrow chute that may hold a mixed step or two depending on the year, and emerge into an upper bowl beneath the summit ridge. The final ridge is often heavily corniced and the last metres can reach 60 degrees in a heavy snow year, so the guide will set pickets or screws as conditions dictate.
The reward is a close-up panorama of Nevado Ulta, Contrahierbas and the Chopicalqui–Huascarán massif, plus the satisfaction of a true alpine summit without the multi-day logistics. Many climbers use it as a skills refresher and acclimatisation outing before Pisco, Ishinca or Tocllaraju.
