Last mountain blog

Headed out early Sunday morning for one last hiking adventure in Peru. Unlike the hike I did with my parents, we did not have mules carrying our gear/ food, etc... the packs made a HUGE difference, the climb was tough. Anyway, we woke up early and took the bus to Huaran, a tiny town just past Calca. Our hike started there- we climbed about 5 hours to Cancha Cancha, a tiny tiny tiny community with stone houses and straw roofs... old school.

Day 1: I love mountains and rivers

Cancha Cancha

It was freezing, and the wind was howling... we got VERY lucky and stumbled across some sort of a community center which no one seemed to be using. This really saved us.

Godsend

Our one person tent

Aiden makes dinner

Leaving the valley where Cancha Cancha was located

The next morning, we climbed straight up (seriously) for 3 or 4 hours. This was a challenge. We passed Sirihuani on the way which was spectacular:

Day 2: I like mountains, but I'm tired

Finally we got to the pass, Cerro Azulorjo (16,250 ft)...

Aiden in front of Sawasiray

More Andes

After the pass, we had 3 or 4 hours of niiiiiice downhill, which felt amazing. Eventually we arrived at the town of Quisuarani... there were little stone houses and a waterfall:




From there we walked down the hill on their road until we got to the main road, got lucky and caught a bus to Lares, where we were planning on spending the night since the last bus leaves the town at 1. However, we got a ride with a truck driver (scariest hour and a half of my life, literally a one way road on a VERY CURVY LEDGE which, had we hit a bump or skidded at any moment, we all would have dropped hundreds of feet and died) to Calca, then another bus to Cusco.

GOODBYE PERUVIAN ANDES!