Huaraz and Pisco too!
Hey everyone,
Can you believe we´ve been gone for three weeks already?! I can´t. I know that Andrea told you tidbits about Huaraz, I will fill you in on the overnight hike we did to Lake 69, which Andrea most unfortunately missed in order to recover and be in tip-top shape for our Inca Trail trip next week.
The mountains around Huaraz are two ranges called the Cordillera Negra (no snow on these because they get the pacific winds off the ocean) and the Cordillera Blanca (with snow and glaciers, because they are blocked from the pacific winds by the cordillera negra). We were hiking in the Cordillera Blanca. First we did a day trip up to a glacier (I stink because I can´t remember the name of it ... sorry!), which was very high altitude for us (over 5000m, i do believe!). It was a great day but sure knocked our socks off with tiredness.
Then up to Lake 69, with our guide Hilbert. The first day was a ride on a tourist bus (not the quickest way of getting anywhere... lots of peruvian tourists who think the idea of a good bus tour is to stop somewhere every hour at least), and then a hike up to a viewpoint. For all you philfolks it was comparable to schwacking up the Copper Park side of Baldy, but at 4000m altitude, and with slippery bunchgrass underfoot instead of talus! Definitely a good way to break us in, thank goodness we didn´t have to wear packs! It hailed and rained on us that night, and apparently the guide (who was hiking down from the veiwpoint in the rain with us) was the one who knew how to set up the tent, because upon our arrival back at the camp we discovered an extremely wet tent.... i guess the cook should really just stick to cooking!! So we fixed the tent up as best we could (granted it was quite a complex tent), and had some dinner in the smokey cookhouse (a treat, out of the rain!). The next day we did a leisurely 3 hour walk up to lake 69 (we got to use a trail this time, quite a treat when you are gasping for everybreath -- okay okay, so I am a little out of shape!). The views were absolutely stunning, I can honestly say these are the most majestic mountains I have seen, the glaciers are fantastic! And the lake was also beautiful (I´d like to say I´ll post a picture, but I think we all know my capabilities don´t range that far just yet.... patience, my friends, patience!).
Andrea managed to get on a day tour that day, she was feeling well enough, however she didn´t end up on the day trip she signed up for.... she was hoping to see the glacier and the 10-ft tall flowers we saw on our day trip, however she ended up on a trip to Lake 67.... pretty funny! It was great to meet up with her after two days apart, see her looking so chipper, and catch up!
After another recovery day in Huaraz, Jon, Ave, and I hopped on a night bus to Pisco to check out the Islas Ballestas and the Paracas national marine reserve. Phil and Andrea will follow us, I think just a day behind. The Islas Ballestas are known as the poor man´s galapagos, and made for a great, relaxing day! We saw sea lions (apparently they are also known as sea wolves here...), cormorants, boobies, terns, dolphins, and the cutest penguins ever! All in all a great day, the desert here is beautiful especially with the contrast of it meeting the sea.
Tomorrow we are off to Lima (yikes big cities are scary!), and then fly to Cuzco on tuesday to acclimatize and get organized for our Inca Trail trip! Okay, enough yammering from me...
Can you believe we´ve been gone for three weeks already?! I can´t. I know that Andrea told you tidbits about Huaraz, I will fill you in on the overnight hike we did to Lake 69, which Andrea most unfortunately missed in order to recover and be in tip-top shape for our Inca Trail trip next week.
The mountains around Huaraz are two ranges called the Cordillera Negra (no snow on these because they get the pacific winds off the ocean) and the Cordillera Blanca (with snow and glaciers, because they are blocked from the pacific winds by the cordillera negra). We were hiking in the Cordillera Blanca. First we did a day trip up to a glacier (I stink because I can´t remember the name of it ... sorry!), which was very high altitude for us (over 5000m, i do believe!). It was a great day but sure knocked our socks off with tiredness.
Then up to Lake 69, with our guide Hilbert. The first day was a ride on a tourist bus (not the quickest way of getting anywhere... lots of peruvian tourists who think the idea of a good bus tour is to stop somewhere every hour at least), and then a hike up to a viewpoint. For all you philfolks it was comparable to schwacking up the Copper Park side of Baldy, but at 4000m altitude, and with slippery bunchgrass underfoot instead of talus! Definitely a good way to break us in, thank goodness we didn´t have to wear packs! It hailed and rained on us that night, and apparently the guide (who was hiking down from the veiwpoint in the rain with us) was the one who knew how to set up the tent, because upon our arrival back at the camp we discovered an extremely wet tent.... i guess the cook should really just stick to cooking!! So we fixed the tent up as best we could (granted it was quite a complex tent), and had some dinner in the smokey cookhouse (a treat, out of the rain!). The next day we did a leisurely 3 hour walk up to lake 69 (we got to use a trail this time, quite a treat when you are gasping for everybreath -- okay okay, so I am a little out of shape!). The views were absolutely stunning, I can honestly say these are the most majestic mountains I have seen, the glaciers are fantastic! And the lake was also beautiful (I´d like to say I´ll post a picture, but I think we all know my capabilities don´t range that far just yet.... patience, my friends, patience!).
Andrea managed to get on a day tour that day, she was feeling well enough, however she didn´t end up on the day trip she signed up for.... she was hoping to see the glacier and the 10-ft tall flowers we saw on our day trip, however she ended up on a trip to Lake 67.... pretty funny! It was great to meet up with her after two days apart, see her looking so chipper, and catch up!
After another recovery day in Huaraz, Jon, Ave, and I hopped on a night bus to Pisco to check out the Islas Ballestas and the Paracas national marine reserve. Phil and Andrea will follow us, I think just a day behind. The Islas Ballestas are known as the poor man´s galapagos, and made for a great, relaxing day! We saw sea lions (apparently they are also known as sea wolves here...), cormorants, boobies, terns, dolphins, and the cutest penguins ever! All in all a great day, the desert here is beautiful especially with the contrast of it meeting the sea.
Tomorrow we are off to Lima (yikes big cities are scary!), and then fly to Cuzco on tuesday to acclimatize and get organized for our Inca Trail trip! Okay, enough yammering from me...
posted by Barb at
2:42 p.m.
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