1970 Massive Avalanche

The memorial and small chapel to honor the tens of thousands that died
in an avalanche and landslide off of Huascaran.

Next Stop The Llanganuco Valley

Heading to the town of Yungay, and then up to our 13,000' trailhead.
We will spend a few nights in a hut and hope to climb Pisco and
Yanapaccha. The weather has been more variable than any of my previous
trips, and climbers trade rumors of Alpamayo getting a meter of new
snow, or 18 inches of snow falling on Huascaran in just under two
hours.

After the big-run-around John and Gary get their park passes.

Heading back into the mountains

The valley of the condors

A beautiful valley, an easy flat hike, and at 4000 m terrific
acclimatization ... unfortunately we did not see any condors!

Andean Adventure Run

It all started when I left the dirt road for some herd paths that were
more interesting!

I had planned an active rest day. I took a mid-morning collectivo up
to Llupa, and was going to run to Pitec and back. A distance of 6-8k,
with spectacular views.

Well, after taking the wrong turn, I ended up on the Quebrada Shallap
trailhead. Saw I nice dirt road and headed over to Churup. The locals
pointed me to this nice, mostly grass, shady path that wove in, and
out of villages down to Huaraz ... Four hours, 24k, 2050' of climbing,
and 3,000' of descent ... Not quite the day off I expected.

Kestrel entered a ski race on the Postoruri glacier, and last night we
watched the bouldering comp in the Plaza de Armas.

More pictures from Ishinca

"Cordillera Blanca - First week"

Cordillera Blanca - First week

It's Not The Avalanches I Am Worried About

As you can see, I am more worried about the beating my feet have taken
than avalanches. After the past several days with steep, toe bruising
descents of over 10,000' ... When I took my socks off last night it
was pretty nasty. After a good cleaning and some fresh air, this
morning the two big toes look better, although I a think at least one
nail will fall off. I will keep you posted.

Heading Back To Huaraz

That's Kestrel heading back to Huaraz: showers, email, rest, good
food, and breakfast at Zarela's. It was a good first week with runs,
easy hikes, and climbing two 18,000' peaks ... logging 29 hours and
14,000'. Tonight sipping chai, eating fries, and watching World Cup
soccer (USA v. Germany) at Cafe Andino ain't so bad either.

Ishinca Climb

We had a beautiful day - we left at 4 am and we were back by 2:15 pm.
My stomach bug slowed us down a bit, but having gotten up two 18,000'
peaks, in my first week in Peru is pretty darn good.

Ishinca valley rest day

We slept late, ate breakfast at a leisurely 8 am, read, enjoyed the
intermittent sun, listened to INTO THE SILENCE, did some yoga, napped,
and snacked. Tomorrow we will leave at 3:30 to climb Ishinca.

Urus este

Clouds moving in, but a good day. Needless to say I was trashed at 18,300'.

Heading up Urus but what a great sunset!

Cordillera Blanca rest day

The usual - not much sleep last night - but fe pretty good today.
Night time temperature at 4360 meters was about 28 degrees. A local
guide talked about avalanches on the direct route on Toc. I took a
short hike - 2k and 500' - to make sure I could find the Urus herd
path in the dark.

Ishinca Base Camp

A three hour hike, gaining 2500', puts us at the Refugio at 14,500'
... rest day tomorrow.

Loading up Rosita

Heading to the Ishinca Valley

The last breakfast at La Casa de Zarela for awhile.

Day hike in the Churup drainage

Lindsay Putnam - former NCS teacher and long time friend - has her
daughter traveling in Peru and Bolivia. Kestrel just finished her
sophomore year in college. She has been hiking quite a bit the past
three weeks and so is fit and acclimatized. Today's hike was another
warmup for me ... Three hours, 15 k, and 1750'.

Tomorrow we head up to the Ishinca Valley to climb Urus and Ishinca next week.

A Great First Day

Some yoga, some reading, a good night's sleep supplemented by a nap,
and a nine mile hike/run with 2000'.

Cordillera Blanca - Day 1

Cordillera Blanca - Day 1