Heading to the Huayhuash ...

Everything was fantastico. The southern end of the Cordillera Blanca was awesome; the Andean Geese were nice; our lunch spot next to the river was terrific, then we got a flat that could not be fixed ... the last lug was totally shot!

Back in the Cordillera Blanca ... hiking to Lake Churup

Pictures by Josephine:

Back in the Cordillera Blanca ... Chavin

This archeological site is 3000 years old. It is considered the mothership of all Peruvian culture. Research and excavation is ongoing. The key for this civilization was that Chavin was the nexus of North-South and Coastal-Amazon trade routes.

Back in the Cordillera Blanca

Hiking up Lake Wilcacocha and visiting the archaeology museum with a group of NCS alumni and friends.

A little known part of the Andean climbing scene ...

Is the Lima airport bivy scene. Because flights come in, and out, at odd hours, and choice of bus times are minimal, you can count on at least one airport bivy. Now, this will not be a cold, dark, grim Northwall bivy for there will be hundreds of others sleeping in every spare corner. Moreover, you can buy a Big Mac at 2am, a macchiato at 3am at Starbucks, a $500 vicuña coat at 4am, and check in at 5 am. Or, you can just sleep ... like Lulu.

Day 9 in the Cordillera Blanca

Heading to Lima. Lucy took a last sunset picture in the mountains, and then sunrise hill intervals on the Rataquenua, and then finally a picture outside of La Casa de Zarela.

We had a great trip.

Day 8 in the Cordillera Blanca

Tomorrow we head to Lima.

However, this morning Lucy headed out for a 90 minute run up to Lake Toclla, and then we did the 13.5k hike back to our taxi. I always forget to bring a spare pair of rock shoes for rest days ... the bouldering is terrific. As on my last trip, I believe I am on my way toward at least one toenail falling off.

It was a great ten days with Lulu!

Day 7 in the Cordillera Blanca

Another terrific day, hiking up to Lago Ishinca at just about 16000'. (Lucy ran some of the uphill and almost all the downhill.)

Great views, and we were only out from 10 am-1:30 pm, so lots of time to read and take a siesta. Pictures below are Urus, Ishinca, Ranrapalca, as well as Lucy with Tocllaraju and Palcaraju in the background.

Day 6 in the Cordillera Blanca

Hiking into the Refugio Ishinca at 4,300 meters. I may be off line for a couple of days.

A few more pictures from Laguna Llaca

Day 5 in the Cordillera Blanca

Feeling a lot better than yesterday, but I turned back well before Laguna Llaca. However, the views were outstanding, I managed to run more than half of the out and back; and truly, 13.5 miles and 1500' is not too shabby at altitude. I got up to 13,300' so my acclimatization seems on track. (More photos to come.)

Day 4 in the Cordillera Blanc

A much needed rest day. I suffered from a touch of Atahualpa's revenge, and so wanted to stay in close proximity to a bathroom. Two sessions of rooftop yoga. and lots of reading for me. (Vallunaraju, Ranrapalca, and Rima Rima below.)

Lucy headed to Chavin, one of the oldest and most important pre-Columbian sites in Peru. This site was constructed between 1000-200BCE. The site is still being excavated, as the original work came to naught when a huge landslide in 1945 buried the town and the archeological site.

Often Referred To As The Chamonix of South America

Too many 6000 meter peaks to get into one picture! From left to right what you can see here: Santa Cruz, Huandoy, Huascaran, Copicalqui, and Copa. Out of the picture, and to the south, are Tocllaraja, Palcaraju, Ranrapalca, and a host of others.

Semi-rad ... in climbing it can always be worse

https://semi-rad.com/2019/07/it-could-be-worse/

David Hochschartner (Hock)

Day 3 in the Cordillera Blanca

Day 3 of my warmup trip in the Cordillera Blanca was delightful. We did the classic warmup hike to Laguna Churup - 7k and 2,300' - that said it seemed harder than when I first did it 13 years ago!

The picture is of my daughter Lucy jogging off, after she ran back to check on her old man - she does that every 30 minutes or so. Our high point today was 14,800'. 

You can keep track of my adventures, at the link below where I post photos and some text. SEE YOU IN LIMA ON JULY 15 ... we are going to have a great time. 

http://thefossilclub.blogspot.com/?m=1

Day 2 in the Cordillera Blanca

An enjoyable 15k - out and back - run in Quebrada Quilcayhuanca, which is nicknamed the Valley of the Condors. (We did not see any condors, but this narrow valley was quite impressive with its steep rock walls.) We were running between an elevation of 12-13,300," however it was relatively flat with only a thousand feet of vertical gain.

Andean acclimatization hike

Yesterday afternoon we hiked up to Laguna Wilcacocha. We got off route - no signage and only a thumbnail sketch - so we mostly stuck to the circuitous dirt road which added an extra 2-3 miles.

Andean acclimatization hike

Yesterday afternoon we hiked up to Laguna Wilcacocha. We got off route - no signage and only a thumbnail sketch - so we mostly stuck to the circuitous dirt road which added an extra 2-3 miles.

First morning in the Cordillera Blanca

Well we were trashed when we pulled into Huaraz at 7:30 pm. We started about 36 hours prior to that with a drive to Connecticut to stay with our son and fly out of Bradley the next morning. We flew to Chicago, Dallas, and the Lima, and followed it up with almost 9 hours on a bus.

The weather called for rain - which hardly ever happens this time of year - it would rate as a spectacular, mostly sunny day in the Adirondacks. However, the summits of the 6000 meter peaks were socked in, there was some new snow down to 5500 meters, but clearly very claimable weather.

After the usual awesome Zarela breakfast we went up to the roof - me for yoga to clear out the kinks - and Lucy for an intense strength workout. Then a walk-about town, lunch, some book swapping at the California Cafe, PB&J for lunch in Zarela's guest kitchen, and a nap for me.

This afternoon we will run (Lucy) and hike (me) to Lake Willococha in the Cordillera Negra. Lucy will probably add on some additional mileage as it is "just" 5 miles total. Of course her run will take her from 10,000' to just under 12,000.'

Thai food at La Casa de Zarela tonight.