Blogs from Huaraz, Ancash, Peru, South America - page 25

Trekking in the high andies 'Well darling, if you insist…' I muttered despondently as Claire declared that she and her mum Pat were off to see the Nazca lines (see The Monument Baggers) and it was too expensive for me to go along as we had already been there. What was I to do?.. stuck on my own in the town of Huraz in Peru, surrounded by the (arguably) best area for trekking and mountain climbing in South America - the Cordillera Blanca, home to most of the Andes highest peaks, which easily top almost everything in the northern hemisphere. An opportunity not to be missed, as although Claire loves the walking, it’s the sleeping under the stars bit that isn’t quite so popular. So with a little trepidation given my 'advancing years' and state of ... read more

The Cordillera Blanca.. I figured i´d go big and then go to the Beach!! I attempted Mt. Huascaran (6655m), the highest point in Peru is the South summit (6700m) but it is impassable this year, so we attempted the north summit. Didn´t make it, but had a beautiful 5 days on the mountain..and cold, and hard to breath. Spent 2 nights camped on the ice at 5400m. Hard to sleep up there!! ... read more

I arrived in Huaraz in that spaced-out state that is becoming so familiar. A bumpy night of fifty ten-minute naps, it´s like blinking incredibly slowly, a strobe-lit vista out the window. Abruptly spat out in the early-morning glare of new city to face the aggressive touts. As much as I stand out as a gringo, I still feel ultra-conspicuous trudging through unfamiliar streets with my big bag, all turtled-up. It was even worse with my newly-acquired limp, I could almost see the jackals trotting along behind me and vultures taking interest from three hundred feet above. It must sound like an incredibly negative way to spend my first moments in a new location but I put it down to a healthy paranoia that has allowed me to hang on to all of my stuff where so ... read more