Blogs from Huaraz, Ancash, Peru, South America - page 9

Changing plans This time I actually decided to not do a trek/climb! I arrived in Huaraz after a nightbus marathon from Cusco. Three nights in a row and Arequipa and Nazca visited in between. I was heading for Huaraz to climb the mountain Alpamayo, who I heard was a beautiful mountain. And since I climbed Pequeño Alpamayo in Bolivia, I was thinking; "I have to climb the big brother as well!" ; ) But after one day of searching for a climbing partner/guide/logistics, I gave up. It was too expensive to do it alone, with a guide, hire the gear I needed and so on. I met some friendly Americans who just arrived to climb for one month, and I decided to do like they did; come back later with a climbingpartner/friend and dedicate the trip ... read more

Hola que tal! Huaraz (3091m), een stadje gelegen aan de voet van de Cordillera Blanca (de hoogste bergketen in de wereld buiten de Himalayas), is het "basecamp" voor ons 5-weekse avontuur in de Noord-Peruaanse Andes. Deze extravagante, 180km lange bergketen herbergt juwelen van meren en blinkende witte bergtoppen. Dit gebied is het trekkers-en klimmersmekka van de centrale Andes. Gedurende de eerste week acclimatiseren we tijdens een 5-daagse in de bijzonder rustige Quebrada Quilcayhuanca. Op de 3e dag beklimmen we de 4800m hoge Cerro Choco Chico en worden verwend met een circus van 5000- en 6000-ers rondom ons: Andavite (5518m), Huapi (5421m), Rurichinchay (6309m), Cayesh (5721m), Ranrapalca (6130m),... Op de laatste dag belanden we op het erf van onze ezeldrijver Oscar Milla (geconta... read more

Huaraz is a city nestled in the Andes mountains from where a lot of travellers set out on various types of treks, from 3 to 10 days or more....depending on time & adventure! For me this was to be my last trek......the Santa Cruz trek over 4 days...although in retrospect I probably would have done it in 3 days because it isn't very hard...there is only one pass to cross & after that it is a walk in the park!! What I have found in Peru more than any other country is that the people are much more opportunistic & will always try to make a few extra nuevos soles out of your custom.....in other words they are always trying to rip you off which at times, isn't a nice feeling. I met one such man ... read more

Isn't the rainy season supposed to be over? One of the joys of camping is the escape from everyday life: no email, no mobile phone, no TV, no cafe lattes! The luxuries of city life are quickly forgotten and, instead, what occupies your mind is finding shelter, making a home, stopping for the the next break, reaching the next pass or sometimes even just completing the next 20 yards! There are often nice views to divert your attention but in general camping is all about getting back to basics: survival, food, shelter. Nowhere was this more true than on our recent Santa Cruz hike in the Cordillera Blanca. We didn't see the sun until the third and final day, and what's supposed to be one of South America's finest hikes turned into a difficult trudge through ... read more

Hola, bon petit resume des dernieres semaines. Regulierement promenade le dimanche. J´ai ete a Honcopompa avec Sandra, tres jolie et en plus 3 chiens adorables nous on accompagne pendant 5 heures. Dimanche d´apres; Bosque de pierdras avec Hiltje et des amis. Magnifique!!! un seul petit probleme: on a perdu un des garcon dans la montagne. Mais bon plus de peur que de mal. Apres 4h les autres l´on retrouve. La semaine derniere; Churup avec Hiltje. Assez difficile par moment mais nous etions fieres d´arriver a la laguna. Et dimanche dernier, Llanganuco. Assez special le retour, accident entre 2 camions. Un des hommes etait coince dans son camion. Hiltje a aide pour les premiers soins les autres accidentes. A part ca: J´ai passe un samedi entier chez coiffeur avec Sandra pour me faire des tresses. Tres jolies, ... read more