Choquequirao and Ausangate


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South America » Peru » Cusco » Cusco
June 28th 2006
Published: June 30th 2006
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SalkantaySalkantaySalkantay

View of Salkantay as we travel to the beginning of the Choquequiroa trail.
From Christie:


Well we have finished our journey and are now back in the USA. David and Paris are in Colorado and I am in California visiting with family. We had a wonderfull month in Peru and just love the Andes. I probably walked 200 miles of trails! Brett came from Spain and spent a couple of weeks with us. This entry has pictures of hiking to Choquequiroa, extensive ruins that are really hard to get to and Ausangate, another beautiful mountain range 4 hours from Cuzco.

Natalie stayed on in Peru to travel with her sister and then she plans on traveling through Bolivia.

Thank you for following our blog and for all of the great messages you sent us.

I will be sending one more blog with pictures of Machu Picchu, Peru and the jungles Ecuador.

Christie


Additional photos below
Photos: 27, Displayed: 22


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Ready to HikeReady to Hike
Ready to Hike

The trail to Choquequiroa National Park is 32 kilometers , but some of the hardest kilometers we hiked in Peru. You have to descend to the Apurimac River and then back up the other side. I think around 5,000 ft of loss and gain.
Leaving TownLeaving Town
Leaving Town

Great vista of the mountains.
Apurimac RiverApurimac River
Apurimac River

Way down below if the Apurimac river which we would cross in a day.
CliffsCliffs
Cliffs

You don't want to step off the trail.
Ready to DescendReady to Descend
Ready to Descend

It is very steep trail to the river crossing.
Crossing the ApurimacCrossing the Apurimac
Crossing the Apurimac

Only uphill from here.
ChoquequiroaChoquequiroa
Choquequiroa

The ruins that have been uncovered are extensive and the location is spectacular.
Soccer CampSoccer Camp
Soccer Camp

Day before arriving at the ruins we played soccer at our campsite. The trick is keeping the ball from going 5,000 feet down to the river.
SoccerSoccer
Soccer

Soccer at an "Infinity Field"
Hiking BackHiking Back
Hiking Back

Hiking back was as hard as getting there. It took 2 days and we had to once more descend to the Apurimac River and then climb back up the other side.
AusangateAusangate
Ausangate

I went on a five day hike around this mountain.
My CompanionsMy Companions
My Companions

I hiked with two dutch, Camiel and Mary lou and our 19 year old guide.
GlaciersGlaciers
Glaciers

Every side of the mountain is covered in glaciers.
16,000 Foot Pass16,000 Foot Pass
16,000 Foot Pass

We hiked over several high passes covered with snow. I wore plastic bags in my shoes to keep my feet dry. Our horse handler wore sandals.


30th June 2006

I will miss your travel journal & photos
I sure have enjoyed reading your travel journals and seeing all the places I hope to visit some day - I think I'm down to 995 places in the world still to see. Just returned from a week in Wyoming - short hikes every day. Alika is home for a week - then he goes back to Denver on the 6th and I leave for an Alaskan cruise also on the 6th.
30th June 2006

Welcome Home
What are your plans for an encore?
30th June 2006

sorry I missed you in Boulder
5th July 2006

Welcome Home! Enjoyed following your travels!

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