Santa Cruz Trek in Pictures

Alpamayo (the peak on the right) at sunrise.

The scenery on the way to the high point of the trek.

The high point of the trek and Talluraju in the background.

Us, with Talluraju behind.

A condor flying above us. These birds are like small airplanes. They have wingspans of 15+ feet! We were incredibly lucky to see a group of them fly right over us.

The Quebrada Santa Cruz.

One of the donkeys that carried our gear.

Kim walking along the Quebrada... lindazo!

Alpamayo in the background and mountains across the valley in Kim´s glasses.

Lupine... the flower and the person (Kim´s outdoor school name).

Sleeping while we can get it.

It was sad leaving Trujillo. I cried. There are so many good memories. I´m missing strange, everyday things:

· Eugenia´s home cooking
· The combi drivers who took me to Huanchaquito every day: ¨La A, la A. HuanCHAgo! HuanCHAgo! Vas? Sube, sube, sube. Spera, spera, spera. DaLE!¨ That was the money collector´s way of communicating with the driver. ¨Dale¨ means give it, or hit it so the driver knows when he can start again. I think I´ll bring that term to the Lake to tell Dad or Uncle Bill to start driving the boat while waterskiing...
· I miss lots of the things my students used to say, like Fiorela´s counting: ¨Uno, dos, tres, cuatro... cINco... dos?¨ or Angel after I gave him his midday snack, ¨Plofesola! Glacias¨ or Diego´s singing when he got too antsy in his seat.

At the same time, it was awesome to arrive in Huaraz with friends to welcome us. One hike down (see Brian´s previous post) and we have a 4 day hike coming up tomorrow. I don´t think I´ve every even camped for more than 4 days... but I´m starting to like this whole hiking thing. We´re even thinking of heading up to some snowy areas.

It´s beautiful here. We have about 8 more days, and then LAURA COMES! This trip is going to be awesome!

To be continued.......

Poem for Churup

We tried it once in March

And the lake was not to be.

Rain, thunder, altitude and time in our way.

Now we are back in May.

Bluer than blue skies.

Nevada Churup rising high above us.

The lake a brillant blue-green.

Mountain air thin and fresh.

Feeling alive!

A great hike, a great day.

Que lindo: Churup

Back In Huaraz!

After two nights on buses we made it to Huaraz this morning. Our friends Teo and Rex picked us up from the bus station and we ate breakfast with the view of the Cordillera Blanca in the picture above. We even have the same room we stayed in last time we were here!