Peru
Cordillera Huayhuash
Machu Picchu
Cordillera Huayhuash Circuit
I hiked the Cordillera Huayhuash circuit with Quechuandes starting in Matacancha and ending in Llamac. If doing the hike independently, it may be easier to start and finish in Llamac, which has more regular public transport.
Stream crossing after Cacanan Pass
(Day three) Ricardo led us off trail on the high route above Laguna Mitucocha.
Carchuacocha camp (#3)
(Day four) We climbed along the eastern side of the mountain range to the three lakes lookout
Avalanche waterfall at the first lake
Mirador Tres Lagos
Caracara at Siula Pass (15,800ft)
Huayhuash Camp (#4)
(Day five) We decided upon going over Trapecio Pass instead of the normal route through Viconga near the hot springs
Our guide Edgar at the glacier
Climbing Trapecio Pass
Coming back down the pass on the other side
Pumpa Cuyoc Camp (#5)
(Day six) We woke to a fresh coat of snow and climbed to Jurau Pass, the highest point on the trail
My tentmate Alpekka
Jurau Pass (16,600ft)
(Day seven) The group working together to make the water crossing
Base camp for Simon Yates and Joe Simpson in the Touching the Void experience. The west face of the Siula Grande peak is no longer considered climbable
Exploring the Cerro Gran Vista ridge
The high point on the ridge
(Day eight) We went below 13,000ft for the first time on the trek, stopping in the village of Huayllapa to get drinks. Then the coldest night of the trip at the Huatiac camp
Mount Diablo Mudo
(Day nine) We climbed the final pass of the trip to the ridge of Cerro Huacrish on our way to Lake Jahuacocha
(Day ten) We finished the trek with a downhill walk to the town of Llamac and took the return bus to Huaraz.
Cordillera Blanca Day Hikes
Machu Picchu
The hike on day one after getting off the train was relatively flat with a climb in the final few miles to the campsite (9 miles, 2000ft gain)
Day two had a morning climb to the high point on the Inca trail, Dead Woman's Pass followed by a climb and descent of a second pass in the afternoon (10 miles, 4500ft gain, 3500ft loss)
The hike on day three was mostly downhill and shorter in distance allowing time at the Intipata and Winay Wayna Inca sites (6 miles, 3000ft loss)
We woke up early and lined up at the gate to enter Machu Picchu before everyone else
The lone tree in Machu Picchu
Valentine pointing out the perfection in the stonework of the temple (near side) versus other structures (far)
The King would make the pilgrimage to Machu Picchu twice a year around the winter and summer solstices. The sun would shine directly through the windows on the Temple at sunrise
Machu Picchu overlook
Staircase in the main area of Machu Picchu
Our group had a separate permit to climb Huayna Picchu
Hiking group with Alpaca Expeditions