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We departed Lima and travelled 8 hours along a terrifying windy road with huge drops and an insane driver who obviously had a sixth sense and an ability to see around courners and over blind summits!
We arrived into Huaraz and were picked up by the lovely hostel owner Gilf. We were shown to our huge room, two double beds and huge shower! This was our first time at such high altitude and even just turning over in bed was enough to feel breathless!
The next day we woke up to see the most beautiful mountain in the distance and got ready for our first hike up to lake 69. We set of in a tiny minibus up the mountain valley and arrived at an innocuous valley and set off at a good pace along the valley floor. Before long the incline increased and we started to struggle. For hours we climbed never ending switchbacks and we fell further and further behind the group. Our lungs felt like they were going to burst, our hearts thudded in our chests at a worrying rate for hours and our legs felt like lead! Eventually we made it to the bluest lake with a glacier and the pain was worth it! The view was stunning and the aches were forgotten!
We arrived back and organised our Santa Cruz loop trek. Our hostel owner frightened us a bit as he was worried we would struggle as we struggled so much on the lake 69 trek! After a poor nights sleep we set off!
We met our group of 4 others who we got on like a house on fire! We set off and enjoyed every minute of the next four days, hiking anywhere from 8to 11 hours a day through the most beautiful Andean mountains. We loved the hiking except for trying to sleep in a tent in the pouring rain and snow in sub freezing temperatures!
We hiked up to base camp of alpa mayo, one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the world and eventually crossed a ridge at 4750 metres above sea level with no problems! In fact we were the first up and made a snow man whilst we waited! Our amazing guide Ricardo took us on an alternative route around old volcano summits and down some amazing valleys!
We had some of the most amazing days and experiences on our hike! And the food that Ricardo and donkey herder prepared each evening was some of the best food we've eaten so far on this trip! And on just a tiny little stove ... Very impressed!
We headed back to huaraz for another night and partied with the guys from our trek, we headed back towards Lima the next day!
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