Pastoruri trek

Sunday 8/7 - HUARAZ (1st day)
Pastoruri trek.

The cold room temperature probably explains my early wake up. After having taken breakfast across the street I inquired some agencies about the famous 'Santa Cruz trek', and also about shorter one days treks.

For the four days Santa Cruz trek a first agency asks 240US$ (not including sleeping bag), a second and third agency both ask 120US$ (including the sleeping bag).  Easy choice.

It was still time to register for a more touristic tour, the Pastoruri trek, so I did.

Stop at the coca restaurant for a mate de coca.

Soon after the tour started, there was a stop in a local restaurant to drink a cup of Mate de Coca, that helps to acclimatize (infusion made with innocent coca leaves).

Next stop was at the entrance of the Parque Nacional Huascaran.

Park entrance.

Free trial of natural bubbling carbonated water (soda).

We passed by a mineral water well (tasting like the bottled Badoit water), and later we saw some of the endangered Puya Raimondii plants, a plant only found in the higher parts of Peru and Bolivia.
The flower of the Puya Raimondii plant appears after 40 to 100 years and announces the dead of the plant. Thousands of flowers appear, dispersing millions of seeds. The flower stick is meters high.

A Puya Raimondii plant, and a little Michel.

Next started the climb to the glacier. Opportunistic Peruvians proposed mules for the steepest part of the climb. Almost all of our group took that solution, except for two Italians and myself. We and the mule-people arrived at the same time, but certainly in different physical conditions (I must be honest).

It was very cold, near zero degrees Centigrade, windy, and some some icy snow started to fall. Next followed a softer climb to reach the Pastoruri glacier.

With a courageous retired Italian Alpinist (CAI) in front of the glacier.

Picture session, followed by the long descent to the cold bus. Those who arrived earliest remember that it took a lot of  time to be complete. Finally we had a lunch-dinner at the Coca restaurant, it was 4:30PM.

For tomorrow I booked a more intensive trek, to 'Laguna 69'. They'll pick me up at 6:00AM.

Without alarm clock I must count on the hotel groom.  I told him he must knock hard on my door at 5:45AM, or I will knock hard on his head.  We will see.




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