Above the Clouds: Over a 14,000+ foot pass

Day 7 - Lares Trek - Part 1

I woke up a new man, having seemingly recovered fully from the altitude sickness. This was a good thing because the day started with a grueling 3000+ foot ascent over the highest pass of the trip. But not before waking up to a cold, cold morning:

Shortly after starting the hike, two more people ditched carrying their bags (the mules didn't seem to mind). Only two remained out of nine. We hiked amongst fields of stone, and along steep ledges. The clouds constantly obscuring the sense of altitude, and scale. The thinning air told a different story.

It was hard to imagine anything surviving up here, but lo an behold, we saw a glimpse of a wild chinchilla!

About 3/4 of the way up, we took a breather.

Then literally two minutes later, as if sensing our presence, the clouds cleared out almost entirely, revealing even more spectacular views.

The rapidly changing weather conditions at these altitudes created some strange, and beautiful sights:

From there, the top came quickly. Feeling so much better, I was able to go on ahead of everyone else, and experience the first few views alone.

The sudden view of one of the few remaining glaciers in the area was a pleasant treat. In the distance, you could see the Andes getting smaller, trailing off, and a layer of thick, fluffy clouds hovering over the distant Amazon jungle.

We spent a little time talking about how the pass was used for sacrifices, a rare occurrence in the Incan/Quechua culture, but not unheard of. Had it not been windy enough to almost knock you off your feet (and nippy to boot!), I would have gladly stayed to enjoy the views for hours.

The way down was, of course, significantly easier. Because we were no longer in the clouds, there were grander views that continued to amaze.

Then, minor tragedy strikes when Janet sits down for a rest!

The trail skirted down around a beautiful lake at the bottom of a glacial valley, and we lunched next to a tiny village at its base.

And yes, as mentioned, as compared to every hiking trip I've ever been on, we were pretty darn spoiled.