Despite the fierce storm in the night, the next morning everything looked pretty clear. The horses were enjoying breakfast before setting-off carrying our bags :)
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The others started to emerge from the tents and dining shelter to look around at the morning scenery. The coca tea also helps one wake-up!
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This is the last view I had of Mt. Salkantay, the namesake of our trek. As we headed up this valley towards a pass on the left, the clouds rolled in and blocked our view.
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We caught another group at our first break at 8:30am. We can see the glacier to the right and our trail heading steeply uphill to the left.
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These horses were coming back empty. Since we were now past the end of the dirt road, I think these horses brought provisions into the next Mountain Lodge and are returning empty.
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A quick look back at where we came from...
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The glacier looks pretty dirty here. Mt. Salkantay is up in the clouds on the right.
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Waiting for the others to make their way up the winding trail. I had an advantage since this is about the altitude of our airport in La Paz, 4000m
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Yes, I was there. Notice the long half-pipe that the glacier has carved from left to right.
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Mei and Angela decided to opt for horses today. They seemed to be enjoying the ride, but I think it looks a little scary to trust your life to a horse with such steep cliff faces!
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Flowers and snow.
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A flatter section where we had to walk across fresh snow from the night's storm.
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Yes, there were cows up here and a curious lake which must drain into an aquifer below. The trail continues upward to the left.
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Arrived at the top of the pass before noon. This is slightly lower than La Cumbre outside of La Paz which I rode up on my mountain bike the month before for the Ascenso race.
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Another good look at the glacier to the left and the notch that it has carved out.
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We all got a bit cold waiting for the rest of the group to arrive. Then, our guide insisted that we each made an offering to Mother Nature, or Pacha Mama, by placing some coca leaves under some stones.
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After descending a ways into warmer weather, we stopped for lunch and shared the leftovers with the local strays. A pig came and tried to steal everything!
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Nice views from our lunch spot.
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From here, still around 4000m (?), we descend the next day and a half to the Santa Teresa River. Should get a little steamy as we enter the jungle cover.
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Obligatory photo spot as we descend back into brush and forest cover.
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More happy faces as the trails spices-up the afternoon.
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A random house that we passed on the afternoon of the second day. There were not a lot of houses on the route, but some farmers, of course.
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There were tons of interesting flowers and a few odd birds and bugs along the way. I am not good at remembering the names, though.
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This dog followed us for practically the whole second afternoon. We never figured-out where he was from or where he was going, but he spent the night with us at the next camp and was gone in the morning.
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Camp 2 at Chaulay, about 2850m.
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You could pay for a hot shower here and there was even beer for sale. Oh, and they had satelite tv :)
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