The day started out overcast, and we set out from our camp to begin climbing to the first, and highest pass. Slade and I decided to go off ahead, and pretty quickly surpassed the tree line. We waited for everyone else at a camp site which isn't used very often thanks to it's position, and as such had lots of little birds, including some with bright red breasts, llamas, and general wildlife all around. A lady sold us some crackers, and seemed to think we would find the fact they were animal shaped appealing, as she kept mentioning that fact. Funnily enough it wasn't a major factor in our decision...
When we set off again it had started to rain, just in time for the most arduous section of the journey. At the top we were treated to a freezing wind, and a sea of clouds for a view over the other side of the pass. Rather than waiting at the top we elected to travel down a bit, and get away from the wind, and whilst we were waiting the clouds cleared, and the rain stopped. Hallelujah!
It wasn't terribly far till the lunch site, so as soon as Katie caught us up we went ahead again. The views were pretty good when the clouds stayed out of the way, and we stayed above the tree line for most of the time, only getting back amongst them as we arrived into camp. We ended up waiting around one and a half hours for the rest, and lunch, but the sun was shining by this point, and we had time for a nice lie down.
Lunch was predictably good, and we set off for the second pass reenergised. Katie walked with us too in the afternoon, and crossing the second pass we saw a couple of lakes, one shaped like Australia, along with more spectacular mountain scenery, and clouds. The weather really can change at the drop of a hat! We stopped at some Inka ruins, which were a watchtower, and from which we could see why it was called Dead Woman's Pass. No mortality was involved, but the silhouette of the mountains looks like a woman lying down. I guess Relaxing Woman's Pass just doesn't sound cool enough!
Towards the end of the day (about 20 minutes walk from the camp site) we came across some more Inka ruins. Don't ask me the name, they're all *really* difficult. It was up some steep stairs, so only Slade, Katie and I decided to explore them. They were really cool, like a castle more than anything, though their purpose was a waypoint for couriers, as well as a watchtower. We explored till it was nearing dark, then got to the camp site just in time for tea (the drink) and popcorn.
For tea we had finger pizza, chicken on the bone in a sauce with mash, and a kind of broccoli dumpling (which I thought was awesome, so you know it was good), and a kind of chocolate syrup thing quite similar to yesterday's.
All told we did 14km today, climbing about 1500m, and dropping about 1200. It's all down hill from here, literally.
There were lots of stairs
An alpaca, which jumped us as we were walking
Me at Dead Woman's Pass
And another
On the way down again
The reason it is called Dead Woman's Pass. You can see the silhouette of the woman from a way away
A lake which looks like Australia
The castle type ruins
There were lots of stairs
An alpaca, which jumped us as we were walking
Me at Dead Woman's Pass
And another
On the way down again
The reason it is called Dead Woman's Pass. You can see the silhouette of the woman from a way away
A lake which looks like Australia
The castle type ruins
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