18km Hike- Huascaran National Park

We started trekking at 3,050m and finished up at a glacial lake altitude 4,700m. Quite a jump in altitude and everybody felt the effects of less oxygen. In both Greg and I it took the form of heavy limbs and a slight dizziness after every few steps. We had to take it slow, but it gave us the opportunity to appreciate the glacial scenery that surrounded us 360 degrees. A monstrous U-shaped valley with steep black crags gave way to a rocky climb with views of icy waterfalls in the distant rockfaces and incredible snow-capped peaks in every direction. I was impressed by the variety of flora we encountered on the way, from lime coloured rock lichen, bright yellow dandelions to lilac blue lupins and bright red flowering cacti. Each ridge produced yet more stunning scenery and I couldn’t help wishing that our parents, who also appreciate such alpine scenery, were here to see it with us. A turquoise glacial lake, rich in minerals, was our final endpoint and it was not a disappointment. Glacial meltwater gushed down the sheer rockface on the opposite bank from the frozen mountain tops above and, as we watched, an avalanche of small rocks created a faint echo round the otherwise still crater.
An excellent day and sufficient training for the Inca Trail.