Salkantay and Machu Picchu: Part 1

Eric 1 Comment

The Salkantay Trek

Having met up with our most excellent amigos Clayton and Jenny in Cusco, we set about organizing our Machu Picchu experience. The famous and mysterious Incan ruins are fairly remote with no road access whatsoever which makes getting to them a bit trickier than most destinations this popular. Now it probably goes without saying, but we’re not exactly into the whole planning and booking months in advance thing, so the Inca Trail was quickly crossed of the list. We could just take a train there and back, but that seemed a bit boring. We do love the mountains though, and with that idea in mind we decided to tackle the Salkantay Trail. (more…)

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Soaking It Up In Middle Peru

Eric 3 Comments

Before heading to Lima we turned up an unmarked, very rough dirt road about 40 km south of Huaraz. The road looks to go absolutely nowhere; we pass a loan straw hut housing a shepherd looking after his flock of high altitude sheep. After about 30 minutes we reach the top of the ascent which opens into desolate, rolling meadows and valleys as far as we can see. There, in the middle of this harsh, 14,200 foot environment sits a rock climber refugio, and just behind it an unlikely labyrinth of volcanic rock juts from the earth. Welcome to sport climbing paradise in Peru: Hatun Machay (click for climber specific info). (more…)

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The Cordillera Blanca

Eric 2 Comments

Just a quick update from Peru. I’ll let the pics do most of the talking here with the exception of some “interesting” stats I’ve included at the end of the post.

After riding the porcelain throne through the long, muddy streets of Shitsville for nearly two weeks we had to bail on our Huayhuash Circuit plans and settled for a few rounds of antibiotics mixed with some rock climbing, camping, and alpine hiking. Actually, who am I kidding, porcelain thrones would be a treat around these parts! Huaraz is kind of a dump but the Cordillera Blancas easily make up for it! (more…)

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