Up at 5:30 to get breakfast, quinoa porridge and pancakes with dulce de leche.
We met our porter team who are seventeen to our fourteen. It was embarrassing to be honest because when we booked originally booked we had no idea about the amount of stuff that comes with us up these trails. Tents (for sleeping, cooking and dining), all the food for thirty-odd people for four days, four gas bottles, stools for us to sit on as well as duffle bags and bedding for customers who don't wish to carry it themselves. Basically, a lot.
We hit the road a little after 7 and made our steady way up the valley towards Dead Woman's Pass.
Midway up the pass we took a break at one of the checkpoints where porters loads can be checked before taking on the most challenging section of the pass. Most of our guys have already run far ahead in order to get the lunch stop set up before we arrive. The pace these guys can keep at this altitude is staggering.
The middle section of the climb passes through an area of dense rainforest which made a change for this altitude considering that the air is normally thin and dry up here. The area was more like jungle, with mature eucalyptus, lupins and fuschia.
The final drag up the pass was steep and unyielding, but no worse than the Colca Canyon.
The weather blew in as we topped the pass, making for some very soggy team photos.
The descent was non-eventful due to the poor visibility, Its the risk you take when heading out on this trip during the rainy season.
We got some breaks in the weather as we descended to our campsite for the night.
There was no shortage of water in the valley.
Once again we arrived to a site already pitched with tea and popcorn awaiting us. Some of us retired to our tents for a pre-dinner nap while others sat and chatted in the shelter of the dining tent. The biggest climbing day was done.