This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.
According to Jim Bartle (the guide book author) and most trekkers, this is one of the most scenic and popular treks in this part of the Cordillera Blanca. This is probably due to the fact that it hasn't been possible to push a road up the Quebradas (glaciated valley/canym). We did a slight deviation on the usual route but still found it to be an excellent a acclimatising trek with good views of many of the Nevados (mountains) we intend to climb. The five day trek began at 4.30am with a taxi to Yungay. On the trip from Yungay up to the Lagos (Lake) Llangenuco in the usual "ute" we could see the swath of destruction caused by the 1970 earthquake. Yungay was the worst hit town; 18 million cubie metres of granite and ice fell from the west face of Huasceran Norte, resulting in a massive evalanche which leapt . a 200 m high ridge and destroyed the town of Yungay and all but 'a few hundred of its 18,000 residents. We followed a winding trail ever the 4750 m Portachuelo De Lleanganuco Pass rather than taking the road. On the way we stopped for photos of Nevados Huandoy, Pisco Chacraju, Huasceran end Chopicalqui, all over 6000 m except for Pisco, Re and all on our “hit list". An early start at midday, the next day, and we descended towards Colcabamba. This location was bypassed due to its reputation for inflicting the "Inca two step" (guess for yourself!), The next climb was accompanied by the usual chorus of "Phosphtrs" from the mean, and "Caramello Signor" from the kids. \ as oe /2
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To avoid becoming part of the big white missionary program we only give out the sweeta if we stop to talk, or ask directions. It's pretty hard to refuse some of these kids though. The next morning we detoured off the Huaripampa which is the ususl route to the Punta Union de Sante Cruz (pass), and climbed up the steep Quebrada Paria to the Lagunas Toclilacocna. We hit our first bad weather, but a good rock bivvy for the night chcered us ud. The following morning ves brilliantly clear for dewmlight photos, and then a 100 m climb before Sidling the large granite benches to the pass at 4750 me The descent to the Quebrada Santa Cruz was very short and steep, and we hn played condors on the wav doxa. “se then Pollewed the easy ‘rat Oe a ehote the meadows, swamps and Lesos of the Sante, eigen of the Senta Crug, Caskepempa. The folloving day ves just 2 centimuation of tae one fighting our way past the Americans ant were the >urros? they were the ones with packs on).
C s a their burros (you could tell which
Another hair-raising ride on the back of a “ute” took us from Cashapampa to the main road. Thinking 21] the excitement was over, we caught the bus to Huarez. However, we wsre first conned into lifting eight 100 kg plus bags of oranges on to the roof. David at the bottom got drenched in orange juice, whilst the jockey/ticket ccllectcr and I, gct left on the roof for the next 20 kn. We ate lots, and threw ever more to the kids along the way; the real South American way to travel. This was pretty much the sné@ of the trek, and it also heralded the end of our four man group. After the treks it had become apperent we eouldn*t function.as a group, and wé therefore decided to split. lyndsay has since gone on a climb with some Americans, while Mathew, David, and I will be carrying on as a threesome, n _ Ten Hadfiera There will bé more, from Mathew Comeskey in next month's neysletter. I - Editor