
Sun 12 Jul. / Hasta Luego Andes !!! We have reached the end of our Perùvian y Bolivian caminos. Highlights include unusual rencontres with Chamanes and other excentrics, discoveries of mystical sceneries and dramatic landscapes, initiations to Quechua rituals, rich culinary experiences, and clearly wild mountain rides:... 36 expedition days... 12 peaks (5 x 6000m + 6 x 5000m + Machu Pichu), 3 unsuccessful 6000m attempts... 22394 altitude meters climbed (approx. 5600 stories of a building or 70 times the Eiffel tower)... 12 nights slepts above 5000m (10 of which on glaciers) and 1 night at 6768m... -25*C min x 50+ knts wind-shield... 1200kg carried, incl. 440kg food and fuel... 16 mules hired to base camps... 0 condor seen - clearly a legend... uncountable arguments and so much funWhat s next ??? Passion is raging !!! Yep, much more in the Alps and Himalaya ... Join us!






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Wed 13 May -- Just back to La Paz. We left a week ago with the objective to climb three classic peaks of the Cord. Real via the nicest routes: Pequeño Alpamayo (5410m) - "an impressive and beautiful pyramid of snowand rocks", Condoriri (5648m) - the Bolivian Matterhorn, and Huayna Potosi (6088m) - our first 6000m. Planned changed when Victor, the Chileano, came back defeated from Condoriri: After falling in a 4m deep crevasse, sugar snow on the steep Southwest ridge stopped his ascension. We will be back! Nonetheless: back to La Paz with our first Andean peak and our first 6000m climbed :) Next, the highest: Illimani (6439m). Chileano joins us, but can we attempt the exceptionnal 3 peaks traverse with 8 km and a compulsory bivouak above 6000m ...
Wed 6 May -- "An incongruous splash of blue amid the parched dreariness of the Altiplano, with clear saphire-blue waters" ... Impetuous? No, a true description of Lake Titicaca. There, we visited the people of Uros - inhabitants of estonishing flotting islands, and Taquile, which are tiny populations still living ancient style. En route to Isla del Sol in Copacabana we got hijacked by locals into their "3 de Mayo" festivities (mind you it was the 4th) and got handed over some sort of scary Totem :( On the Isla del Sol, the birth place of several revered entities - including the sun itself, we have set our first camp above 4000m, 200m only above lake-level :). Sceneries were fantastic, and we had first clear views over the Cordillera Real. So looking forward!!! And now: La Paz. We meet local "Guias" and we have been planning the next three weeks is underway: Pekeno Alpamayo (5410m), Condoriri (5648m), Huayna Potosi (6088m) and Illamani (6438m) ... Off we go climbing !!!
Sun 3 May -- Sad to leave Cusco and the Machu Picchu ... We had such a good time meeting fun, existing or excentric guys on the caminos de los Inkas. Kieran and I tailored our own way through the jungle forest of Santa Maria, the mystical Machu Picchu, and the marvellous landscape of the Sacred Valley. Quite an experience ! Especially the initiation to Quechua rituals with Andros, the unusual rencontre of Chamanes, the wild mountain ride on trucks with Wioletta... After few sleepless nights in Cusco, it´s now time to take the night bus bound to Lago Titicaca . Our last stop before reaching La Paz and the Cordillera Real.
Wed 29 Apr. -- Only discovered in 1921, the Lost City of the Incas is allegely South America's most spectacular archaeolgical site - and has retain its air of grandeur and mystery. A visit to Machu Picchu is an experience: Trails through high passes and jungle, and an early morning race up to the site put oneself in the right mindset. Early morning mist, dramatic Inka ruins and sharp Andean lanscapes add a mystical feeling. And the walk up to Wayna Picchu and Putucusi closes the ritual ...
Sun 26 Apr. -- Dramatic programme change! Amazonian rains are still showering the Cordilleras. Let's use that time to visit Peru & Bolivia and wait for cristal blue skies for our summits :) First stop: Cusco. Magnificent preserved Inka and hispanic city, once the most influencial place in Latine America. The tons of churchs from conquistadores time are built over Inka ruinas in an quite estonishing manner ... Definitely the must-visit-site in Peru, as observed by the number of tourists :( Next: Camino Inka Ancestral to Machu Pichu
Wed 22 Apr. -- We traveled today to Huaraz, the 'Chamonix' of the Peruvian Andes. The 8h and 3000m bus climb drove us through changing weather conditions and landscape: from the flat and desertic surroundings of Lima (it virtually never rains in Lima) to the green mountains of the west slopes of the Cordillera Blanca. Weather patterns in the Peruvian Andes depend on Amazon rain activities - which are still very active this year. ie. Huaraz is very wet and our mountains constantly showered ... check weather forecasts and maps on: www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Huascaran. If current weather confirms, well we will explore local traditions rather than summits :)
Sun 19 Apr. -- Upon landing in Lima, our friend Thorsten with whom we are staying in Miraflores (Lima) organised us to be picked up at the Airport. Rodolpho, our driver and ex. Peruvian Marine Commando, drove us safely home after proudly exhibiting his AutoMat II Magnum 22 handgun - just in case ... We had the rest of the day to visit the Coasta Verde magnficent cliffs, the Pont des Soupires in Barranco and enjoy some Lomo Saltado and Cristal. No worries, despites first impression, Lima is nice and safe.