Out of the Mystic
A mystical scene at camp in Carhuacocha as the clouds lift after dumping snow up high and a solid 2-3 inches of cold rain in just a few hours time.
Aniseto, our horseman returns from checking on our burros grazing above to make sure they hadn’t gone too far.AnisetoReturningfromCheckingtheMulesAfterSnowfallCarhuacocha
Fiery Sarapo
Evening light on Sarapo near the base camp for the famous book and movie Touching The Void. I am so so fortunate to call this my office. Never will I take it for granted. I hope it inspires everyone to slow down, get outside and just appreciate the natural beauty around.
Blue Reflection
Stunning calm blue reflections about at dawn along the shores of Laguna Carhuacocha
Santa Rosa
The stunning Huayhuash range as seen from Santa Rosa pass at roughly 17,000 feet.
Wild West Of Peru
A man exits his home in Huayallpa deep within the Huayhuash Range. This scene reminded me of a nostalgic setting we might have seen during the wild west days here in the Unite States.
Leading Lines to Jirishanca Chico
Jirishanca Chico reflects in this small lagunita leading the eyes into all of its splendor.
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Popca Streets
Placid
Placid waters on Carhuacocha on an early morning after a light snow dusting.
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The Three Naughty Sheep
These baby sheep were strutting their stuff all over the community of Popca. Then a young boy ran out of his house and started teasing them. He told me these three are "naughty" and always getting into trouble. He was right...but he was rather naughty too :).
Formidable
My kind of drama. Yerupaja and Siula Grande truly humble standing beneath their towering white walls.
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Hillside Sheep Herding
Blue Hour Carhuacocha
Stillness. The cold permeates every pore as I await for the first dance of the sun to descend down the mighty peaks of the Huayhuash.
This humble abode has one of the finer backyard views in the world. It's an isolated and difficult life, but there's a true connection with these mountains and this land.Abandonedperuandeslake carhuacochayerupajasiula grandejirishancayerupaja chicoAbodeBlueHourCarhuacocha
A-Frame
A Frame. A Views.
Touching The Void
Magical lakes are abundant in the Cordillera Huayhuash in the Peruvian Andes. This lake is the site from the famous book and movie Touch The Void. This is near base camp for Siula Grande where all of the events unfolded. It is a side trip from the standard routes in the Huayhuash, so if you visit, you are likely to have the place all to yourself which makes it all the more powerful.
Covering the Huatia
Aniseto and Eulalio work quickly to cover the earth oven or Huatia with plastic tarps. The huatia is constructed by building a conical oven using stones with a hole at the bottom for room to put firewood. Once the rocks are placed, firewood is inserted and lit. It takes an hour or so to superheat the rocks. Once superheated, the rock dome is knocked down and the food is placed directly on the rocks to cook. It's then covered with straw and herbs to retain moisture and flavor. Lastly, it's covered with tarps to lock it all in. After 45 minutes or so, the food is all cooked, and you peel off all the layers to enjoy this amazing meal!
pachamancaearth oventraditional cookingandeshuatiaquechuastone ovensmokeportraitculturehuayhuash
Laguna Siula
Incredible hues of Laguna Siula with prominent peaks Jirishanca Grande (Left) and Jirishanca Chico (Right) showing off their dramatic summits.
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Morning Companion
Our trail buddy who followed us for 5 days in the Huayhuash joined me on a little morning photo excursion from camp. He served as my protector and would guard me wherever I went.
Nature's Hopscotch
Nature's hopscotch. Take it all in stride..until you misstep. First one to sink knee deep into the mud and water loses. Well, I lost...and it wasn't all bad. We all had a good laugh, and were serenaded by the squishy shoe orchestra for the next few hours...oh, and those mesmerizing views....my reason for the blunder. Time in the mountains with good company has always brought out the silliest of games. It's one of my favorite things. Your brain stops stressing and your inner child comes out. Language and cultural differences fade away. You skip rocks, you see who can last longer in a frigid lake, you see who has the best pterodactyl call, you race dried out llama poo down a stream, you scan to be the first one to spot a condor...and you laugh...you connect...with yourself, the land and others. There really isn't a better feeling!
Camp Huayhuash Sunrise
A beautiful sunrise in the community of Huayhuash. At most camps and communities dogs gather around the tents and buildings eagerly awaiting for a morsel. It's a tough life for these dogs as they aren't really seen as pets. They are protectors and assets. They often scrap for food and each day is a struggle for survival.
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Gone Fishing
Antonio using his makeshift rod trying to catch trout for our dinner below the mighty Huyahuash Range on Laguna Jahuacocha
Danilo
“That man is rich whose pleasures are the cheapest.” Henry David Thoreau
Danilo, son of Eulalio, one our team’s arrieros (horsemen) follows us dragging his simple toy and rope through his small hometown of Huayallpa nestled in the Huayhuash as his dad gives us a tour of his community.
Infectious nostalgia inundates my soul with a poignant reminder that joy so often stems from our childlike wonder. When you’re so occupied in creating your own fulfillment, you tend to view the world more positively and others with less judgment.danilokidportraittoysage of innocencechildlike wonderperuandes culturehuayallpa
Jirishanca Chico
Jirishanca Chico peeks out through the clouds. It might called "small," but there is nothing chico about this dramatic peak. Many of the famed mountains in the Huayhuash range are paired. The higher one will be called the name plus grande while it's smaller kin chico.
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Twig
This pup came up to our dining tent on the first evening as we were all eating.
He gently placed his paw on my leg, and I thought he was particularly sweet. I quickly noticed he had a 3 inch massive thorn embedded in his leg. It had become infected.
I quickly knew I had to get it out, so I got the med kit out and cleaned it up with some alcohol and went to work with my fingers trying to gently coax it out. It didn't budge and the dog was whimpering and pulled back from the pain.
I didn't give up. The dog looked at me with trusting eyes as I rubbed the thorn under the skin where it was imbedded hoping to massage it and give it a bit of room to loosen up. I tried again and it slowly broke free. It was out! It had lots of junk and infection attached to it, so I cleaned the wound as best I could and put ointment on it.
This dog then followed us for much of the next two weeks. The first day or two, he had a noticeable limp but then healed up and was running around again. The group fell in love with him and named him Twig due to the thorn that was stuck in his left initially.
These dogs are incredibly resilient. They trek through the highest peaks in the Andes fending for themselves, sleeping outside and hoping to be fed by passing groups or locals. You fall for these creatures as they are super sweet, but at the end of the day, they are best left to the care and struggle to the mountains. Each day they roam and cover incredible distances. I've been told several times now, I should pitch their story to a documentary crew.
Earth Oven Covering
Aniseto and Eulalio work quickly to cover the earth oven or Huatia with plastic tarps. The huatia is constructed by building a conical oven using stones with a hole at the bottom for room to put firewood. Once the rocks are placed, firewood is inserted and lit. It takes an hour or so to superheat the rocks. Once superheated, the rock dome is knocked down and the food is placed directly on the rocks to cook. It's then covered with straw and herbs to retain moisture and flavor. Lastly, it's covered with tarps to lock it all in. After 45 minutes or so, the food is all cooked, and you peel off all the layers to enjoy this amazing meal!
huatiahuayhuashcutartamboearth ovenportraitcookingtraditioanl cookingsmokefiremountainsandes cultureandes
Into the V
Carhuaccocha Descent
Kit and Cathy descending into camp at the stunning Laguna Carhuaccocha.
Morning Crossings
Abel's Office
Lost
Silhouetted Miguel stands above the valley keeping an eye on his horses and burros. As an Arriero (Horsemen), these animals are paramount to his livelihood. Unfortunately, this night we lost 3 burros who roamed a bit too far. In the early morning. Miguel and his brother Hilario scoured the mountains looking for them to no avail. They continued on with certain preoccupied despondent countenances. Two days later after we completed our circuit, Miguel and Hilario would return to the area to continue the search on their way home to Huayallpa. They were hoping the burros decided to return to familiar pastures on their own but weren't optimistic. After all, these animals are their lifeblood and furthermore companions and integral part of survival in such a rugged milieu. I won't know if they found them until I return because they don't have internet.
This is life in the Andes. We tend to romanticize it with odes to a simpler way of being and a truer connection to the land (which is in large part true), but we often overlook how physically demanding and often isolating and uncomfortable life can be here trying to make ends meet and find admirable work. So while this photo was and still is beautiful to me, it holds more power. It holds a modicum of melancholy. Miguel's shadow reflects the trials and tribulations, and also the painstaking beauty found in the Andes.
Perfectly Framed
Last Glow
The last glow of the sun glances across the peaks in the Huayhuash as it sets behind the horizon.
Yerupaja Blanket
Yerupaja, the 2nd highest mountain in Peru shrouded in a beautiful blanket of clouds and snow. These fleeting windows make for dramatic and humbling moments.
Guardian of Popca
A chicken patrols a stone wall making his rounds as if he's guarding the community of Popca.
