Gone Fishing

Antonio using his makeshift rod trying to catch trout for our dinner below the mighty Huyahuash Range on Laguna Jahuacocha

Popca Streets

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.

Hillside Sheep Herding

A-Frame

A Frame. A Views.

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.

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.

Carhuaccocha Descent

Kit and Cathy descending into camp at the stunning Laguna Carhuaccocha.

Morning Crossings

3 Lagunas Mirador Panorama

Meteor Sky

Abel's Office

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.

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!

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.

Meandering

Meandering streams . Grand dreams. A perfect milieu to blow off a little steam. Huayhuash, Peru.

Jauacocha Splendor

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 :).

Sarapo Sunset

Beautiful sunset overlooking the valley beneath the Huayahush. This valley was where base camp for the book and movie Touching The Void was filmed.

Great Egret

A great Egret takes flight in the thin air of Laguna Conococha

Santa Rosa

The stunning Huayhuash range as seen from Santa Rosa pass at roughly 17,000 feet.

Treacherous

Tio at the young age of 73 leads the way with Caballo Blanco down the treacherous route in the Huayhuash. Incredible human. Incredible animal. Incredible bond and companionship.