Onwards and upwards

5.30 Alarm call today.  Mixed reactions on the camping with reports of overnight sicknesses (not from the hospice crew), periodic and sporadic sleeping and general feeling of dizziness and light headiness.   Porridge and toast for breakfast .  We pack our gear, again not an easy task at altitude and head off at 7.30. 

Today's trek was over 7 and a half hours. We started out, up a shale pathway and a very steep climb and reached a summit of 4500m with incredible views across lake huillquicocha. 

Some massive relief after a very tough ascent and a great feeling elation and achievement marked by an excellent group photograph over the  lake.  The event was suitably marked as a magnificent condor flew overhead.

One of the downsides of reaching a summit is that you then need to climb down.  The tricky and very slippery descent was arduous in places and almost everyone had a few scares along the way.

We had a very impromptu photocall at a beautiful waterfall that dropped down over 100feet.  We also had a very close encounter with a pack shave of local sheep dogs which seemed to be over exuberant in guarding their territory.

Today's camp-site is in another local community slightly larger than the last and  as usual we are welcomed by the local woman and children trying the sell us their homemade wares comprising of hats, scarves and various knitted animals.

Dinner tonight was soup, chicken and rice followed by chocolate cake. Then lights off again at 9.30 as we have a 5.30 start and 8 hours trekking tomorrow.