Friday, 26 June 2015

The Hills Are Alive...

To help us prepare for hiking the challenging Salkantay Pass the following day, Manolo and Pepe took the group out for a half day hike to a glacial lake in the mountains.

Part way up, we were joined by our new local friends who we had met at the lodge the evening prior. Wearing sandals and carrying full sacs of hats and mittens and other tourist trinkets, they breezed up the mountain-side while playing their recorders.  So much faster than us, they reclined on the hillside for likely a long nap while they waited for the rest of us to catch up.


The hike up to the lake was surprisingly enjoyable - a nice workout without being too onerous.  And the surroundings made Beth want to belt out the songs from the Sound of Music for the full three hours, which thankfully she kept to herself.


The glacial lake was stunning and the surroundings quiet.  We were likely the only visitors who made it there that day.  Overwhelmed by its beauty, we spoke in hushed tones as we snapped photographs and took it all in.


The hike down was surprisingly more tricky, with many people slipping in parts because of the dusty terrain.   Nonetheless, we all made it back unscathed and in good spirits.  And to celebrate, many of us headed outside to take in the Salkantay mountain view from the warmth of the bubbling hot tub.


  





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