Cordillera Huayhuash

Trek Day 9 -- Cuyoc and "Pedro's Canaleta": Today was the big day of the trek -- first, a climb up and over the Punta Cuyoc, the highest pass on our trek at 16,500'. Second, a steep descent to the valley below, then a bonus pass crossing over yet another, unnamed, 16,500' pass. Third, an exciting, but completely unplanned, "this was not in the trek brochure!" descent down a steep and narrow canyon to the safety of the quebrada. Without question the longest, most difficult, but overall best day of the trek.

Our camp at 15,100' below the Nevados Puscanturpa. We awoke to a beautiful, cloudless and cold morning, with frost on our tent flys.

Dana on the climb up to Cuyoc, with the Puscanturpa massif behind her.

The small flat part just below the last steep climb to the pass. We steered clear of the dangerous area near the edge of the cliffs. A French trek group coming through a few days later was not as cautious as us (thank you, Val) and saw one member of its group break both of his legs in a rock avalanche.

Jill, Melkie (in shade), Val, Dana and John relaxing at the top of Cuyoc pass

Looking back towards the glaciated peaks of the Cordillera Raura