June 2001 

Trek Day 1  -- Huaraz - Chiquian:  We left Huaraz early in the morning, this time on a smaller bus headed for Chiquian.  The drive was beautiful up and out of the Callejon de Huaylas, along the Rio Santo to its headwaters in the Lago Conococha.  Along the way, we had incredible views of the southern Cordillera Blanca.  Unfortunately, the Huayhuash range was entirely clouded in, so we could not see our destination.  From the high pass near Conococha (near 14,000'), we turned off onto a dirt road and plunged over 4,000' feet down through green terraced mountainsides, finally reaching Chiquian.

On the bus ride to Chiquian, having picked up a few local hitchhikers

Distant view of the Cordillera Blanca from the high pass south of Huaraz

Pongos (5,680m) and the Rio Santo seen from the highway near Recuay

View of more peaks of the Blanca, seen from the road junction near Lago Conococha

Descending on the treacherous dirt road into the terraced farmlands around Chiquian

Election slogans compete for attention on the walls of various buildings in Chiquian

Local Resident in Chiquian

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