June 2001 

Trek Day 2 -- Quero - Mahuey:  We awoke at our campsite in Quero, ate our first trek breakfast (runny porridge with preserves), and began the steep climb up towards our first pass higher in the Quero drainage.  Before too long, we came upon the small town of Mahuey, where we stopped so Val could administer some first aid to a townsman who had been thrown from a horse and then kicked in the face.  We also met some of the local children and took their photos.  Mahuey would be the last "town" of any sort that we would see for almost two weeks until we reached Llamac on our penultimate day.  

From Mahuey we began to climb very steeply upwards into the canyon of the Quebrada Parlasa, ultimately reaching our campsite at 13,800' below some serrated "flat-iron" peaks.  At the campsite, we played with some local children and Jill and John took a side trip up the steep mountainside above our tents.  Camping at nearly 14,000', we got our first night of high altitude sleeping.

Looking down valley from above Quero (note the trail on the side of the mountain).

One of Mahuey's smaller residents.

Above Mahuey, the largest town we would see for two weeks.

Burros arrive at camp after the steep climb up the Quebrado Parlasa.

Their curiousity piqued, three local children approach our camp.

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