Where to start?!  Returned to Huaraz yesterday after completing the Santa Cruz trek in three days, two nights, without a guide, or pack animals – Just me, Manja, and our heavy packs!  After a good nights sleep and a morning spent in hot springs and natural steam caves I am feeling just a little better – though I am still pretty exhausted and bruised (my knees and hips!!)

 We ‘trekked’ something like 38 miles, with quite a bit of elevation gain, in basically a day and half – after 4++ hours of public transportation we arrived at the trail around noon on the first day and finished just after 1pm on the third! 

Probably the most difficult thing I have accomplished in my life, the trek completely exhausted my body, but left me feeling so incredibly alive and accomplished!  I am incredibly excited to continue ‘trekking,’ especially when I get home – Mount Baker this summer…..

Like always I am short on time (applying for internships and job searching!) so won’t go into much detail – I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves but if your interested (aqui) is a detailed description of the hike.  

Climbing at altitude is always difficult, especially with a pack, and in the snow!  While, I don’t think I beat my personal elevation record, the pass at approx. 15,600 feet was pretty high and you could definitely feel it on the climb up; it’s amazing how difficult it is to just breathe!

The bark of my favorite Peruvian trees - Quenual trees - They are gorgeous and the forests of them incredible!

Mud....lots and lots of mud.....trail erosion was really terrible in parts! 

 More pictures soon.....!  My time in Huaraz is getting shorter and shorter and there is way too much to do!  Including planning my last two weeks of traveling in Peru with a friend from the states!....too much to see and do and never enough time!

Pictures posted.....

Santa Cruz Trek!