Santa Cruz Trek

After my brush with exhaustion on the Laguna 69 trek I started this trek with much trepidation. I had had the extra day's rest and hoped my recovery from sickness would be sufficient. The Santa Cruz trek is a relatively short 4 day, 3 night 50km walk that starts at 3,900m and at its highest reaches 4,750m. From all my readings it is suggested it is one of South America's (if not the world's) premier hikes as it packs in stacks in such a short time. I am no expert so all I can say is it was the best hike I've ever done. Day 1 is relatively easy as you meander through villages set in lush green valleys with the surrounding hills instinctively rounded in shape contrasting to their nearby snow capped cousins with their sharp craggy rock faces. My group consisted of two Danish sisters, Anne & Ida, our guide Jesus, and finally the odds and ends man, Wheldon. Wheldon's job was interesting as he would be the last to leave in the morning as he packed everything up, loading it onto the donkeys and then zoom past us during the day so that when we would arrive at camp, in the evening, all was ready. Altitude didn't exist in Wheldon's world and fortunately for me (to a lesser extent - for this trip) it didn't for me as well. Which was good as the second day we climbed to the highest point of the hike at 4,750m at Punta Union, a change of approximately 850m from our camp the night before. It was tough going of course, the snow covered mountains had appeared with their glaciers caught between peaked ridges that leapt from the mountain faces. At the time I would have told you that I was always out of breathe, if, I hadn't always been out of breathe. But overall I was really happy, no altitude sickness and fuel left in the tank once we made it to the top. And at the top, what great views. Another turquoise lake surrounded by (yes I could repeat myself but just look at the photos). The difference compared to many of the other views was that here you could peer into the future as you could see the valley stretched out below into the vast distance, the way we would be traversing in the next few days. After a rest we started our way down for 2 hours eventually reaching camp that on this night was going to be at 4,200m.

There were times during this trip that I questioned why I bought such an expensive sleeping bag as everytime it had been cold previously I had been supplied with enough blankets to keep a possie of shorn sheep snug. Well, sleeping at 4,200m in the Cordillera Blanca answered this question. Waking warm and cosy at our usual wake at time of 6am (sleep in it seems when compared to usual) while the tent and surrounds were frozen made me think the investment was worthwhile.

The 3rd day involved a side excursion to another turquoise lake (surprised anyone?) named Lake Arbuaycocha, but this one was fed directly by a glacier that snaked from the mountain above ending at the lapping aqua blue waters (gee I am getting sick of using the word turquoise) of the lake. After this visit it was back to the main trail which we used to make our way down to sandy valley below. A long slog later alternating between the valley floor and its walls we ended up at our camp at now the relatively comfortable altitude of 3,600m.

The last day was relatively easy as we walked the final 4 hours back to the town of Cashapampa. Job done. Really happy. Great trek (nearly forgot, great job by Jesus, always there to answer our questions and cooked some really good tucker.) Also good luck to Anne who is going to Melbourne, Australia for an exchange program and Ida, who has the unenviable position of having to decide if she will be taking another year off from her studies. The last thing about these girls is they should not download and watch Netflix's Gossip Girl - it can't be good for your health!!