Adventures in Peru - Nevado trip Recon Soliman

Since our failed summit attempt Nevado Soliman in November last year, my friends and I talked again, try my climbing. We have set some tentative dates, but did not work for one reason or another. As I live at the foot of the mountain, the friends of Lima was mine asked me to keep track on it and send their images via ferrata. This week I finally had time to hike the mountain to see what the track looks like a and somePhotos.

Monday, 'I made plans for a backpacking trip in three days, so the morning of Tuesday. I invited my friend Max to go with me, but in the last minute had to turn back because of work. I wanted to start hiking Cotahuasi, which is 8,800 meters, it would be a gain of about 8,000 meters to do. But when I realized that Sanchez would be the weekly bus from Lima to Cotahuasi Tuesday morning at about 8:30, I decided that instead of Visca Grande. Large bowel is aJunction where the old foot-track and animals along the road between current and Cotahuasi Chuquibamba and is the starting point for climbing Soliman normal for the bus trip. This will also save me an estimated eight to nine hours of walking and 6,526 meters in altitude. For a cost of five soles ($ 1.60), it seemed useful

The bus finally left at 9:00 Cotahuasi clock, and fortunately it was not full of passengers Lima, I was able to get a seat. 10:45I greeted the bus when I flat on the sand at 15,328 feet (4,672 m), stand. A few minutes later, a bit 'higher up, looking south-east I could see two of the summit of Nevado Coropuna and looking south, north peak Soliman. Soliman for the recommended route is to follow a path west of the river Soro, and then follow the river to its source, which is a glacier at Soliman. I had wandered over the border and the river, is broken on the road last November, when my cardown, and he remembered a couple of hours. I could not see no sense in so far as they go west, where Soliman was south of me. I did a little investigation a few days before my trip to Cotahuasi, and it seemed possible to travel cross-country ski directly Soliman.

The whole plateau is where volcanic sand with stones and rocks scattered, with some very resistant vegetation. It is not flat, there are many hills and ravines, gorges and that may very occasionaldeep. But from my previous education, I have no problems that would prevent the cross-country route. The sand is rather coarse and firm, and is easily reached on foot soft, sandy beach in contrast to normal. I started in a south-westerly light, knowing that there is a low mountain range between me and Soliman, I wanted to go west. The wind was a little 'chilly, but with a fast-paced and above all gentle slope in the blazing sun, made it perfect for hikingConditions.

Around 1:30, I was just above a flat bottom, where I had the pleasure of seeing five vicuna grazing. They were very shy and even though I tried to skirt around in front of them, I could not get near them for a good image. I had a wonderful view of Soliman, had a saddle on the ridge I go there. The vicuna actually took me to run around the right end of the bar and on the east side Soliman. At the top of the ridge, Iwas given a farewell view of the road to Cotahuasi and distant mountains on the other side of the gorge, and Nevado Firura, my next climbing objective. before me was a semicircle of Soliman summit, the glacier is located in the bowl. There was a ridge between us, but finally after 3 hours and 45 minutes I was finally on a track. It was only a faint animal trail but it was easy to see and was led around the hill, so I decided to follow him.

At 3:05, I could seeSoro's crossing of the river in front of me, and the junction with the road (near the normal range) away to the west of me was so happy with my cross-country route. I'm sure has saved me a couple of hours and it was an easy walk. After the low and tight across the river, I began the ascent towards the ridge on the right side of the river to the glacier. Until now I could see going to have me go all the way to the glacier, the road to the photos I wanted to get thatcreates a new plan to slip into my head. I remembered reading that one of the three peaks of Soliman had not reported to reach the summit. I thought it would peak on the right side, which is the lowest of three. Mean peak is the true summit, which is separated from the north by a sharp point, but relatively short ridge. The normal route climbs to the ridge between two peaks.

The peak on the right side, the west summit, seemed largely devoid of snow on the north side, where I was, is,so I decided if it was scalable. I had not planned to climb the mountain so naturally I did not have my ice ax, crampons, or even my thick gloves. I could see two possible paths, the path with no snow in the north, and another from the east, starting above the glacier. E 'was partly hidden by a minor peak, but what I could see he was covered with snow. But it was not as steep as the Northern Route, so I decided that I should at least check in the morning and see whatseemed. But the important thing now was to camp before dark. It was now 5:30 and the sun was behind a ridge, and 17 711 feet, it was cold in a hurry. The Sun has a nice sheen on top of the ridge east, north to the summit, which was, of course, my ideas for the future path full of experience.

Of more immediate concern, however, was a fact that I had in the early afternoon to realize that I forgot to bring my sticks had. E 'Walking was not a big deal without them, but also twice the tent poles, like mine! Of course there was a stick or branch into view it was after I got off the bus at about 15,000 feet. I was thinking of using my tent as a bivy knew, but the inside was covered with frost in the morning, which was therefore not an attractive option. The only thing I had were stones of all sizes and types - including those stacked boulders and large flat. I decided that a stone was the best option, andAs soon as a suitable place at the end of a narrow flat area of sand. I set up the tent was small and unilateral, but it worked.

Many do not want cold hands in the morning I slept until after the sun began to melt the frost in my tent, and then after breakfast was a beginning of a mountain-clock at 8:00. It 'was a beautiful morning, and was warming up quickly, particularly with the climbing begins in earnest before. Another minor problem was that I had brought my sunglasses, I never wearthem while hiking, and I had not foreseen in the snow. Fortunately, there was a ridge on the right side of the glacier, with only a few patches of snow on it. He did make it difficult for the wonderful view from my left to admire even if, as I climbed the glacier. After seeing the photos section to my friends, I checked the top of the snow-covered road east to west. It was really all about snow, and it was not too steep, but with the Penitentes (sharp edges fragile snow) and notSunglasses, was not in question.

I went back to the north of the most direct route, which was a steep scree gully, and sought the best way up. It seemed to be the safest way to get around the left side of the rock slide, which seemed to most of the way to go to the base of the tip. While the vision of the track, I rested a bit 'and eating a snack at 18 610 feet. At 10:34 hours, I began to use the rubble and tried to find the biggest and most solid rock to hold the foot and hand. E 'was not too hard, but I was not sure down the same way. But apart from the center of the slide, you are free of rocks and it looked like it would be a simple slide.

Just before the narrowest point of the slide, I was tempted to leave the rubble and climb a wall of 10 meters of rock. However, I could not see what the top so decided to switch and continue along the slide. When I took it I was glad I had climbed the rocks as evidence ofand that their collapse would have a ski jump, was having a very hard landing. So far, I have the true summit west, behind a peak value lower, if it was hidden underneath. I was disappointed to see that this was more or less snow in the crevices and rocks. Even without snow, I'm sure it would be difficult and climbing, as I was able to go it alone, especially without climbing equipment. After reviewing theView over the ridge to the south, I left my backpack and walked as much as I probably was. My GPS showed 19 267 feet, and I was probably a few hundred meters below the summit.

The views were great, though, I had a good look at the northern tip and the true summit, which is 19 990 meters. It 'was very clear that the attempt to reach the summit from the ridge where it was not an option, at least for me. Even the rocks overlooking the south side seemed much moredifficult than it was at the base of the glacier. That leaves the usual way to a canyon that not a lot of snow, making it difficult to climb.

At 12:30 I was sliding down the slide past the pin, head held high like a clock, which proved to be a very simple and fast down. An hour and 15 minutes later I was ready to pack up my camp and go home. I have a little more reluctantly milky water from the river Soro, when I crossed. There have been somenice flat spots on the way back to Visca Grande, but I knew that there was no water, until a few hours there. At 4:30 I was looking into the bowl, where I saw the day before the vicuna, which was where I had thought about camping. It was too early to stop, so I continued, after a similar cross-country course yesterday.

I saw the vicuna again, but from further away than before. Around 6:00 I found a few clockfrom flat places, the fields have done well, but if not, were not on the rocks that I got my tent, without the front seat. I was close enough to Visca Grande, I am still not decided, there was also a rock shelter used there as the shepherds saw blade. I arrived just before dark, only to discover that it had for some reason, stacked full of big rocks. However, there was a rock along the road that was suitable to use, so I set up my tent, but I have a good sleep,decided on the spot "only" 15 328 meters.

I probably should Cotahuasi a ride in a truck that has passed, but I wanted to go back to the old system and see if was suitable for mountain biking. Find this story in the next report.

Adventures In The West - Pacific Crest Trail Through Hike

How do you put a walk of five months to a travel report from a few pages? Most of my journal entries a day is about one page each. This is the main reason to avoid that struck me so long, it has to write - it seemed an enormous task. So I mainly hit a few highlights and share some thoughts and feelings.

Why would anyone be five months on foot from Mexico to Canada? Most thru-hikers get the matter over and over again. It 's like a mountain climber to ask whyThey climb the mountains. For me it started when I was active in a particular group of my church in Manhattan Beach, a suburb of Los Angeles. Jason, one of the participants began, leading monthly hikes for the group, usually in the Angeles National Forest San Gabriel Mountains, north of Los Angeles. I've been mountain biking, inline skating, rock climbing, and enjoyed the mountains and other activities, was a regular migration as well. This was theto move the start of my love. Jason has also organized several trips, camping and backpacking, including the Grand Canyon. I grew up camp, but had never done a backpack. A journey, and I was dependent.

On several tours in the Angeles National Forest, we would have signed for, and walk on part of the Pacific Crest Trail to see. When I heard that from Mexico to Canada, I thought it was some fun, one day it will. In later years, IAdventure Racing Club and writing activities progressed into the open, the longer, harder and more often. In the summer of 2002 I went to Peru for a two-week mission trip travel. That turned into a work period of three years the following year. In 2005, knowing that my office was in January 2006, I started wanting to do the PCT thru-hike. By the time all came together, no job, no mortgage or other expenses, and some money in the bank through the sale of my house when I went to Peru.

I began myExcursion on April 28 near the border with Mexico. I tried and I finished in four months I had already bought my ticket back in Peru, based on this schedule. The first week went well, and then I got blisters. I was faster than most tours, so I spent a lot of people did not spend much time with them and not make friends with other hikers. After two weeks I've had a couple of days to take some time to heal blisters. I also realized that I needed to slow downdown and spend time with other hikers, if I wanted to make friends who was one of my goals for the walk. After leaving Big Bear, California, I'm slow and began hiking with four other people. Two of them were section hiking and had to quit because of an injury, but I went with Go Big, the other, most of the road to the border of Oregon.

The desert areas of Southern California were hard, I told myself then that I never wanted to walk again. We had to be constantly aware of whereour source of water would follow, and many times has run three fifty-seven liters of water. And yet they had their beauty, not always, and provide bonding experiences. They were also broken with the snow-capped mountains and beautiful trees. The stations of the city have been frequent and has given us time to relax with other hikers as well.

Shortly after we started the High Sierra, we met and Swiss Miss Pang. I walked with them for the rest of the trip to Canada. Along the way, stepdifferent amounts of time with other hikers as well. A group of 12 of us stayed together Yosemite - The Dirty Dozen! Half of us were from the United States and half from other countries, it was a very international. Each of us has strengths and weaknesses, and we learned to work together as a team, and help and depend on each other. My biggest fear before starting the hike was the rapid flow passage, frozen rivers. It proved to be not as bad as I expected. We hadCall from a neighbor and some fighting, but the cooperation has been incredible, and we did it together.

We entered the Sierra Nevada on June 11 in a year of very heavy snow so we spent about a week walking in the snow, sometimes accessible only under the snow in the evening at the camp. I had very little experience sailing excursions in the deep snow and no experience, if the road was covered with snow, most of the day. Usually you have with map and compass, but we have to use a GPS to locate some of the tracksAble to confirm, and that was the right fit a couple of times. I was climbing on top of the Sierras, but soon came out from the back of my package before I ever use them. One thing I do not have to worry about is water. We just take one or two liters of tainted water. Often drunk directly from springs and streams of melting snow, without having to treat water.

We brought ice picks, but after a few passes before they were mostly used forDigging cat holes. The cups were only one of the biggest problems, along with the post-holing in soft snow in the afternoon. Most use trail running shoes, carried out with the exception of the Europeans, the hiking shoes. We had wet feet all the way through the Sierras of snow and fords, and much of Washington from rain and snow, but surprisingly it was not really a problem. We are tired of snow and the need always looking for directions. I would likelike to go back and hike the John Muir Trail (most of which is the same as the PCT) in the fall when you actually go on the road.

California is when you know how long you walk all the way, it took three months and reached one week after Oregon, but I never tired of landscape constantly changing and always beautiful. Mount Shasta on our numerous forest fires caused Hazy skies, beautiful sunsets, and had closed the routes and detours. For the last month we were not sure weWould be able to finish the road in Manning Park. We had a section on fires in Oregon by Skip, but the last stretch before the Canadian border once again just before you get there. Unlike some in front of us, we could stop at the official end point, and get our pictures to the border monument. This is a Thru-Hiker's time "summit", as when a climber reaches the summit of the mountain.

Oregon and Washington had lasted only three weeks and four weeksThen it's over, with the exception of the very emotional goodbye. Unlike the climber to even get down the mountain after the summit, the walk on an emotional high you ended up with nowhere to go, do not get off to relax. We spent a couple of days there, do not want to leave and go home. It 'hard to overcome the feeling of watching the landmarks at the top of the mountain down on the flight back to Los Angeles, five months go fast in reverse in a few hours to describe! And then there was trying to goback to "normal" life, if our primary concern has been for so long just to walk, eat and sleep. Now we were at home, at least our bodies are, but our thoughts always wander back to the track.

Many people have commented on how "The Journey of Life." I understand what they mean, but I have a problem with it. It is a common disorder that affects many long-distance thru-hikers. I have the disease, and there is no cure. It 's only to a certain extent, relieved by a further longHike. When and where, I do not know, but I'm sure going to happen. It is 11 months since I finished the tour and I still have to try some of the thousands of photos, or just someone slide show, and every time I wish I could pack up my backpack and head back to the path. Just write this and think of me for the emotions and the desire to have caused to life "than" on track. Of course, as the most difficult but rewarding experience, to forget easilyhard times and remember only the good.

From the Mexican border to Manning Park, British Columbia, Canada, took 151 days. It was an experience I will never forget. God has shown me his faithfulness and provision at every step of the road. Friendships are made for the trip very special experience shared, joys, dangers and difficulties of the road to deep and lasting ties established. I could not walk without the help of many that I have spent much time have concluded with hiking.Others have a wealth of experience and made it a joy even in difficult times. I thank God first, and then everyone was going to do the walk as a wonderful experience.

If you like a photo album of the trip can be seen, there is a post-Summit below, click on the link below:

http://www.summitpost.org/album/288745/Pacific-Crest-Trail.html