High in the Peruvian Andes

Looking at a rough map, I figure I can drive over Portachuelo pass (4767m), through a couple of small towns on the Eastern side of the Andes, and back over Punta Olimpica (4890m), to be back in the thick of it before lunch. The plan works well, though it takes an entire day of driving on horrendous rocky roads, with no directions or signs to help me along. Just before dusk I drive through a heavy snow storm on Punta Olimpica, then drop steeply into the valley where I find a great campsite away from the road.

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Jeep and Huascarán (6768m), Peru's tallest mountain

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Mountain views

The following morning I hike for six hours up to Punta Yanayacu (4850m), just to enjoy the view, before coming back down and camping another night in the middle of nowhere.

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The view from Punta Yanayacu

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My campsites are getting more beautiful by the day

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The little valley I called home for a couple of days

-Dan

2 Responses

  1. Vizoo says:

    Hi Dan,

    My route is similar to yours and I will leave next June from Miami. Don’t know for how long I will be on the road (an aparently neither do you) :)

    You’ve asked for places to go… I say to you, after reaching the extreme south, get into Brazil, if you reach Florianopolis and want to give an end to the expedition, my brother can help you sell the J. If you keep going north to Rio de Janeiro, I can give you shelter, tag along if you want to continue or if you want to pause the trip, I can offer you a space in my warehouse to leave the J parked and come back later to continue.

    Check my route at http://www.joa150.com.br/americas2011/main/main.html

    and some of the routes I’ve made at http://www.joa150.com.br/trips

    I’ll try to follow this site, but if you want to make sure we will be in touch, send me an email at so I can add you to my contact list.

    Regards and godspeed.

    Renato

    • Dan says:

      Awesome, awesome trip you have planned and it looks like you’ve been on some big ones in the past too !
      I’m certain we’ll be in touch!
      -Dan

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