Peru - Climb to Lake Chirrup

At "base camp", 3800m

Halfway up the trail

At 4450 meters, Lake Chirrup. It´s supposed to be a beautiful blue when the sun is out, which it wasn´t.

The general landscape above the tree line.

Phil scrambling. Not bad for someone who suffers from vertigo.

Hi all

This blog is posted in Huaraz, about 1 hour by plane, north of Lima. We are in the Cordillera Blanca, a beautiful part of the Andes with many snow-covered peaks. The highest we can see from here is almost 6800m.

Yesterday, we climbed to 4450 meters after taking a taxi to about 3800m. Most of the way it was hiking up a steep trail. But on a couple of occasions we had to scramble and hold on to a rope to make it to the next section of the trail. Above you see several photos, including friend Phil hanging onto the rope for dear life. Our guides were very helpful. We would not have made it without them, especially since my experience in rock climbing amounts to one visit to a climbing wall in Amsterdam, when my daughter held on the safety line about 8 years ago.

This was one of the tougher hikes-climbs I have done; this was also due to the fact that I had not really taken time to adjust to the altitude.

Anyway, it gives you an idea of the area around Huaraz.

Tomorrow, we are returning to Lima. Stay tuned for more posts.....

Birthday March 14, 2009

 

Here are some pictures of my b/d dinner with old friends.   I actually made cheese fondue, but on the pictures you see us sampling various kinds of Dutch gin (jenever) and the two cakes that the ladies had made for the occasion, one by Edda and one by Insoon.

For those not familiar with the people present: on the left of the table are Insoon and Jerry, on the right Edda and Ash and at the far end, you see Willem.  

Bols and Bokma, the brands of choice for Duth gin.

 

The gin is starting to have its effect…..

 

Two birthday cakes!  And a few candles too.

Brooke and Lucy, neighbors' babies

Hi everyone:

Although not a travel log, I thought you might be interested in seeing this little domestic scene. Jeannette was visiting with me at Gary Place, two days before her departure to Holland (3-6). We briefly visited my neighbor Sally to admire her new twins, two girls, Brooke and Lucy, born on Dec. 6, 2008. I had last seen them in December before I took off for Europe. The girls, now two months old, look very healthy and relaxed. I look forward to seeing them play around the house and teach them how to catch chipmunks and squirrels.

All the best from Alexandria, VA where Spring has already made a few attempts to show its face.

Henk

Snow in Alexandria

Although not a travel log per se, I thought you all (my family and friends) might enjoy a few pictures taken this morning (March 2, 2009) from and around my house in Alexandria, VA.   

The weather here never ceases to surprise.   Although relatively late in the winter season, we had a fairly good snow storm last night and this morning.   Most of the pictures were taken early when it was still snowing.  Only the one where you see my house up front was taken around mid-day when it was still cold but it had stopped snowing.

It’s always amazing to see how the bamboo that grows in the back of my house bends to the ground under the weight of the snow but does not break (I guess that’s why they used to make fishing rods out of it.)

Well, I hope you enjoy the pictures.   (I had to venture out in my Subaru; with its all-wheel drive system, I could negotiate the unploughed driveway and streets in my neighborhood w/o problems.)

All the best,

Henk

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