Huaraz

Huaraz is really stunning. The Cordillera Blanca towers 12,000 feet over the surrounding valley with the massive Neviado Huasceran anchoring the range at its center. To the north and south, jagged peaks extend like a spine covered with flutings, glaciers and shear rock faces. I arrived in Huaraz after an 8 hour all night bus ride from Lima. Of course I got a seat behind one with a box underneath it, therefore no leg room. Despite the vast distances that separate people and cultures the world is actually rather small. On the bus ride I met a dude what was, until recently, living and working at the lab in Los Alamos, NM. He was coming to Huaraz to meet some college friends and do some climbing and treking. We all agreed to hike the Ishinca Valley and atempt Urus, Ishinca and perhaps Tocllaraju over the next several days. I am excited to get in the mountains. After a day in Lima, my lungs need some pure mountain air to recouperate from the extensive air pollution. I can say that after hours of riding around white-nuckled in a taxi that I would be happy to never leave the Lima airport again. I had to leave my friend Austin in Lima, but I am fortunate to continue on in Peru and see some more of the Andies. Gracias Austin! para viahar in Cusco y lima.

Ceviche

Ceviche is a national dish which consists of raw seafood bits marrinated in a spicey lime juice. This is our last meal in Cusco... A local American that now lives and works in Peru and Brazil as a peraglider showed us this off the beaten path resteraunt with the best ceviche. Austin had a flight with Richard earlier in the day. They had hoped to make it all the way to Cusco and land in the Ruins (which was about 40km away) but the absence of strong thermas allowed only a circular flight down the valley. We have been told that Lima has the best ceviche in the world. Tomorrow we are leaveing for Lima and may test this claim. At this time Austin will return to the US, and I hope to meet some climbers in Huaraz to do some routes.
I may miss the lazy days here in Cusco, but I am excited to see the Cordillera Blanca on Wendsday and get some air under my feet. I hope to be on a peak by Saturday. Between now an then I will travel to Huaraz, aquire some food, gear, and fuel and hike to Base camp in the range.