Coordillera Blanca

Cordillera Blanca -

After the bus ride and a night at a family inn, it was off to youngay, a small town below the highest peak in the Andes (Huascaran) at 6768 meters (22,000 ft) and the second highest peak Huandoy that plays the title role in the movie Touching the Void.

Llanganuco Lodge is an Engishman´s dream that is still in progress. It´s a beautiful spot directly underneath the two highest peaks and on a small plateau that sits just around the corner from a Yosemite like valley of grinded granite. The cliffs tower there higher than El Capitan and valley floor is covered by two lakes. When we arrive, Seth, our visian quest, peyote loving, orthopedic massage specialist from Alaska is filling in for the Englishman who has taken a trip home. Seth, fills in nicely as the improptu resident manager and takes care of everything pretty well, including filling us in on all his unusual exploits and dire experiences. The kids learned quit a bit about an alternative reality. Seth did work hard to take us out as a tour guide through out the area, from the magnificent valley, to the mountain glacier. The glacier was a hard ship as we forded a rushing stream, in which Seth saved the day by carrying Ava across and helping everyone else. All in his wool covered feet and open sandals.

The mornings were beautiful, with no one else at the lodge, and no other whiteys except for Seth. By early afternoon the clouds would cover the snow capped peaks and the clouds would rise from the valley to over take us in fog. The lake that was close to the lodge was frequented by local women and children who were moving there sheep and cow heards in the afternoon after working in the feilds during the earlier part of the day. Their colorful shawls and skirts accented by the local top hat pr derby hat. The older women would walk spinning wool with their spindles and the younger ones would corall the sheep with dogs. The men worked on the farm all day using hand tools and animal pulled wood plows, planting corn, wheat, potatoes, cabbage, lettuce and broccoli.

The nights were started off with shots of Pisco and the chef cooked up some great food with vegetable and chicken, great soups, all with tasty spices. The kids played monopoly and backhgammon, which usually ended in a fight while Seth would entertain us with his stories of mishap.

Ava got a case of insect bites that tortured her at certain parts of the day. After every shower she would spend ten minutes applying cortozone to her numerous welt. Since she was always hugging the two lodge dogs, a Rhodesian Ridgeback and Golden Lab, she paid the price.