Trek Across Salkantay Pass

After Cuzco, our group drove to the beginning of our 7-day trek. We spent anywhere from 2 1/2 to 7 hours hiking each day, and reached 15,300 feet above sea level. I think I understand a small part of what pioneers must feel, except that I had a warm bed and good food to eat each night!

A pretty lake we hiked to as an acclimatization hike:




















At the top of the pass:
















At high places, the Peruvians leave little piles of rocks as offerings to the gods. I decided to leave my own little offering:
















Things were a little greener (and warmer) once we got down from altitude and into the cloud forest: