Salkantay II

We met up once again at the main lodge for breakfast. It was eerily early, the sun was not even out yet. This was the last time we would be eating here as our next climb would take us pass Salkantay. We started to head back up as the sun started to rise. I was having a difficult time once again due to the altitude. I was making a lot of frequent stops but the views were getting much more grand and magnificent by the minute. We got to a dilapitated hut of some sort where the guys took some Adderal. I just went ahead and took one too though I didn't really feel much of the effects as well. We did reach the peak eventually, with snow capped rooftops and warm sunshine, it was a perfect day. Here, we had a nice relaxing time for some snacks and there was a cultural ceremony where we had to put some coca leaves under the rock we picked up the first day. Unfortunately, I couldn't find my rock and I had to embarrasingly get another rock on the floor which wasn't how it was meant to be. I later found out the rock I picked up was still in my bag and I had brought it all the way to Japan, it now sits on my snake plant's vase. Angel and Ramiro especially were also very happy, it was their first time out on the field again ever since the pandemic and the weather was perfect. One of our guys, Sharouz, ended up vomitting, it was pretty nasty. The rest of the way was downhill, and I started to get really into it as the altitude sickness left my body, everything started to feel much better. The hike was now very fun, things were much more beautiful. We even saw some condors. I learned that the condor and fox usually form a pair with the fox leading the condor to dead carcas and the condor opening it up for the fox while they both share their meal. The pen was being passed around again and this time, it made everything even more amazing. I stuck behind Ramiro for a bit, a dog was also walking with me. It was great! Ramiro commented at first I was behind everyone and now I'm the one leading. It felt good to be acknowledged. We reached our second check point, it was much warmer here. Comfortable, I was meditating and the dog started to rub itself on me. We had our lunch and I was just happy to laze about on the grass. The terrain has been changing so much because now we were heading into the cloud forest. Insect repellents, highly recommended but fortunately, bugs don't really bite me.

The forest gradually became thicker but the surroundings also more beautiful as lush vegetation surrounded us. Ramiro gave us the rundown on the different flowers and plants on the way. We were now in the jungle, the sun was setting and Angel, the person in charge of the other group started to go to a different route which worried Ramiro as he was saying there was no path there but we were too far away. Eventually Ramiro moved forward to tell Angel and Angel also realized this as he was looking around frantically for the path. We had to turn back and we were losing a lot of valuable time as the sun began to set. We were following Ramiro and we didn't know where he was heading, there were two ways one above and below, I didn't know what was going on in my mind to take the path below as it was surrounded by thorns but Penelope said he probably went through there so I did try to go in and it was horrible. I got pricked a bunch, my clothes got stuck while they laughed and tried to help. It was so funny and stupid because Ramiro showed up on the other side. Turns out the route above was the right one. We did get to camp as it was getting dark, the second camp was an extremely welcome one as we could have a shower and there was even wi-fi. I had an Andean hut all to my self again luckily. We took our turns for the shower and I met up with everyone at the second floor of the main building for dinner. Arash let me hit the pen again as he started to tell funny stories and make some munchies for dessert. At first, I found him annoying but turns out he's such an awesome guy. Angel was very bummed about his mistake and apologized to us but everyone wasn't bothered by it at all. I was able to appreciate the Milky Way this time around, it was much more visible than it was the first day. I spent some time looking out before retiring to bed. I was able to get some rest but still not much sleep, I had been having trouble with sleep throughout Peru.Læs mere