llama lore

30 miles, more than 5,000 feet of elevation gain, and a maximum altitude of 15,583 feet – The Santa Cruz Trek was a calf-burning, hyperventilating, beautifully rewarding experience. After a week in Caraz for my second Peace Corps health training, and reuniting with fellow volunteers, I set off on the 3-day backpacking trek with two buddies. The trail started in Vaquería, about a 3-hour drive from Yungay (only 20 minutes from my site). It ended in Cashapampa, a 1-hour drive…

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During training, most of the volunteers were hoping to get placed in Ancash. There were 5 potential regions – Ancash, Junín, La Libertad, Cajamarca, Amazonas – and we didn’t get to choose. Word (and photos) got around that Ancash was full of snow-capped mountains (called ‘nevados), turquoise glacier lakes (called ‘lagunas’), and hikes to your heart’s desire. The rumors were not wrong. In the 4 months I’ve been here in Ancash (to the day), I’ve experienced a number of breath-taking sights that…

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