We took a cab to the Wilcahuain ruins, located on the slopes above and to the east of Huaraz. We found it closed, and so decided to continue upward, in the effort to get some better views of the mountains. After the cab was stopped by some trees that had been felled across the road, we continued on foot.

Thatch-roofed dwelling or storage building

Potato field and very modest dwelling

Thatch-roofed buildings

Re-thatching a roof and a potato field

Vallunaraju (left) & Shaqsha (right)

View to the south, at the end of the road
We next visited the local hot springs, the Baños Termales de Monterrey, whose waters were orange in color.

Hot springs flower

Hot springs

Hot springs, with CJ, Kathy and Britt

Kathy makes her first purchases of local textiles
Our last side trip before leaving for our hike was to Laguna Wilcacocha, high up on the west side of the valley, and providing the best views of the mountains to the east.

Laguna Wilcacocha sign

Cerro Shaqsha is seen to the east and a little south

Glaciated mountains to the east

Glaciated mountains to the east

Ranrapalca, to the east and a little north

The two peaks of Huascaran are seen to the north

Huascaran

Huascaran, with its south (right) and north (left) peaks. The south is the higher.
Laguna Wilcacocha was rich in water birds.

Andean coot

Puna ibis

Puna ibis

Ruddy duck

Ruddy duck

White-tufted grebe
Folks lived round about the lake.

A farming couple winnows grain, using wooden pitchforks
Part 3 will show our trip into Huascaran National Park and Laguna 69. Here is the link to that post:
https://believesteve.org/2015/11/22/peru-huaraz-and-the-cordillera-blanca-part-3/
Like this:
Like Loading...
Related
About Evensteven
I am a photographer and author, and live in Embudo, New Mexico, alongside the Rio Grande. I have published a book of photography and accompanying text on running the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. The first (print) edition is out of print, but a second edition is available as an iBook (eBook) through the iTunes bookstore. All Grand Canyon, river and nature lovers will enjoy my book:
The Grand: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-grand/id672492447
I have also published six additional iBooks:
1. The Salt River: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-salt-river/id12449222822.
2. Coyote Buttes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/coyote-buttes/id1271773201
3. Four Cornered, the Land: https://books.apple.com/us/book/four-cornered/id1384038899
4. Four Cornered, The Rivers: https://books.apple.com/us/book/four-cornered-book-two-the-rivers/id1402287568
5. Rio Marañon: https://books.apple.com/us/book/four-cornered-book-two-the-rivers/id1402287568
6. Rio Grande: https://books.apple.com/us/book/rio-grande-new-mexico/id1469126321
Love the photos! Those mountains are amazing
LikeLike