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/
Love the photos! Those mountains are amazing
LikeLike