Close to Tupatupa Pass (4360m)
Today was a great day! It started with clear sky and I had an excellent early morning photo session from 4640m altitude! I was surrounded by impressive mountains! The night was very cold with -5 degrees, but as soon as the sun is out it gets comfortably warm! Yesterday evening I had my first headache, but after drinking my last tea with coca leaves I slept deeply and in the morning I was very fine! So my tactic with respect to acclimatization worked very well with the following sleeping altitudes: 50m, 3100m, 3100m, 3700m, 4250m, 4400m, 4640m and tonight 4250m. I think now I am getting stronger as the acclimatization is partly achieved! I dont know the theory though after how many days the body has produced all the red blood cells.
Today started with a long descent to 3850m and I felt as being in New Zealand with some tussock grass! Then there were lots of animals: horses, cows, pigs and sheep! Finally I met even some farmers at a bigger beautiful lake! They were all extremely friendly, but communication is nearly not possible as I dont speak Spanish! But they understood that I walk solo around Alpamayo! Sometimes they show me the right path! The older ladies wear very colorful clothes! This seems to be the traditionell dress in Peru! A little boy wanted to sell one of his sheep to me, but what shall I do with it! I would rather need a donkey and maybe in the next village I might hire one!
Some passages today were without path and at times very muddy! Once I found myself knee-deep in a hole of mud! But here it doesnt matter! Finally I will throw away some of my equipment! My trousers are already totally torn!
Finally I was very exhausted and didn't make it to the pass Tupatupa (4360m). Instead I camp 100m below at a very little lake! No drinking water though as I have just seen a cow stepping into the water! So I am left with only 1l of tea and I am still dehydrated! Hiking uphill in the sun is extremely tough and I am close to my physical limit! But very often I am rewarded by breathtaking views and beautiful scenery!
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