Peru

This year 12 students and 3 advisors from the Post embarked on a trip to trek and climb amongst the Andes Mountains in Peru. We spent three weeks, based out of Huaraz, trekking along the Cordillera Huayhuash and climbing Nevado Pisco in the Cordillera Blanca. We spent the first couple of days exploring town and going on day hikes to properly acclimate to Huaraz which is a small city at 10,000 feet. We then set off for the most glorious ten days I may have ever had. Each day we hiked over a pass and found ourselves deeper in the mountains. We didn't venture to these depths alone though... Along with us came our wonderful guide, Rodolfo, our chef Bernardo, his assistant chefs Marco and Angel, 4 donkey drivers, 22 donkeys and a horse. Each day after our 4-6 hour hike we'd arrive in camp with our tents already set up and warm tea waiting for us. What a luxury! After completing our trek we traveled to the base of the 18,880 foot mountain; Nevado Pisco. We spent two days hiking into the our final camp. On summit day we awoke at 1:00am to spend the next six hours climbing on snow, through crevasse fields to reach the summit at sunrise. This trip was immensely rewarding, not just for the outdoor experience we all gained from it, but for the connections we made with Rodolfo and his staff. We are all eager to go back!