5/12/2013.  The second day of our hike was the most physically demanding as we headed up to Warmiwanuska or Dead Woman’s Pass at 13,800 feet.  But we started with breakfast in our dining tent and then a few minutes to meet and get to know our porters.  The porters range in age from 18 to 62 years and as you can see from the photo, are not large people.  Their 50 pound loads include our personal gear and tents; the dining tent, tables and chairs; the cooking tent with cooking gear and food for 4 days for all of us; two toilet tents; and what little personal gear they may bring. 

 

Then we headed upward.

Along the trail there are a few places where locals cater to hikers.  These three women sold drinks and snacks. 

On this day we walked through jungle and up to cloud forest. 

 

Not trick photos – the Trail is every bit as steep as it looks.  In places I would only take a few steps then stop and take a couple of deep breaths.

 

 

 

 

Looking up toward our goal:  Dead Woman’s Pass.  It is so named because it was thought that the rock formation at the top resembled a reclining woman.

By the time we got to the top, clouds had rolled in and it began pouring rain.  That made the 2000 foot decent to our camp at Pacaymayu a bit treacherous.