I can not remember the rest of the songs, and there were more than 10,000 feet from the top of the world, but it is a very good job. Finally, a dream about two years has been completed. I have it on the summit of El Misti, the volcano on the outside of Arequipa, Peru, which had called my name when I saw for the first time about two years ago. I tried to drive than a day of walking, but whythen no one and the delay Mola swurde not used to the altitude, about 15 500 feet. I still believe that this can be done as a day of hiking and is a future goal.



I had been waiting eagerly for my friends Jason and Lisa, SCARAB (Southern California Adventure Racing Buddies) members from Los Angeles, to get to here. We had been communicating by email for months as they were on a round the world trip and we wanted to get together when they came through Peru. Our schedules kept changing but at the last minute they meshed and we were able to meet a couple of times in Arequipa. I arranged the use of a Suzuki 4x4 and Jason and I made plans to climb El Misti on Saturday and Sunday. Lisa decided to relax in Arequipa so we drafted her to be our chauffeur as it is not safe to leave a vehicle at the trailhead. We did some quick shopping, and after getting lost on the way to the trailhead, we arrived safely and were ready to start hiking at 12:30 pm. We were told that it was a five hour climb to the campsite but we were hoping it would be less because that would have meant arriving at camp about the time it got dark. I also realized that we were on a different trail than the one I had attempted two years before so it was a totally new trail to me (there are three routes up to the summit).

We are well adapted to the years of my life at 8800 meters and is busylmig at altitudes over 12,000 feet of my age and Jason (relative) youth and three weeks trekking in high altitudes in Peru has done for his life in the sea in our LAfacile llowed way into the camp of 15,000 feet, where he was in three Hours and 10 minutes. We are pleased that the left had not only ssedersi before and during the chilly wind. It also has us hope that the appeal is five to seven hours to walk to the summit should be less. Teneramo inhas been formed to expect that this time as low as zero degree were so grateful to have been warmer than normal. Aided by cloud cover, has not been below 30 degrees, so we have hot notre20 degree sacks and cheap Wensel my tent.

After we implementatocampo and Jason suggested that the exploration of the path to the summit as planned departure of 5.00 clock in the morning and was not sure whether we can find in the dark. We havefound easily in the right direction and is about 20 minutes for another area that people expected, he said at the start of the summit around 2:00 clock. In the time that we return to our camp, the wind had died and felt hot, especially after NOODLE hot chicken soup with tuna, cheese and bread and tea. I have my stove can Soda, which has worked well, and after the abolition of the windshield, I think I need more air at that altitude, too. Ourre campegDonnerstag close, a Frenchman suffering from altitude is not too good, not groped to find the summit. We are still in the clouds with a view to Arequipa, as the lights and in the quarter moon lit Misti about us. 7:00 clock, we were in bags Couchages our hope deobtener a good sleep before 4:00 on the clock alarm.

After a breakfast of instant oatmeal, the sresultados on the runway at 4:45 clock, verbringentun for Projktoren, with very little difficulty in follow-up on the track. We could see the lights of other climbers, seems far beyond our means. Again, this is a nice viaggiofacile, not too much sand (in contrast to the trace of my previous attempts) and larger stones to make them interesting but also difficult to see the runway. At this time, I deeply regret my forgetting my gloves, as hastily packed for the berist, but Jason said his hand was warm and let me use her - thanks Jason!

About the time it got light, we caught up to two other groups that had started earlier but were climbing very slow. One of the guides asked if one of his team members could follow us up so Steve joined us, again a very good match as we were all climbing at the same slow steady speed, taking very short breaks every so often. We soon lost sight of those below us and never saw them again until we got back down to their camp; unfortunately they had to turn back and were not able to reach the summit. When we were about a half hour away, we could see a large group standing on the summit. They had gone up a shorter route on the backside; we met them later after they had explored the crater. We finally got some sunlight when we reached a saddle between the summit and the crater, which really felt good. We had been climbing up the dark side, away from the sun, which made it very cool but we were also treated to a great view of Misti casting a shadow over miles of landscape when the sun rose on the other side. At 8:55, after crossing a couple of small snow patches and a couple of sandy stretches, we were on the summit at 19,100 feet, four hours and 10 minutes from camp. We marveled at the huge iron cross, about 20 feet high that was up there. It was constructed in sections; each about three feet long. I couldn't have carried even one section up there. We were hoping that it had been helicoptered up so that weren't totally put to shame by the super humans it would have taken to carry all the pieces up there.

After taking a lot of pictures of the almost unreal landscape offered by the crater, black sand, light rocks and snow, and a few more of neighboring 19,925 foot Chachani, we went down to the saddle and ate a light snack. Both of us were feeling good, no altitude problems but to keep it that way we decided to forgo exploring the crater and headed back down. We didn't hire a guide for the climb but were fortunate that Marcio, my guide friend, went with us to the trailhead and pointed out the route up to us. Steve's guide explained the route back down to camp. No need to hike down, just go over to the dark gray sand slope and "ski" down that, lots of fun! We stopped at Steve's camp and left him there with his teammates who were packing up, and then continued on down.

Both of us feel good, no problem, but the amount to keep dassSo we have decided to renounce the exploration of Tel crater and fell. Not hire a guide for the dune climb, but wehad a chance, Marcio, my friend drive, went with us on the road and pointed the way for us. Steve explains the leadership of the route back on the field. No need to go, just go to dark gray sand and the inclination, "that a lot of fun! We have at Camp Steve and he left with his team, dasswurden packing, and then continue on. Avevamovons left the field in two hours , Quehabra more rapideou stopped if the many photos of the descente fun! After ahis simple breakfast (which another package of soup), which produce our food, with the exception of some "mix of the runway, which broke camp and headed down. There is no hurry, because Lisa was not planned to to 4.00 Clock. We had hoped that with the time of the summit on the Hlfteogiorno, but back on the field h 11:00 ES. After a few photos at the end of the trail, we decided to travel suciedad arretera, receiving close to the highway before The meeting Lisa and Marcio. This has given us a lot of time talking about our next adventure, after completing his trip. Of course, Chachani call our names, there are also two in 6000-meter summit of the mountains on the way Cotahuasi where I live, Coropuna at 21,075 feet to 19,985 feet and Suleiman. And then there's my plan is to week, UNON bike, all from 9000 to 16000 pie.