Overnight Hike
The hike began bright and early Saturday morning at roughly 7:30 a.m. We walked about a mile to the mules where we unloaded our sleeping bags and heavy backpacks. Then we proceeded onwards with our light backpacks up until about 10 o’ clock where we stopped for a light snack near Incan ruins. After snacking we waited for lunch. Some of the group napped and others played bananagrams or engaged in conversation. Then we had a light lunch of cheese sandwiches with onions, mushrooms and tomatoes. Then we rested for a little while and continued up the mountain generally staying together until we reached the top. We reached the campsite at about 3 in the afternoon.
Once we got to the campsite, we unloaded the mules and set up our tents. Then we relaxed by playing card games like Uno or Bridge or by playing charades. We played for a while and the games got really intense and competitive. Then we had an afternoon tea which consisted of popcorn, crackers and of course, tea that the guides provided in our food tent. After tea we played some more card games / charades and put on more layers as the sun set and the temperature plummeted rapidly. Then when it got dark a few of us stargazed and identified the Southern Cross, the Milky Way, a few planets, satellites and shooting stars. We even renamed some unidentified constellations. The sky was beautiful and it was amazing to see the stars so clearly at 12,500 feet.
Then we had dinner which was soup followed by rice and chicken. After dinner some people turned in early while others stargazed more and hung around by the campfire. Since it had been a long day everyone turned in by about 10.
The next day not many people got up to watch the sunrise. However quite a few people were up by seven and were waiting for breakfast in the food tent. When most of the group was awake we began breakfast. There was really good coffee, tea or hot chocolate followed by bread and pancakes with orange and a bit of caramel sauce on the top.
After breakfast we packed everything up and began hiking down the mountain. It warmed up quickly in the morning and we hiked at a good pace. We stopped for a snack at gorgeous ancient Incan ruins. We had oranges and Choko Sodas and rested for a little while. We continued hiking down to the place where we would stop for lunch. The group was pretty good at staying together and everyone helped each other get past fears of heights / slippery parts of the climb down.
We stopped for lunch close to 12. Our group sat in the food tent for shade and played Uno / Bananagrams until lunch was served. First we had a squash soup and then spaghetti with meat sauce. Immediately after lunch a small group went down immediately to the town and the rest of us relaxed for a while longer. When we continued down we made it to the bottom quickly without much stopping. Then we waited for the mules to bring down our bags for about half an hour and then we all walked our separate ways back to our home stays.
The hike was a good chance for us to experience many firsts – from camping at 12,500 feet to seeing the Milky Way. Everyone was safe and had a really good time. The group stuck together and showed determination and a positive attitude throughout the whole thing.
Eriche Sarvey
The hike began bright and early Saturday morning at roughly 7:30 a.m. We walked about a mile to the mules where we unloaded our sleeping bags and heavy backpacks. Then we proceeded onwards with our light backpacks up until about 10 o’ clock where we stopped for a light snack near Incan ruins. After snacking we waited for lunch. Some of the group napped and others played bananagrams or engaged in conversation. Then we had a light lunch of cheese sandwiches with onions, mushrooms and tomatoes. Then we rested for a little while and continued up the mountain generally staying together until we reached the top. We reached the campsite at about 3 in the afternoon.
Once we got to the campsite, we unloaded the mules and set up our tents. Then we relaxed by playing card games like Uno or Bridge or by playing charades. We played for a while and the games got really intense and competitive. Then we had an afternoon tea which consisted of popcorn, crackers and of course, tea that the guides provided in our food tent. After tea we played some more card games / charades and put on more layers as the sun set and the temperature plummeted rapidly. Then when it got dark a few of us stargazed and identified the Southern Cross, the Milky Way, a few planets, satellites and shooting stars. We even renamed some unidentified constellations. The sky was beautiful and it was amazing to see the stars so clearly at 12,500 feet.
Then we had dinner which was soup followed by rice and chicken. After dinner some people turned in early while others stargazed more and hung around by the campfire. Since it had been a long day everyone turned in by about 10.
The next day not many people got up to watch the sunrise. However quite a few people were up by seven and were waiting for breakfast in the food tent. When most of the group was awake we began breakfast. There was really good coffee, tea or hot chocolate followed by bread and pancakes with orange and a bit of caramel sauce on the top.
After breakfast we packed everything up and began hiking down the mountain. It warmed up quickly in the morning and we hiked at a good pace. We stopped for a snack at gorgeous ancient Incan ruins. We had oranges and Choko Sodas and rested for a little while. We continued hiking down to the place where we would stop for lunch. The group was pretty good at staying together and everyone helped each other get past fears of heights / slippery parts of the climb down.
We stopped for lunch close to 12. Our group sat in the food tent for shade and played Uno / Bananagrams until lunch was served. First we had a squash soup and then spaghetti with meat sauce. Immediately after lunch a small group went down immediately to the town and the rest of us relaxed for a while longer. When we continued down we made it to the bottom quickly without much stopping. Then we waited for the mules to bring down our bags for about half an hour and then we all walked our separate ways back to our home stays.
The hike was a good chance for us to experience many firsts – from camping at 12,500 feet to seeing the Milky Way. Everyone was safe and had a really good time. The group stuck together and showed determination and a positive attitude throughout the whole thing.
Eriche Sarvey
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