Today ... the highest point of the Andes Trail !!
Today is the day, we will goto 4883 meter with the bike!! The night was not as cold as I expected, and I slept pretty ok ... I didn´t have to go out of bed, and that was already a good start. There was no food or water in my system anyway, so there is also nothing to get rid off. After breakfast we started at the entrance of the Parc National. In this Parc there a rare species of plant, it is called the Puya Raimundi, also called the Queen of the Andes. It is found at an altitude between 3200 and 4800 meters. It can reach up to 10 meters high. After this bilogical mambo-jambo, and taking some pictures we continued our trip to the top. The scenery was great, nice views of the mountians covered with ice. After 18 kilometers of climbing we reached the first pass, which was at an altitude of 4827 meters. Cycling went ok, no headache or shortness of air... It was tough, but I expected it to be much worse, and that I would be completely purple, gasping for oxygen, but when you take deep breaths, and take it easy it will be ok. As you all may know, I listen to my body, and take it easy ... Normally I won´t do this,
but today and especially under there circumstances I did, and I am happy that I did !! After lunch going down to 4600 meters and start climbing again, now up to 4883 meters. The top was in reach and nobody was going to stop me from making it, not even my own body! Slow but steady, meter after meter we were going up to the higest point of the trip, I was excited because I have never been at this altitude, especially going here with my bike from sea-level all the way to the top, it was a big chalange, and I was about to make it !! Yiehaaa !! And there it was, the top ...
Mmmm no signs with 'The Top' or 'Welcome at the higest point', no nothing ... not even a pole or something, just a dirt road with a lot of gravel... We assumed that we reached the top, and the altitude was about correct, so we celibrated it with some music!! I was really happy that I made it, and forgot right away all the pain and struggle of the previous days and kilometers. After taking some pictures, we started our downhill to Huallanca, were we were having a bush camp again. Downhill was also beautifull, the views are amazing,
and all the colors of the soil and rock, together with the rough weather and sky ... Great day !! Some little issues with dogs on the downhill, they attacked all the cyclist, and the owner didn´t do anything about it. Happy that I made it!! Great experience !! Hope more of these days will follow !!
Hasta la vista !!
