Group of 13 women completes eight-day route in the Peruvian Andes
A group of 13 women from different countries took a two-week trip to Peru, the central part of which was an eight-day high-altitude trek along the Cordillera Huayhuash route in the Andes. The participants crossed passes higher than 4,800 metres, including Trapezio Pass, located at an altitude of just over 5,000 metres.
As Daily Maverick reports, the trip was organised by the Australian company GirlsTrek, which runs adventure trips for women. The local organisation of the route in Peru was provided by tour operator Peruvian Mountains.
Acclimatisation before the trek
The journey began on 5 July in Lima, the capital of Peru. The participants visited the historic part of the city, including the Basilica and Convent of Saint Francis, which date back to the 16th century. The following day, the group travelled by bus for nine hours to Huaraz, the starting point for many routes into the Cordillera mountain ranges.
Before the main part of the trek, the participants acclimatised at an altitude of 3,050 metres and made a challenging ascent to Lake Churup, located at an altitude of 4,450 metres. They then headed to Cuartelhuain, situated at an altitude of 4,100 metres, where they set up their first camp.
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Passes, cold and altitude sickness
The eight-day trek was accompanied by freezing nights, hail, mountain lakes, rivers, glaciers and high passes. Report author Tammy Ballantyne Webber said that during the first three days she experienced symptoms of altitude sickness: dizziness, nausea and headache.
One of the longest ascents was the route to Punta Tapush Pass via Huatiac, with an elevation gain of 1,250 metres. During descents, the participants had to move across rocky sections and scree slopes. On the descent, the group also unexpectedly stopped in the village of Huayllapa, while the travellers' equipment was carried by donkeys.
Before the trip, Webber trained for several months: she walked with a backpack, practised Pilates, and did exercises for strength, tone and mobility. In May, she covered 30 kilometres over two days during a training hike. A Daily Maverick note states that the author's sister, Lisa Marshall, works as a guide for GirlsTrek.
