Two years ago I decided not to earn more money, but to spend my saved money to discover the world. A year ago, I put this idea into action. Since then, I’ve had countless adventures, visited seven countries on two continents, and walked over 4,000 kilometers.
Here, in addition to my experiences on the trails Alpamayo, Santa Cruz, Huayhuash and Olleros/Chavin also share some technical information independent of my personal impressions. During my time in Huaraz, I met few solo hikers on the trails. But if you already have hiking experience, it should be possible without problems to travel without a guide or in a group.
What gets my pulse racing is mastering difficult situations by yourself, going off the beaten path and finding your own risky way back. There is a reason why a path has developed in a certain direction from this 5000 meter high saddle. Over and over again this path has been consolidated by further steps, this path has worked and proven itself before. I see before me many possibilities that have not yet been established, but which I consider worth exploring. What can go wrong?
The temperatures have dropped to the freezing point again. What just kept me warm on my last tour were my two jackets, which I forgot this time with my other stuff in Huaraz. However, with my old sleeping bag I would not have survived this time either. Fortunately, I now have a new sleeping bag that keeps me cozy warm down to -7 degrees, too warm that I can only use it as a blanket so as not to stew in my own juice. On this hike, I will no longer let anyone tell me that I freeze at night.
My tent is covered with a thin layer of ice. Again and again I startle from the bone-chilling cold. I need several layers of clothing to keep me reasonably warm. I wear two pairs of pants, a T-shirt, a down jacket, a rain jacket, and a pair of thick wool socks, with a sleeping bag liner over them. Nevertheless, I am far from the coziness that my sleeping bag promises me at 10 degrees.
