Quebrada Overnight Hike

[Written: Sunday Aug 5]
Buenos dias! We have just arrived back at the Lazy Dog Inn from our overnight hike in the nearby national park alongside our Peruvian friends. The trip began yesterday morning when we packed up our bags and taxied to the park entrance, about a 45 minute drive from Lazy Dog. The roads were on the edge of the valley, with quite a sizable drop off the side. Talk about nerve-wracking!
  After arriving at the park, we acquired our passes, loaded up the donkeys with the larger bags and set off on the trail. We learned that donkey is “burro” in Spanish, and due to a fun quirk of Spanish called diminutives, we also learned that a small or cute donkey can be called a “burrito”. I dare you to eat a burrito without thinking about donkeys from now on. Once we started walking, we quickly came across a set of interesting paintings on a large rock just off the main trail. Apparently, they were done by ancient people, and they were erased once but mysteriously re-appeared in the same places again the next day.
  About five hours later, we arrived at our chosen location to set up camp. We dug the latrines, set up the tents and ate a well-earned snack. We were able to play some Ultimate Disc® in the beautiful valley as well as some lava tag. I honestly don’t think there will ever be a better location to play lava tag. The rocks were perfectly spaced and wherever there wasn’t a rock there was probably a hard cow pie to use in its place. After a dinner of trout and potato, we played some nighttime sardines (reverse hide and seek), admired the stars, and watched in awe as the full moon rose up over the mountain range.
  In the morning, we embarked on the hike from camp to a nearby glacier-fed lake, about a two and a half hour hike away. Unfortunately, Kianna and Julie headed back partway due to some altitude sickness. However, the lake was breathtaking; we ate on its shores and were able to see some ice break off the mountain and into the water. On the way back from the lake, Gladys (our translator and guide) talked about the governmental system in Peru. Until recently, most of the political power was centred in Lima, the capital. However, about 8-10 years ago, the President separated the powers out more evenly across the country. Today, there are 24 departments (regions) in Peru, all governed by their respective regional Presidents. This is a huge number of provinces which each govern a relatively small area, especially when compared to the huge pieces of land each Canadian province occupies.
  After hiking back to the camp, we ate some lunch, learned a Spanish joke*, tore down the tents and started the hike back to the park gates. We were exhausted but grateful for the experience, and ready to head back to Lazy Dog for one more night.
  Next stop Vicos!

*Q: Que es un pato ase en una laguna? A: Nada!
       What does a duck do in a lake?             Nothing OR swim (nada has 2 meanings in Spanish) :D