Peru 2009
Adventures with Renee and Jane
Day 2 goes from kilometer 92 to kilometer 104. 1200 meters/3900' vertical gain over 12km/7.5 miles is a serious workout, but the you realize your starting elevation is 3000m/9800' and you're topping out at 4200m/13,800'. Cross Dead Woman's Pass and you find it goes to blowing cold wind and rain. The chocolate and the shot of tequila definitely help, but there's more ahead: still have to descend 600m/2000' to 3600m/11,800' to camp.
And you do 700m/2300' in the 2~3 hours before breakfast. Ouch. Still, the amazing views are worth it, if you remember to look around during your frequent breaks from huffing and puffing up to Dead Woman's Pass. Cloud rain forests, barren grasslands, and everything in-between...