Walking in Cocuy – Day 2
We started the day not so early – around 7:30. Carlos, our guide cooked a delicious chicken and egg soup (changua). BTW, I had a fairly good night, not so cold.
A 4WD took us and our equipment to a small lodge/restaurant/grocery (“La Esperanza”) in the end of the road to La Laguna Grande de la Sierra, our first destination.
From there we hiked for 30 mins to our first camping site (at 3500 mtrs.). The place was gorgeous, just besides a crystal clear river falling directly from the glacier . This river was so inviting, and the weather so warm that I took a plunge in its gelid waters…
Camping place was ok—hidden in the bushes, but very cold during the night, there was even a thin crust of frost over the tent the following morning.
Walking in Cocuy – Day 1
The bus trip was long, during the whole night but without incidents. Unfortunately I could not see much of the scenery.
Guavita cathedral was lovely, very different. We arrived early in the morning to this cold, remote town in the mountains. I grabbed a coffee in the main plaza and good breakfast in a nearby hotel. My guide did not showed up on my arrival, so I decided to spend the day resting until my guide shows up (I could not sleep much in the bus by the way) in a good Hotel I found just around the corner of the main plaza.
There were some travelers in the plaza, but most of the people come for daytrips with no camping equipment.
I still feel my pack heavy (14 kilos when I left).
Suggested Packing List (4 days)
| Clothing: -.Base layer pants (2) -.Base layer sweater (2) -. Underwear (3) -. Hiking socks (3) -. Polar fleece (Mid Layer) (1) -. Rain Jacket/Shell (1) -. Pocket quick dry Towel (1) -. Hat/Kefiya -. Hiking pants (light/quick dry) -. Gloves -. Sandals -. Good waterproof hiking bots -. Water proof pants (for the snow) -. Gaiters for snow (optional) |
Sleeping: -. 2-two person dual-layer Tent. Tent must be able to handle strong winds. -. Sleeping pad -. Sleeping bag (<=-5C) Backpack: -. 70 Litters pack -. ~15 Litters daypack, with strips for piolets. Food: -. Macaroni Cheese -. Noodles -. Sausages/ “Salchichón” -. Cheese (Enmental) -. Butter (portions) -. Instant Coffee -. Tea bags -. Sugar -. Gatorade instant powder or Activade -. Beans |
Health Pack: -. Pain relief cream (Diclofenaco) -. Hand cream (extreme cold will start to crack your fingers!!) -. Sunscreen -. Chapstick -. Water purification system -. Advil (painkiller) -. Cipro/Lomotil -. Band Aids -. Vaseline tube -. Biodegradable soap Cooking: -. Metal mug -. Pot with cap (2 portions) -. Utensils (2) -. 2 cups/plates -. Stove with butane tank (big one) -. Matches/emergency fire starter Gadgets and Accessories: -. Swiss Army Knife -. GPS (optional) -. Headlamp -. Camera -. Spare batteries for your camera, and headlamp -. Poles |
This town is very small, and beautiful, still not spoiled by modern Colombia. I finally met my guide at 4pm. He was expecting my arrive at that time!! – his cell phone was malfunctioning—so he did not get a single one of my calls since yesterday! Anyway, this is not the only improvised aspect I have seen of this trip from their side… let’s see how things get through. I decided to take the “golden retriever approach” and simply be nice – anyway the hotel where I spend the whole day was quite good, clean and very cheap (COP 15K!! ~ 7USD ), and the meals great and also cheap (~ 3USD).
My guides have a beautiful house a few block from the main plaza. It is a big, old, authentic house with many rooms around a big patio. Full of photo opportunities.
Many campers and climbers come a go during that day. By night, we took it easy and had some beers around a fire in the central patio.
Amelia
A faily good portrait of a remarkable woman:
I would love to see more women like her, specially here in LatAm..
