Day 1 starts early with a van pickup at 04:30, and is fairly easy except for the climb up to Lake Humantay. Mollepata is a decent-sized Peruvian mountain town, and is the starting point for backpackers doing the Salkantay trek. Soraypampa is the highest and coldest sleeping elevation on the trek, and the river next to our campsite had ice on the edges. We went out to do some nighttime star photography but quickly retired to our tents as the temperature plummeted fast from our daytime highs.
Morning Clouds
Morning clouds rising as we begin our 5 day Salkantay trek from Mollepata
Vista Verde
Tall mountains and green valleys are on tap for day 1 of our trek.
Mountain Flower
One lonely flower on a hillside outside Mollepata
Almost There
Shelby and Gabriel hike towards Soraypampa.
Soraypampa
Coming into our campsite at Soraypampa with a stunning view of Salktantay in the background.
Savage Mountain
Salkantay – The Savage Mountain. 20,574 feet of rock and ice.
Happiness at Humantay Lake
I’m ecstatic that I made the climb to Humantay Lake from the campsite at Soraypampa.
