MACHU PICCHU 2022
HIKE TO LAKE HUMANTAY
DAY 6 : MONDAY June 27, 2022
Soray Lodge - start: 3,869 m [12,690 ft]
Lake Humantay: 4,221 m [13,845 ft]
The first images in this section are from in front of the lodge just as the sun was starting to touch the peaks (Salkantay in the distance). Very early and chilly but a good time for some experimental photography :)
As an exercise to help us get ready for the hike over Salkantay Pass the next day, we all headed up to Lake Humantay very early in the morning. The trail was steep in many places and just kept going up and up! Total elevation change to the lake was 352 m (1,155 ft) which might not seem to be much until one realized we were starting at an elevation of 3,869 m (12,690 ft).
Our guide had mentioned that it was important to get to the lake early in the day. When we got there there might have been maybe 20 people in the area. But then more and more people kept showing up. We hiked up above the lake for a ceremony. Looking back down towards the lake, it was just plain crowded. It turns out that many people take buses up from towns down below to the Soray Lodge area and then either hike or take horses/donkeys up. All in a one day trip (can not imagine how tired they must get with all that elevation change in one day).
Regardless, It was a beautiful view and well worth the early rise and shine.
As a bonus, we participated in a ceremony call “Despacho o Pago a la Tierra” which roughly translates as “Payment to the Land”. A shaman (curanderos) met us above the lake and led us through the ceremony (see the link on this page for details). Later after dinner in the lodge, we joined our shaman around a fire pit to finish the ceremony. It was a unique experience, one from which I could not help but feel something good. Not my usual thing but I was glad that we got to experience it.
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PHOTO SHOWCASE
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From Soray Lodge at sunrise - Salkantay on the right2206270009N
From Soray Lodge at sunrise - Salkantay on the right2206270028N
From Soray Lodge at sunrise - Salkantay on the right2206270055N
Starting up the trail to Lake Humantay2206270056N
Trail to Lake Humantay2206270057N
Trail to Lake Humantay2206270058N
Trail to Lake Humantay2206270059P
Looking back towards the base camp from the trail2206270063P
Trail is starting to get steeper2206270064N
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Steep part just before ridge to the lake2206270068N
Steep part just before ridge to the lake2206270069N
Looking back towards the base camp from the ridge2206270070N
Dropping down to the lake2206270071N
Lake Humanity - early before the crowd2206270073N
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Hiking up above the lake2206270086P
Hiking up above the lake2206270088N
Ridge above the lake2206270089N
Ridge above the lake2206270092P
Offering in the “Despacho o Pago a la Tierra”2206270093P
Ridge above the lake2206270095N
View of the lake from the ridge above it2206270098N
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Traveling companions2206270103P
The crowds have arrived at Lake Humantay2206270104N
One of my signature shots - hiking poles and pack at destination2206270105N
Heading back down on the backside of the ridge2206270106N
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