Touching the void and Poor wee Mikey bo bo.....

....isn't a well boy! I'll spare you the details as you can read his blog for that but as a result depsite having had 3 days off in Lima, we opt for an internet day in the beautiful Huaraz. This is the Cordillia Blanca. A stunning part of the Andes where the true story of Touching the Void occurred.

Just like the book cover.

Touching the void is about two mountaineers who are climbing a particular peak, when one slips and falls down a crevasse. As there is no response from him, his climbing buddy has to make the awful desicion to cut the rope, meaning certain death for the fallen guy, or perishing in the worsening conditions himself. It's a true story with a happy ending though and the guy who slipped, then was cut loose, falling to certain death down a crevasse, manages to haul himself out of the crevasse and literally drag himself, broken legs, dehydrated, frost bitten and hungry, back to base camp, just as the survival climber was about to leave. Phew!

Not a bad view to be looking at whilst recovering!

We didn't opt for any climbing here but Mike got some much needed delicious tomato soup and some time to recover from his own ailments. I managed to upload, but not name and file, a whole lot of photos for your perousal, if you really could be bothered, they're not great and I've only really posted them there for my Mum's benefit, so don't feel obliged.
Plus the scenery in Huaraz is stunning. A beautiful change from the desert and chicken farms.

I'm also thinking of changing my luggage to a top box, one that will fit in with the locals!