February 1 - In Camp

Your somewhat wet camper again. It rained & blew all night.  I had a good spot under a Lenga so I didn't get any driving rain and the Lenga kept most of it off me.  

I lookled outside at 0600 - completely fogged in up in the mounmtains so no sunrise today.  What to do?  Back to the bag for a couple of hours and then get up.  Pretty close to a normal camping day - mix some Tang - yes, they have it and I mix it about 3X strength.  The belt of sugar gets you going.  Heat water for porridge & coffee.  Unflavoured quick oats (boring) and some "Vienese" cofffee packets which aren't bad when mixed double strength.

Do dishes, do business (I chose the "non-shovel" option) and back into the tent. Lots I can do - read my book, tap away on the computer (I'm writing a Sudoku solver in a new language I'm learning), count flowers on the wall (raindrops on the tent?), etc.  No deck of 51 and I don't smoke, though.  I'll give the weather a couple of hours to get better (or worse) and then do some day hikes around here.  I'll stay here tonight and head for the other main campsite (De Agostini) tomorrow.

It's after dinner now - here's what happened today.  About 10 a.m. I took a short walk north down the valley to Glacier Piedras Blancas.  This photo is approaching the glacier as I scramble over the boulder field.  A lot of them are 10 - 15 feet in diameter and more.

Next photos:  The glacier and its lake; then the view looking down the valley and across the main valley.

Lunchtime - I'm back in camp munching away on bread and cheese and all of a sudden a drover and 3 llamas with packs on walk in - front of me.  No time for  a photo as I sit there with my mouth open catching flies.


The llamas proceed a hundred meters or so to a group of tents and stop to unload.  Here's the south end of a north facing loaded llama. I assume the group of tents belong to some climbers.

Here's a better shot as they leave - sorry about the camera strap.

I decide top go for a walk back down the trail to look at an other lake.  On the way I get one more shot of the llamas.

Laguna Capri - one of the lakes in the area.  Notice that the weather has cleared.  Tomorrow I'll be walking on the far side of the ridge you see across the lake. and up that valley. It's been improving most of the day and I actually saw my shadow (in anticipation of Ground Hog Day?).  

Last photo - I was joined by these guys for dinner.  A crushed up cracker seemed to keep them happy.

As I typed this (7 pm) a fellow knocked on my tent and told me I was in a reserved area of the campsite and would have to move tomorrow morning before 9 or 10 as more people are arriving.  No problem - I can be out by 0800.  The fellow then went back toward the group tents the llamas parked at.

So, all in all, not a bad day.  See you later.