June 15, 2017
Today was a short day and while we could have made the top of the pass we really wanted to do this pass with our friends. This made for some great down time and relaxing in the afternoon.
Cycling Stats
Start Point: Wild camp near Vaquiera, Ancash, Peru
Destination: Wild camp just below Portachuelo Pass, Ancash, Peru
16.43 km trip, 3:45 time, 23.4 km/h maximum speed, 4.10 km/h average speed
665 meters climbed, 144 meters descended, highest elevation 4273 meters
Route Description:
We began this day on the same gravel road. Almost no traffic and amazing views. The road is bumpy and rideable. You could easily make the pass on this day but we decided to take it easy. If you follow our GPS track, we ride up about another 2k and then turn around to a good flat spot for camping we saw. We camped 10K below the pass
Accommodations:
After Vaquiera there are no more towns on the ride this day so wild camping is your only option. And as you’re cycling through the mountains flat wild camp spots are limited. We turned back when we weren’t sure we would find another one. If you can make the pass on this day continue the descent on the other side for official camp grounds at Llanganuco but there are no hotels on the other side either.
What happened…
Andrew writes: As nice as the camping spot was last night, there was a fair bit of traffic going up to the mine at different times during the night, making it hard to stay asleep. After I found out how short of a ride it was to Vaquiera, I think I wish I had pushed on a bit in order to enjoy sleeping inside.
Right after Vaquiera, the real push towards the top of the Portochuelo Llanganuco pass began. I took off on everybody and was hoping to make the top. It wasn’t meant to be though. It was really slow going actually. The road condition just made the ride almost unenjoyable because it forced me to ride so slowly. After about 15km I came across a really nice wild camp spot. So I waited for everyone to join me and we would decide whether to push on or not. While we were waiting for Nici and Philip to join us I scouted ahead about 3km, but the road just kept going up with sharp drop-offs on either side, with nowhere suitable to camp. When I got back to the camp spot, N&P were there and we all decided to just call it a day and try for the pass in the morning. This allowed us a chance to kick back and relax, read some books, practice tarp erection using our new hiking poles, and generally just have a nice afternoon. It was nice.
Amanda writes: Today was another day where I think if Andrew and I were cycling alone we likely would have pushed on to the top of the pass. Having said that as we talked about that possibility I expressed some interest in trying to make the pass early in the morning to try and get good weather. Most afternoons clouds roll in and I was more interested in glorious blue skies for our final ascent to the peak. That combined with the last pass we weren’t able to celebrate with Nici and Philip I was keen to do this one with them. So with our nice short cycling day we had loads of time to relax. I was able to practice yoga and meditation. I also got to explore the area and find a slightly more remote spot for our tent.
Nici and Philip erected their tent right beside the road and as Nici wasn’t feeling well I decided this was a good time to give them some more space. I set up our tent and moved our bikes around the corner and away from the road. I preferred the quite from the traffic and it gave everyone an opportunity to do their own thing in the afternoon. And while we could have made the pass, it’s afternoons like these where I’m grateful to travel with friends who have the ability to go at a nice slow pace.
The aerial view of our ride: