Huancavellica to Huaraz: El Silencio Continuado

After 10 days relaxing in Huaraz the weather finally lifts to reveal stunning views of the surrounding Cordeillera Blanca. It seems Peru’s rainy season isn’t conducive to far reaching views. Cloud lingers low down in the valley as we are treated to a series of dull overcast days, and afternoon rain reimisicent of an English winters day.

Looking back on many of the photos in this post I am forced to reflect on just how lucky I have been with the weather over the past months riding. South bound cyclists Paul and Sam will probably agree having abandoned their Peru Great Divide attempt early on due to clawing mud and none existent views.

Picking up where I left off in my last post, I arrive in the town of Huancavellica weak and run down, a recurring stomach problem which has troubled me since Bolivia once again flares up making for a tough few days riding as the passes keep on coming, some would say unrelentingly.

Taking time to rest up and a set of antibiotics run their course, I am once again reunited with Flo the Flying Frenchman whom I last rode with in Patagonia. After a couple of weeks riding solo through remote villages it is nice to once again have some company for the road ahead.

Taking things easy we leave the bustle of Huancavellica and climb over Abra Llamorgo descending deep down, as the valley slowly constricts.

Deep Valleys

Arriving in the small town of Jersualen, ruddy faced Elmer and his friend come to check us out as we wait for dinner to be served courtesy of the local village shop, which doubles as restaurant.

Elmer

Accomdation for the evening; a stable. Mud floors and modern technology make for a happy Frenchman.

Flo

My needs are a little more basic. More dirt squiggles, please.

Dirt squiggles

Fat tyres bend the minds of the local children in every village. Acombambilla is no different, quizzically looking to find the motor which powers my bike.

Kids

Cancha; slowly toasted corn. An Andean staple found as a side to Ceviche or a tasty snack which our new found compadres seem to love.

Abba

As we reach the top of Abra Turpo the sun begins to cast long shadows and a cold wind begins to bite.

Kids

As false summit after false summit taunts us.

Trails

Caught out by a storm the following day rain quickly turns to snow, as we find ourselves riding in to a blizzard and take sanctuary in a small estancia. Fed tea and biscuits we slowly warm up before setting up camp in a cattle shed. Snow coating all the surrounding hills.

Cattle Shed

By morning we awaken to brilliant blue skies which quickly melt any snow. Punta Pumacocha our target. Seemingly one of the steepest passes we have climbed we grunt our way to the top. Our reward, jaw dropping views.

Curves

“So you must be Leah“รขโ‚ฌยฆ.my opening gambit as we encounter a lone female cyclist at the bottom of the descent. Its a small community and I had already been put in touch with Leah via Cherry. Brimming with energy, I am yet to meet any other cyclist travelling with 3 trout in their panniers.

Leah

Down to Laros, as the road winds around the valley walls. Sheep pens and terraces far below as we slowly descend down to the valley floor.

Valley

Before we once again climb back up again following a river and a series of waterfalls through the touristy villages of Vitis and Huancaya.

Blue water

Each twist and turn ever more absorbing as we head toward Vilca.

Lake side trail

Eventually the road runs out in Tanta and we follow a short singletrack stretch. Prime Pugsley territory, switching between sandy trails and boggy marsh.

Singletrack

Muddy fat tyres.
Pugs

Dull skies offer occasional glimpses of the high mountains outside Tanta.

Dull skies

Before storm clouds chase us. We finish the day up early in Carhuapampa as rain pours down soaking us to the skin.
Distant trails

Rather predictably the sun shines down again in the morning. After drying our clothes, glaciers loom large as we ride Punta Ushayca.

Glacier

Another sneak peak of the high mountains.

Moody Mountain

Before another of those Andean valleys.

Valley

A lunch of trout awaits as we descend down to a trout farm, before joining the dreaded Carretera Central one of the main arteries in Peru connecting Lima and the Amazon. For 25kms we are honked at, and treated to some truly awful driving. A reminder of why I love dirt roads so much and what a joy the previous 3 weeks riding have been.

Letting out a sigh of relief as we turn off the Carretera Central, things go all Scottish on us.

Scotland

The windows may not be intact, but the roof is. Home for the evening.

Shack

The Clickstand on breakfast duties.

Clickstand

Out there somewhere on a mining road. Bodega Gimena.

Bodega Gimena

Blue lake below Abra Rapaz.

Blue Lake

Switchbacks and mining trucks.

Mining Truck

Sharks Teeth.

Crags

Rocky Ridgelines.

More Landscape

U Shaped Valleys.

U Shaped Valley

Take us to Cajatamba. Plans to detour in to the Cordeillera Huayhuash are shelved as I struggle with a bad back. The crossing of each pass demanding a lie down to release a slowly seizing back.

Curves

Following the rainbow, we look for a pot of gold.

Rainbow

A 2800m descent takes us deep down to sticky altitudes we have not experienced for months on end.

Flo

Small villages with green fields on the opposite side of the valley, high above the valley floor.

Switchbacks

Post election propaganda still lingers.

Bus

29 is dead. Long live the fat bike. At least thats the message in Llapa Viejo, an eerily deserted village each door padlocked. The owners seemingly moving en mass to create a new village.

29

Over a month tubeless turns to tubes. I seemingly limp along fixing a puncture almost daily as we approach Huaraz.

Fat Bike

Thanks

A special thanks has to go to the creators of this route, the Pikes on Bikes.

Not only is this route a marvel in dirt road touring deserving of a classic status, the sheer time and effort put in to the production of the route notes and supporting files is humbling.

Thank You!

13 Comments

  1. Andi
    21/11/2014

    Amazing scenery!
    What happened? Too big of a hole for tubeless? Hope the rest of her is fine ..
    Say hey to Flo if you’re still with him!

    Reply
    • Mike
      21/11/2014

      Yeah bit of a bad run with massive thorns, dried gloop and the valve ripping away from one of the ghetto tubes.

      Back to tubes for the moment, at least until Ecuador.

  2. Cass
    21/11/2014

    Just awesome…

    Reply
  3. Myles & Miles
    22/11/2014

    You finally get rid of a dumbass Englishman only to be replaced by Flo. Tough times. Looks like an incredible adventure.

    Reply
    • Mike
      25/11/2014

      I like to think of it as my contribution to Anglo-French relations ๐Ÿ˜‰

  4. Chris
    22/11/2014

    Awesome, awesome, awesome!

    I’m new to tubeless and have to say I’m amazed. Three months and over 2000 miles on all sorts of surfaces, and I’ve not heard a whimper from either of them. Having said that will probably guarantee an Ardent-explosion tomorrow, but fingers crossed!

    Reply
    • Mike
      25/11/2014

      Thanks Chris

      Tubeless is all kinds of awesome….when the sealant isn’t dry.

  5. Paul vanPeenen
    23/11/2014

    Great stuff! We sadly did not have the opportunity to ride that route. A good reason to go back.

    Reply
    • Mike
      25/11/2014

      A months worth of ‘good reason’ to come back to Peru!

  6. Logan
    24/11/2014

    Man, yet another poke for me to get there one day. Awesome photos!

    Reply
    • Mike
      26/11/2014

      Logan, you would loooooove it out here ๐Ÿ˜‰

  7. Cherry
    27/11/2014

    Wow, thanks Mike, stunning photos! Great to re live this route, I want to get back on there again, I feel quite emotional looking at these photos.

    Reply
  8. Daniella Timiras
    01/12/2014

    So inspiring! Astonish landscape an great Pictures! Thank you for sharing!

    Reply

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