Laguna 69 - what a day!!!

The Laguna 69 in the Cordillera Blanca was known only to the locals for a long time, who used the high mountain meadows as pastureland for cattle. About 5 years ago, the Laguna was discovered for tourism and is now an absolute must for all trekkers visiting the Cordillera Blanca. The hike starts about 3 hours by car (including more than 2 hours on the dirt road) from Huaraz, the "base" for the numerous trekkers. Initially, it goes about 4 kilometers through a plain surrounded by snow- and ice-covered 5,000- and 6,000-meter peaks, a crystal-clear glacier river cuts through the plain, gnarled trees with bark in shades of red and yellow grow where it is not marshy. Along the river, shrubs and perennials bloom in all their splendor: red, yellow, purple, as a great contrast to the lush green of the plain. I probably don't need to mention the waterfalls that rush down into the valley all around. After 4 kilometers, the ascent begins. About 900 meters in altitude are to be overcome, always in switchbacks, along a narrow path. The gnarled trees have already disappeared and are replaced by tall shrubs, and with every meter we climb higher, we are more overwhelmed by the breathtaking view over the plain! After about an hour, we reach the first small lagoon, which we pass because we still have the destination, Laguna 69, ahead of us. For this, we have to cross a small, marshy plain again before we reach the second ascent.

Just when you start to get tired from the altitude and the steep climb, you turn a corner and catch the first glimpse of the lake. My jaw dropped!!! The lake shines in such clear blue that it doesn't really seem real; in addition, the red and yellow flowers of the perennials on the riverbank, which flows directly from the lake - I have never seen clearer water! Two minutes later, we stand by the lake and are completely speechless: The brightly blue lake, light green leaves of the shrubs on the shore, white granite all around, and in the background the overwhelming backdrop of a snow-covered 6,000-meter peak.

From the ascent to the Laguna to the descent: That was the most beautiful thing we had seen so far! For all readers who may be in Peru someday: see for yourselves, because not even our best photo can capture how wonderful the surroundings/landscape/views were!

The report also includes photos of the Pastouri Glacier, which we visited the day before, mainly for acclimatization. By paying so little attention to it, we do it injustice, because this day, the landscape, the colors.... were fantastic - but the Laguna 69 eclipses all of that, that I don't even know what to write afterwards... so I'll let the pictures speak!