Dec. 3 -Lago Llanganuco, Peru

I've been here before. Many years ago. Another life. A good one but still... awhile ago. Lago Llanganuco has suffered a warped reputation. On May 31, 1970 an earthquake shook the whole valley of Callejon de Huaylas causing severe damage to many communities, most especially the one lying at the outflow of what would become one of the major tragedies on the 20th century in the western hemisphere. Yungay happened to receive the most severe damage to both structures and life. As the major earthquake shook the whole region, it dislodged a large chunk of rock and ice from Mt. Huascaran. Cascading down the sloop and creating a landslide of immense proportion the rock and ice fell into Lago Llanganuco causing an overflow of the lake that rushed down the hillsides and literally burying the town of Yungay. The few that escaped had been at the cemetery which was located on a hilltop above the town. 20,000 people were killed, the town buried and to this day it remains a 'campo santo' or dedicated holy ground.
Lago Llanganuco is actually two lakes nestled between tall flanks of rock faces that jut up several thousand feet only to be backed up by even higher peaks in the 18-20,000' range. It is a spectacular site and awe inspiring on a clear day.

Our journey today by motorcycle was to check out the road and try and determine if we could do the two day trip up the canyon, up the sides of the mountains, over the 16,000' pass and down and around other mountains returning via another dirt road the next day. Our first look was not promising and speaking with truck drivers coming over the pass from the jungle they said they had to sleep in their truck awaiting a bulldozer to clear the road so they could pass. doesn't sound like my kind of fun on a motorcycle. Here are some pictures of the area.