From Eugene to Yaquin and Back

On September 25th Mom and I left Eugene
to spend 2 1/2 weeks in Peru.

Mom and Tía Victoria at the Plaza de Armas, Arequipa.

Mom, Tía Victoria and I went to the cemetery
in Arequipa to visit Abuelita Margarita.




October 3rd was election day in Peru; Tía Victoria votes at a local poll.

Mom, Tía Victoria, and I celebrated birthdays
with friends and family in Arequipa.

Happy 90th birthday, Padrino Teke!

Happy 50th, Roxana!


My friend Mila teaching me to dance La Marinera Norteña.


Friday, October 8th we left Arequipa for Ubinas. The 5+ hour bus ride takes us over mountain ranges, around volcanoes, and across the Salinas pampa.

Bienvenidos a Salinas, Moquegua. We make a brief stop here before continuing on to Tonohaya.

We made it to Tonohaya! Now we start hiking up to Yaquin.


Along the way we stopped to say hello to some family.
Their calf is 3 days old.

We made it to Yaquin! That's Ubinas in the background.

The tallest Eucalyptus in Yaquin.

Mom takes a rest on the way back to Tonohaya.
Volcán Ubinas is in the background.

Tonohaya's church in the main plaza.

In the morning we say goodbye to our friends and family
and catch the bus for Arequipa.


Tire fail!

Luckily we refreshed ourselves at this nearby mountain spring
while the bus tire was being changed.

It's not unusual to share the bus with livestock...

El Misti, from the roof of the house in Arequipa.


¡Ay que rico! Cuy chactado, traditional Peruvian cuisine.

Thank You!

I just got home from a Digital Storytelling workshop in Berkeley. This came from a fast write I did there - wanted to share. Love!

Nothing says commitment like hiking Half Dome.

Liberty Cap and Nevada Falls in the morning. This was Jandy's first ever trip to Yosemite. We had only one day to spend there, so naturally we looked for the longest, steepest, most dangerous hike we could think of: Half Dome.

What an amazing coincidence! Without knowing that we had both planned concurrent trips to Yosemite, we happened to cross paths with our friend Ben from Eugene, who decided on a whim to join us on our quest for Half Dome glory.

Looking over the edge of Nevada Falls, and then up at Liberty Cap.

Jon checks out some very large Ponderosa Pines.

Hiking through Little Yosemite Valley along the Merced River as Half Dome looms above.

Resting in the shade as we climb the Sub Dome. Less than a mile to go now.

Made it!

Feeling the altitude. No shade on top of Half Dome, only fatigue.

?

A Whistlepig basks in the sun and takes in the incredible view.

Beginning the descent. Duct tape holding one of the cable posts together adds to the thrill of the whole 'cables' experience.

Feeling small as we hike past giant granite boulders and pine trees.


An eddy in the Merced River above Nevada Falls.

Our tall shadows tell us what we don't want to hear: We'd better pick up the pace or we'll be hiking in the dark.

One last look at Half Dome, Mt. Broderick, and Liberty Cap as the sun sets.

Melt-water drips off the rocks and onto the trail like a cool rain; a refreshing treat for us sun-parched hikers.

At this point we're barely able to smile. We trudged the rest of the way down in pain and, for the last mile or so, in the light of the almost full moon. Luckily we caught the last bus from the trail head to the parking lot. What an adventure! I can't think of a better way to have spent the day!

Walking Among Giants

Dad, Simón, and Jandy took a trip to the Coast Range and visited the "Valley of the Giants". It's an amazing stand of old growth Hemlock and Douglas Fir trees nestled deep in a labyrinth of logging roads.

The forest was teeming with life. Plants, mosses, fungi, (even other trees!) grew on the trees.

A nurse log supports a miniature forest of seedling trees.

Dad takes a break at the base of a particularly giant tree.

Fortunately we made our visit just before the Devil's Club plants leafed out!

We hiked to the sound of the north fork of the Siletz River.

This place is truly one of Oregon's treasures.