Looking back from the top of Misti, Peru. 2009-11-20.

Nikon D700, 50mm f/8.0.

We got woken up at 1am, and I packed my backpack ony with camera, water and snacks. We would got back to the basecamp on the way down. Then we had a very limited breakfast with coca tea. At 2am we left. Another group was also to do the climb but they had not even got up when we left.

We only had our flash lights to show the way. Walking in the dark was interesting, we had to be careful, part was on rocks and others on sand or gravel. The big problem was that even big rocks may be loose.

The first hour or so went slow, one in the group didn't feel well and was taking a break every three steps. Eventually at 4970m he requested to abandon the group and we split. One guide stayed back with him, trying to encurrage him to continue, but he gave up.

Dawn broke around 4.30 and sunrise at 5.20. It was still another three hours to the top. Past 5500m it started to get really hard, not because of terrain but because of altitude and general tirredness after the many hours walking, lack sleep and the cold.

At 8.00 we reached the brim of the crater. The volcano has sort of a double brim, from here there was one route leading into the crater and another going up to the highest point.

The last ascend to the top was a challenge. I felt I could tumble any minute loosing my balance, and rather than focusing on the top, I chose smaller fix points. But I was too close to the top to give up. Finally at 8.30 I reached the top. Two from the group had made it and were going down when I arrived becasue of the cold. I was lucky as sun broke through the cloulds and I could stay longer.

We were all down back at the brim of the crater around 9.30 ready for the descend back to base camp. This was a run down on gravel and volcanic dust. Fun and fast, but also hard and dangerous. It was dificult to stop, and easy to tip over with rocks hidden in the sand. After just 1 and a half hour we were back in basecamp. After packing up everything it was another 1 and a half our back to the spot where we were picked up to go back to Arequipa.