The days are rolling by now for the STRIVE Peru staff and interns. Last week concluded with the remainder of our service learning and the beginning of service project planning. Through this process, we developed a sense of what ethical service entails and most importantly, how to avoid the pitfalls of service abroad by incorporating three main factors: understanding, communication, and power dynamics. After a busy week of discussion, we were ready for another weekend of adventure. 

The weekend started off fast with long runs on Saturday. Tyler and I ran the big bridge loop route or the big black llama as we like to call it. Thankfully, Katie tagged along on the bike to supply some company and of course the beats playing from the bluetooth speaker in her backpack. We found a rhythm early in the 15 mile course through the forest and settled into a nice pace. The music and caffeine were doing their job. Before I knew it, we were out on the highway still cruising along smoothly, taking in the beautiful mountain scenery. Running in the Andes is breathtaking literally and figuratively. At last we reached our check point of the Pisac bridge to complete the run for me. Tyler and Katie tacked on another segment. The other long run group consisted of Will, Sierra, Scott, and Mariana. They ran the normal bridge loop and met me back at Chaska Wasi. After some brief stretching, our post long run hunger kicked in, and it was time to depart for pancakes at the Blue Llama!

Things don’t always go according to plan anywhere, but this can be especially evident in Peru… We arrived to an interesting situation involving gas tank malfunction… The group was disappointed as we would not be pounding pancakes this morning. We regrouped after the brief devastation, and headed next door to the Pisac market for a variety of foods to satisfy our intense cravings. A bisteck montado con mucho frijoles and picante did the trick for Tyler, Scott, and I while the others settled for market omelettes and juices. Now that the work and fuel was put back in, it was time for the chilling portion of the day. A lazy afternoon of napping and relaxing in the Chaska courtyard concluded the best Saturday in Peru yet. This was valuable rest as a big hike awaited us at dawn the next day.

5:00AM—the alarm sounds and it’s time to rise and board Hector’s van. Next, we ride over to the drop off location for the first leg of the trek. The 2000 feet ascent begins at 6:00AM. By 9:00 we reached the ridge and paused for a brief breakfast in the sun, flanked by mountains in all directions including a hand full of majestic snow cappers (Veronica, Ausangate), and next part of the hike brought us up and over 15,000 feet for our lunch stop. The final push up to this second ridge involved a difficult hand and foot scramble up a steep face of grass and gravel. After a sumptuous lunch of Sofie’s bakery loaf, beef jerky, peanut butter sandwiches, and all the other junk food you can think of… the strive elite members pursued the real summit of Mt. Pachatusan while the others (myself and Mariana) decided not to. I was content to enjoy the serene setting of 14,000 feet overlooking the sacred valley of Pisac and the neighboring towns. After a few hours of separation, the group reconvened and descended back down the mountain to San Salvador where our much appreciated driver Hector awaited for pick up. Mental and physical fatigue set in by this point, but we endured the yet another Andes adventure. The group felt like winners after a smackin Dinner at the Polleria. 7:30pm—bedtime. Restful sleep helped us recoup for week three of our trip together.