subiendo Misti (climbing Misti)

Just wanted to write a week later about our climbing Misti. It is 8500 meters to the top and it was our friend´s idea that we´d all go. Most of us didn´t know what we were getting into but we went all the same. The first day we climbed with our packs to the campsite. it was hard for me because I had never hiked with a big pack. but it didn´t compare to the second day. I had taken some pills to help with the altitude but that only dulled the pain in my head. We got to see a beautiful sunset and the lights of the city turning on as the sunset! WOW! and we got a good view of another mountain near Arequipa called Chachani. but as soon as the sun went down we got very cold_ very cold. The spaghetti, soup and tea helped a bit but we all took cover in our tents as soon as we finished because we weould be waking up at 4 am to start the second day ( so we could catch the sunrise too). IT was not a fun night but was certainly better than being outside! I had a bunch of dreams that night_ that my brother Jon was there and that it was all a fun ride at an amusement park- I wish! We didn´t make it before the sunrise unfortunately. The ascent was incredible_ we felt so great wothout our packs that i wanted to go fast but the guides wouldn´t let you waste your energy. it was like I imagined expeditions to be but never thought I´d be on one! There are no trees on this mountain- we saw our last one as we drove up to the starting point! It´s a volcano remember! lots of sand and rocks! It´s a little difficult getting up but advantageous on the way down! My head started hurting when the second group turned around because they couldn´t make it! Once we got to the edge of the crater I thought I was finished but they said we´re going to the cross! I wasn´t sure about that and you really have to have desire to go further in those conditions but I had come with out host sister whose dream to climb has been since high school so i was going as far as she did! i made it but do¨m´t have the pics to show yet! My head was pounding and that was more than I ever want to see at the altitide so I didn´t enjoy the destination as much as the journey but I barely made the pictures! I wanted to get down_ luckily that´s the fastest part_ it´s just like the dunes_ you run down- except this time we had shoes and socks on and there are rocks!- makes for a mess but cuts the time down by one fifth ( 5 hours up day two- one hour down)We met the rest of the group at the camp and headed down some more sand! crazy stuff- my grammar teacher keeps asking if I want to climb the others but I´m trying to tell him that was more than enough adventure for me!