Trek to Valle de Lares 5 - Surprise weather

After having climbed up toward the sunshine for 2 hours, we got hit by unexpectedly heavy snowfalls near the high pass.



Within minutes, the ground was blanketed by white and crunched underfoot.




The horse stoically endured the snow and my bungled attempts at photography.




So the clouds had closed in quite firmly around us by the time we reached the actual pass, which prompted Fernando, our guide, to point out that the view was ordinarily quite spectacular from here. Not helpful. But a few hundred meters further on, the clouds broke and we got glimpses of clear blue skies and an amazing glacier mountain vista.




Even the snowflakes on our gear started melting in the sunshine.




Our ambulance driver after I had begged him to take down his right arm and NOT throw it up in a fascist salute - although I'm not sure that's how he meant it...




Glaciers spilling out between mountain peaks.




Contemplative viewing of the snow-podered peaks and the lower reaches of the mountain which were spared the snow but drenched in rain.






Far below us, the level valley floor stretched in a weird mix of green, yellow and browns.




Ah yes: we had to jump! 1 free drink for the person who can guess (and comment) which of us fell over backwards after the last pic on the right.




Down from the pass, descending into the next valley, an oddly-pitched tent drew our attention...




...before herds of Llamas started spilling down the mountainside next to it.




Yep, that's that characteristically startled look a Llama casts at everyone.




Alpacas, too.




The headdress identifies the beast's owner.




Alpaca in front, Shirly and Ben behind, Glacier in the very back.




Alpaca in a hurry. I may not have been particularly helpful, walking toward them brabbling "Llama, llama, llama!"

As a bit of an aside: apparently it kept snowing on the mountains and a large group had to turn back the next morning whilst attempting to cross a higher pass!