Hike across the pass Gara Gara

It is worth to get up very soon for the crossing of pass Gara Gara, because the weather is mostly stable at this time. The journey begins at the bridge over the creek and then awaits you the ascent of 600 vertical meters into the pass. With increasing altitude opens nicely a panorama of Alpamayo and the surrounding mountains.
 

You will say goodbye to the mountains that accompanied you the last two days. The highest is large massif of Nevado Quitaraju (6 036 m asl), dominant is Alpamayo pyramid (5 947 m asl) and between two ridges peeping Nevado Abasraju (5 785 m asl).
 

The path rises for a long time along the moraine and then along the rocks and in an hour and something you're already halfway to a small lake (4 533 m asl), where, however, where in good weather, is the ideal place for a short break.
 

The path rises increasingly more through the rocky terrain up to the second lake (4 700 m asl), from where begins the worst part of the ascent into the pass. There is also a great view on Nevado Santa Cruz in good weather.
 

Finally, you've done the last hundred meters of altitude meandering in screes and you stand in a hostile pass Gara Gara (4 820 m asl). It is only a little over two hours ascending from the camp Jancarurish. Finally you see to the other side of the ridge, where is the countryside surprisingly different – only bland peaks smoothed by ancient glacier. However, you overcome through this pass the main ridge of the mountains and farther away to the northwest the countryside gradually decreases until somewhere in the Amazon lowlands.
 

In an hour and a half walk to Gara Gara you are already far in the valley of Mayobamba. You will really feel here like in another world. On the horizon (on the right) is visible lackluster pass, it is Gara Gara, where you were a while ago.
 

The path approaches the bottom of the valley at the southern end of large bofedales. Half-wild cows like grazing here.
 

After you cross the creek at about (4 360 m asl), awaits you only a short ascent to the next pass Mesapata (4 445 m asl). Below you is the wide valley of Maybamba and opposite the peak of Cerro Collota (4 716 m asl).
 

There is no path on the map leading through the deserted valley of Mayobamba, but it does not seem impassable.
 

From the pass Mesapata (4 445 m asl) is a beautiful view of the nearby glacial massif of Pucajirca with its highest peak Pucajirca Norte (6 046 m asl). In addition, from there is also visible the lagoon Safuna, where you can undertake a very nice side trip. An ideal place to camp is on the grassy area at the bottom of the valley of Tayapampa.