We began a gradual climb uphill from the valley. The Scenery was amazing with the andean locals huts and Lamas and Alpacas wandering along side. It was very hot and sunny, and we took lots of breaks and at around 3.30pm we got to the top for that day- the views were stunning, we had mountains all around us and we could see the glacier and we wee looking down on two of the most beautiful lakes with Andean geese and rabbits everywhere. To Claires great relief it was a very pleasant downhill trundle to camp for the rest of the day ( She had been crippled with a stomach bug for the whole day and did brilliantly to make it to the top as many of the the group were struggling to make it and they weren't ill!) We were at around 3700m ( i think) and by the time we made it to camp it was nearly dark and around 5o clock. After a glug of cocoa tea and some snacks the altitude began to pick off our group members with head aches, nausea and worse, so everyone headed to bed for a fews hours before dinner. The porters are 3 of the smallest men i have seen, most arouns my height and very slight, and yet they manage to carry these huge sacks and run past us on the trail! They carried all our sleeping gear, tents, and duffle bags and between them and the horses they had the stove and pots and pans and crates of food to keep knocking up soups and rice dishes and puddings! We were totally pampered! After a very bad night for Claire, not great to be in a damp cold tent with a sickness and stomach bug, she and Anton and Nicole ( the aus couple) had to call it quits and head to Lares as they were all too ill to take on the 9 hour climb to 4700m! The rest of us were gutted for them and to lose them, but after 30mins of the climb we knew they were in the best place!!!