"This was taken on the 28-mile (45-kilometer) Santa Cruz trail, in Peru's Cordillera Blanca, South America's version of the Himalaya with 22 peaks over 19,000 feet (5,791 meters). The children are local Quechua Indians, who came out to greet me and a hiking buddy as we made our way through one of the villages. While I don't speak much Quechua, it was nice to take a break from hiking to play around with them and exchange a few smiles."
 
Michael Benoist
Associate Editor
 
Do-It-Yourself: "To hike the Santa Cruz trail, load up on provisions in Huaráz and catch a cab to the trailhead outside of town ($12 each way). You can rent a burro if you don't feel like hauling your own provisions, but it really isn't necessary—despite the climb to a 15,584-foot (4,750-meter) pass."

Photograph courtesy of Eric Sahrmann

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