Rainbow Mountain reveals its Secret.

Rainbow mountain is promoted widely and it lure a tantalising one. Though with some skepticism, tainted and yet encouraged by various reviews, we had to go. Be warned, those vivid images so often seen on various websites and brochures are not reality. Photoshop technicians do not want us to to know the truth.

What is true though is that hidden behind all that mascara, blush and foundation is an undeniable natural beauty.

The ridge is a composition of coloured minerals that will show their colour dependent on the light of the day and whether they are wet or dry. Be encouraged with the knowledge that a full day of adventure will be rewarded, so long as your expectations are not inflated by the hype.

Before I launch into my story, I encourage you to visit Steph's (my daughter) blog. Her point of view is a good read too: Somewhere Over The Rainbow.

Our day starts early: the mountain is located at around 4 hours from Cusco and there is a lot of hours involved in walking and gawking. Was it 3 or 4am ? I can't remember as I am groggy at that hour and tired anyway from our daily calendar of activities. What I do remember is that our guide turned up almost an hour late and that late night revelers do not sleep. Cusco is very much alive in the wee hours. We thought were scammed because of the lateness of our guide, but he did turn up - it might be the other guests or his alarm failed who knows and really does it matter ? I was glad to revisit slumberland and defrost in the bus on the way to the mountain site.

There is a thriving enterprise with the locals. The mountain taxi service: horses to take the tourists part way up the mountain. Inflation and capitalism is king here. You will pay more than the cost of an excursion to Ausangate with its inclusive service. In western terms it is cheap that well worth it if you are foot weary or unfit. Prearmed with the previous weeks of adventure, Steph knows what it means to be ascending to peaks of 5000m, so any assistance on the way up is welcome and will be paid for. I on the other hand, am a glutton for punishment and chose to walk.

Rainbow mountain is a popular destination and the pilgrims extend a long line from the car park to its peak. Steph soon disappeared into that line, and we met up at rest stops and near the final ascent when a dismount and use of one's own engine is required.

The views on the way were sublime, getting better the higher we go. Compelling as the goal is, it is remiss to rush. To even try to rush is a bad decision anyway. At heights close to 5000m there is little spare oxygen available and it would be rapidly depleted should one try to do so.

At the 5000m (and 9m) sign there is still more to go. The earth cut steps are hard to ascend and seemingly unjustifiably eternal for the short distance that remains.

There are a lot of people for the limited space available to get that "photo".

At the right angle you will get the rainbow effect. No Photoshop enhancements on this image, the natural beauty shines through.

Sublime is a great word. The sweeping valleys below along with the rarefied atmosphere are breathtaking.

So, what is the secret that rainbow mountain has ? It is the red mountain. Over the ridge is a wholly different view. Steph was pretty tired and worn out and was reluctant to go. I suggested she stay and rest whislt I go over. Fear-Of-Missing-Out : it wasn't that long I heard the faint familiar calls, Steph wanted to be here too.

Well and truly worth the effort. Few people venture here. The tour guides don't want their day extended and discourage you from going. I am glad that I read about it and made the journey. It is not that far off the beaten track anyway.

The additional side trip demanded a toll payment. Poor Steph was suffering on the way back to Rainbow Mountain at this point she was hating me, the world and perhaps herself ! Many others on the same track had mutual expressions, so she had company.

Heading back down to the buses with oxygen flooding back into the blood stream all of the sufferings were soon forgotten and were supplanted with the memories of our adventures of the day.

I had a look at Google Earth. What a great tool and free too. Rainbow mountain and Red mountain are seen in 3 dimensional context. Red moutain is like a slice down the side.

Rainbow mountain is a fairly recent tourism location. It was a covered with a glacier. With global warming, along with many Peruvian glaciers it melted away. There are still some glaciers left but their days are numbered.