Oct 1, 2016.  Casablanca Hostal, Arequipa, Peru.

• Up at 3 AM, after a night with very little sleep - the crummy sleeping pad didn't help any, and it was well below freezing, so even wearing my parka in my sleeping bag didn't keep me very warm.  I had a cup of tea for breakfast, but wasn't hungry at all.  The hike up began immediately and was unremittingly uphill, completely in the dark, with my ultralight headlamp not really helping much.  At least I had my hiking poles.  We climbed for the next 4-5 hours, at a very slow pace, just plodding along, resting every few minutes.  My hands, protected only by my thin North Face gloves, got really cold, to the point where I began worrying about frostbite.  Not to worry - they warmed up after awhile, as they always did when I skied.  In fact, they alternated between frozen and warm throughout the morning.

• I wasn't the only one with issues.  Everybody else was struggling, and one guy in particular barfed about a half dozen times on the way up, and one on the way down - I give him a lot of credit for continuing the climb even though feeling like shit.  My high moment came at about 5500m: I had to poop.  I managed to do it behind a rock, with everybody else patiently waiting, and my hands so frozen I could barely manipulate the t.p.  A record height for pooping by Yours Truly.  

• With no moon, and no nearby lights, the night sky was absolutely gorgeous, with Orion right overhead, and even a few meteors.  

• Finally made it to the top as the sun rose: 6057m, 19,872 feet, the first time I've made it past six thousand meters (Kilimanjaro is "only" 5895m).  But it was tough, way tougher than I remember Kilimanjaro to be, and I don't believe I will be trying to go any higher anytime soon.

• The way down was a blast: a long, steep slide on loose sand, all the way back to the campsite - only took about 2 hours, with giant steps and occasional mini slides.  At the bottom I discovered I had a bloody nose - proof that I was at altitude.  Back to the van, and the city.  A great challenge, on a beautiful mountain, with perfect weather.  

• Said goodbye to the other hikers, and especially to Herman.  He said he did not know of anybody my age who had hiked Chachani, and that he will never forget me.  

• Bought an ice cream (my first food of the day), checked back into the hostal in the early afternoon, took a nice long shower, and lazed about until an early bedtime.