Chavin de Huántar ruins (Part I) -

On Saturday, October 25, we got together with the Dicksons (the other senior couple serving in the stake) and Juan Montalván (our trainer at the archives) and drove to the Chavin ruins which are 53 miles from Huaraz but it took us about 3 hours due to the winding mountain roads.

The Chavin culture is not the oldest in Peru but one of the most significant, especially due to their early time period. Most archaeologists date them from 1200 to 300 B.C. This coincides with the Olmec culture in Mexico and Central America with whom they share some similarities. This also matches part of the time period of the Jaredites, the earliest culture described in the Book of Mormon. Even before the guide at the ruins mentioned the similarities, I noticed that the stone heads shared some common features and style with the Olmec sculptures we saw in Mexico and Guatemala.

Here are a few photos from our trip.

This is Lake Querococha at 13,037 feet on the western slopes of the Andes Mountains. We stopped to take a picture and there was a tour bus stopped and the passengers were walking down to the lake.

Recreation zone is what the sign says. I suppose there is boating on the lake in the warm, dry months.

As we were ready to leave, these two boys appeared from nowhere carrying two small lambs.

I took their picture and they asked for a "propina" (tip), so we gave them a few soles. They probably catch the tour buses that stop also.

Juan even got into the act. I think he is taking a selfie here.

Here we are at the entrance to the Kahuish tunnel at 14,850 feet elevation. The tunnel is short, you can see the other end in the picture. We are crossing the divide of the Andes. From here we will head down the eastern slope.

This political sign greeted us as we emerged from the tunnel. Also some snow flakes. Since this is still in Ancash Region, they will be voting in the runoff election for the regional president on December 7.

Not far from the tunnel exit was this statue.

The light snow collected on a few bushes. For Juan, who lives in Chiclayo on the Pacific coast, this was the first snow falling he had seen.

Looking back up at the tunnel exit as we descend the side of the mountain.

As we dropped into the valley, this pleasant scene came into view.

Llamas or alpacas (not sure which) grazing in the pasture.

This turned out to be a rest stop (but we didn't stop).

Here are the bathrooms for the rest stop. They were accessed by crossing two small bridges over the stream.

As we descended on the road, we could see this peaceful little community below. It took us another 15 minutes to reach the bottom of the valley due to the steep terrain and many switchbacks in the road. Note the green soccer field in the middle of the photo and the patchwork fields on the hillside. These will become green in the coming months as they are planted and nurtured by the rains that are beginning to fall every day now.

Looking down the valley toward the site of the Chavin ruins.

A closer look at the soccer field and stands. Next to the museum, this was the nicest structure in the area.

...To be continued in Part II..