#1: [13-Aug-16] (incomplete)

31-Dec-2016 -- This is the second out of five reports on reaching confluence points during our trip through Colombia. Two of them had not been visited successfully before. The story starts at 5°N 74°W.

This confluence point sits at an altitude of 3611 m on the western side of a mountain ridge with heights between 3800 m and 3900 m. Since the eastern side is easier accessible, the visitor is better off by climbing over the mountain range to reach the confluence point.

Breakfast officially began at 7 AM at the hotel at Lake Sochacota. “Too late”, I said and announced that I won’t be able to have breakfast. But the hotel staff was so nice to provide breakfast at 6 AM especially for me. With a full stomach I departed at 6:15 AM and reached Cerinza at 7 AM. Even though the direct approach from Cerinza is attempting due to its proximity, I opted for another approach: I continued driving further north to Belén and took a little mountain road from there to the top of the ridge. From a straight distance of 5 km I commenced my hike along the ridge at 8 AM. The ridge was not levelled at all, but surely easier than climbing the mountain straight up. On my hike, I came through landscapes full of Espeletia pycnophylla. After a pleasant hike along the ridge for 1.5 hours, I left the ridge and descended to the confluence point.

The confluence point is on a slope of a deep canyon on a meadow with scattered highland trees. Just 5 m from the confluence is a cow fence. Yes, there is a lot of cattle farming at this altitude.

I took a similar route back and reached my rental car at 12 noon. Since it was a holiday, the traffic was not heavy such that I was back to the hotel for a late lunch at 1:30 PM.

More pictures can be found at mautz.net.

CP Visit Details:

• Distance to a road: 5 km
• Distance to a foot path: 400 m
• Distance of car parking: 5 km
• Time at the confluence: 9:52 AM
• Measured height: 3611 m
• Minimal distance according to GPS: 0 m
• Position accuracy: 2 m
• Topography: slope, mountainous
• Vegetation: grass, moss, various highland trees, nearby Espeletia pycnophylla flowers
• Weather: cloudy, 5° C (felt temperature)
• Given Name: The Andes Highland Confluence

The story continues at 7°N 73°W.