Mt. Nevado Veronica is the highest peak in the Cordillera Urumbamba Range at 5,680 m (18,635 ft), near Cusco, Peru. Its Quechua name, Wakay Wilica, means Sacred Tears. You can still see some of the remaining glaciers. They are disappearing faster in South America than they are in North America. The photo advantage point was with me standing (gasping for breath) at about 4,267 m (14,000 ft). I could never get a clear view of the summit but this is close. We were let out near Abra Malaga Pass to start our five hour descent (we were told it would take two hours) down the slopes above Tastayoc Valley looking for Royal Cinclodes. We were not successful in that quest but being flat landers we impressed ourselves by surviving the strenuous trek.
