13 Women Trek Peru's Andes: 8 Days Above 4,100m

When Tammy Ballantyne Webber found particles of Andean dust in her hiking boots weeks after returning home, she smiled at the proof of what she'd accomplished. The South African writer had just completed one of the world's most challenging high-altitude treks with 12 other women, proving that months of dedication and sisterhood can carry you to extraordinary heights.

The adventure started when Tammy's sister Lisa, a guide with GirlsTrek Australia, invited her to join the Cordillera Huayhuash circuit in Peru. Tammy spent months preparing, hiking beaches and forest trails with a loaded backpack, taking Pilates three times weekly, and completing a grueling 30-kilometer training trek in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.

In July, 13 women from different corners of the globe gathered in Lima. After exploring the vibrant capital and savoring their first pisco sours, they embarked on a nine-hour bus journey to Huaraz, gateway to the mighty Huayhuash range.

The trek itself tested everything they had. For eight days, they hiked at altitudes starting at 4,100 meters, with several passes climbing above 4,800 meters and their biggest challenge, Trapecio Pass, topping 5,000 meters.

Tammy battled altitude sickness for three days, experiencing dizziness, nausea, and headaches. But surrounded by encouraging teammates and an extraordinary Peruvian crew, she discovered her mind was stronger than she'd imagined.

The conditions were brutal. Nights brought freezing temperatures that required hot water bottles in sleeping bags. Hailstorms swept across campsites, and the thin air made every step an effort.

Yet joy filled the spaces between the struggle. The women shared coca tea and popcorn around communal tables. Their Peruvian crew prepared picnic lunches complete with tables and chairs at 4,800 meters. They celebrated a birthday with cake and cheered as some women summited above 5,000 meters for the first time.

The landscape rewarded their efforts with stunning blue-sky days, wildflowers carpeting mountain meadows, and glacial lakes reflecting snow-covered peaks. They learned to pronounce magical names like Jirishanca, Yerupaja Grande, and Laguna Carhuacocha.

Why This Inspires

This trek represents something bigger than personal achievement. In a world that often tells women what they can't do, these 13 adventurers from different backgrounds united around a shared goal. They carried each other through the hardest moments, proving that collective support transforms impossible challenges into unforgettable triumphs. One woman even took a dip in a freezing glacial river, turning difficulty into playful celebration.

Now back home in Johannesburg, Tammy hikes through the pre-spring landscape with new confidence. She still hears their guide Jannina's laugh and her rallying cry: "Vamos, chicas! Time for chica power!" Those words capture the magic of what happens when women stop competing and start lifting each other higher.