Location:
Cordillera Huayhuash, Peruvian Andes
10.180853 S, 76.890813 W
Story Behind the Shot:
Django, a 1-year-old Leonberger, was the ultimate trekking companion during our 8-day backpacking adventure through the rugged Cordillera Huayhuash in the Peruvian Andes. As the donkey herder's dog, he followed our group faithfully, often hiking alongside me for stretches of the trail, and always brought an undeniable energy and charm to our journey.
In the Andes, survival is harsh and unforgiving. Between the pumas and Andean condors, the remains of cattle were a common sight along the trail. Django had a habit of scavenging whatever he could find, and every evening, he’d bring something back to camp to gnaw on. That morning, as we packed up in the freezing -9°C air, he proudly dragged back an impressive prize: the skull of a cow, complete with horns.
The moment felt surreal. Django, chewing contentedly on the skull, framed against the towering, snow-capped peaks of the Huayhuash, embodied the raw and untamed nature of this landscape. It was a perfect, unplanned scene that spoke to the rugged beauty of life at this altitude, where resourcefulness and survival instincts reign supreme.
