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Published: April 13th 2009
1st blog entry ever!
Ok, so if you haven't ready my profile. Here's a 2 sec version of my story. I am prepping to go to Peru with my son. Started planning the trip months ago and T-3 months and counting. Leave USA 7/15/09...
I had this great idea that we would experience the Inca Trail - 4 day hike together...
I had another fantastic idea - let's drive to Georgia for a trial hike!!! Things can only get better from here, right?
Left work 4/11 and picked up my boys (Juan 16 and Justin 11) in order to start my drive to Marietta, Ga. Met up with my buddy Jaime and spent the night.
4/12 - drove two hours from his house to http://www.mountaincrossings.com/index.asp. Can you believe the guy that owns the store (Winton) noticed my PSS shirt and was a salesman for PSS when it first started?
2700 feet (by the way I live in St. Augustine, FL - 230 ft elevation)
We started our hike @ 9:45am (4-5 hours according to Winton). The first 45 minutes were horrible, I could hardly keep my breath (Inca trail starts about 9000 ft (hahaha)). My boys were doing much better than I was. As the trek progressed things got better before they got worst again.
We reached the top of the Freeman trail and arrived at the Appalachin Trail crossing. Blood mountain (hmmm) - interesting name. We met a couple from Spain and if it weren't for them, we would have taken a wrong turn and could have ended up lost. They sent us up the trail and our thoughts of continuing on flat land was more appealing. We heeded there recommendation and finally agreed that there way was the right way. Fast forward and a number of cramps later, we reached the top.
4600 feet (3 hours later)
Holy crap - everyone I saw pass me was definitely in better shape than i was. I was the fattest guy I saw hiking (40 yrs old 300 lbs) - that should have been a sign...
We rested for 45 minutes and although I thought to myself this lady carried a baby in a sling up the hard part of the mountain. How hard could it be to get down?
I honestly broke down and thought to myself, what the hell am I going to do, how am I going to get down this mountain with all the cramps? My boys were fantastic. My younger son (Justin) was amazing - helping me up and sitting me down and always saying how proud he was of me.
Fast forward again - back to the car at 4:45pm. My buddy thought we did 4-5 miles but I knew better. I called Winton and he confirmed we did a 7.5 mile hike that is rated moderate to strenous. In retrospect as both of my boys suggested during the hike, maybe for the 1st time in my life "I took on more than I could chew". Brief rewind (My family doubted I could ride a bicycle from St. Augustine to Daytona (50+ miles) and now I've done it round trip for 3 years)...
Now for the reality of Peru - I emailed SAS travel today and asked if they would adjust my reservation for a 2 day custom hike. I await their reply tomorrow...
Nonetheless, we are definitely in training at this point...
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Darcey
non-member comment
Peru's cool!
I am 44 yo Canadian dad who took his 12 yr old to Peru last spring. We had a great trip from landing in Lima to Machu Pichu! We spent nearly three weeks in Cusco and the sacred valley and would recommend that. I would like to see lake titikaka if i ever get back. We were too late in the year to book into the Inca trail, but did one of the other less known treks nearby with a guide and a couple of his horses. Don't miss Machu Pichu. So much history. People are really nice. The trip reminded me that a subsistance existance is not necessarily impoverished and we are not as rich as they think we are. Keep your eyes wide open, and don't drink untreated water.