Advertisement
The dream started 15 years ago. Four days, 45 kms, 6000 steps, no blood, a lot of sweat and a couple of tears and I MADE IT!!!!
I cannot begin to explain the emotions, scenery, physical and mental challenges and the fact that I can´t believe I did it...I can´t wipe the smile from my face. The Inca Trail was one of the best, most rewarding experiences of my life....I feel on top of the world albeit a little hunched over with aching muscles and bones!
I was so unbelivably nervous before we started (so was Stacey and most of the group). Our little group was made up of just 9 people and once again we were so extremely lucky to have:
a) a small group (lots of other groups had 16 plus)
b) such amazing people on our trek that were so encouraging and supportive, and
c) such a wonderful trekking company who look after their porters and us so incredibly well
We were picked up at 5am on Day 1 and driven a couple of hours to the starting point at kilometre 82. My heart was racing...I really was so worried I wouldn´t be able to make it. People I have met throughout this trip have told me it´s the hardest thing they have ever done in their lives and as you may recall...I am certainly no trekker...I don´t even go bushwalking!
I found the first day really tough and the pace set was quite fast as we were held up for ages at the first check point. We trekked 14kms that day and I started to wig out a bit after lunch as I thought ¨if this is the easy day how on earth will I get thru Day 2 (which is known as the toughest of the 4 days).
Stace and I crawled into camp about 15 minutes after the rest of the group and I was so happy to see our tent and a bowl of hot water for each of us to have a ¨POME wash¨. Our wonderful guide ¨Alex¨told us ¨Happy Hour¨ was in a few minutes. Every day we had the best ever ¨Happy Hour¨with fresh hot popcorn, hot Milo (yes Milo!) and other goodies.
The food was so amazing I can´t begin to describe how our wonderful cook created such delicious specialities for breakfast, lunch and dinner each day. We ate lots of ¨Peruvian¨ dishes and other great things and on the last morning (at 3.30am breakfast) we had a massive freshly baked cake!
But back to the trekking...everyone was nervous about Day 2 having heard about the notorious ¨Dead Woman´s Pass¨ and knowing we had to trek a tough 16 kms (mostly up hill). I was completely knotted up inside but decided I could definitely do it. ¨Dead Woman´s Pass¨is a 900 metre elevation of straight up...straight, straight up! We walked from 3,300m to 4,000m and it took us just a couple of hours. The altitude got to me a bit towards the end but I could hear (and see) the rest of the group cheering me on from the top of the pass and I stumbled up the last step only 2 minutes after Stacey and 15 minutes after our fastest hiker. I could barely breathe...but I´d survived the most gruelling part of the Inca Trail. My eyes were a little misty from relief, satisfaction, excitement and pride and the whole group was so happy and proud of one another. We sat there looking at what we had just climbed and ate our best ever tasting chocolate bars in pure (aching) blissful happiness.
The next part of the day was down. Way down...and it started to rain so the stoney path became extremely slippery and we had to take it easy. After lunch everyone was totally exhausted but we still had 3 or more hours trekking so we soldiered on and kept dreaming of ¨Happy Hour¨to get us to our camp. The orange coloured clouds reflecting off the snowcapped mountains in the distance of our campsite was a beautiful ending to a challenging and rewarding day. We were asleep by 8pm.
(I have to go as we are heading on a 16 hour overnight bus ride to Nazca to see the mysterious Nazca Lines so I will write part 2 in a few days)
Happy Mother´s Day to all those mamas out there and especially to my Ibi. Will be thinking of you Ibs, enjoy camping with Jase and Chantal. x
Miss Louisa...I am waiting every day to hear your news so good luck with the delivery. x
Advertisement
Tot: 0.101s; Tpl: 0.009s; cc: 7; qc: 49; dbt: 0.0504s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
Cruisin
Mike K
Way to go Shaz
Wow!! what a buzz to read your tales, damm I wish I was doing the Inca Trail too..keep them coming, they make great lunch time reading.. lots of love Uncle Mick xo