Inca Trail Day 1

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June 25, 2006
Day one of the Inca Trail
We began the trip at 10:30 or so by climbing into this big van and driving to Ollantaytambo to meet up with the porters and cook. There we found out that instead of the 11 porters we thought we were going to have - plus the guide and the cook - we´d now have 13. the two extra were to carry Xander if he needed it along the way since he´s only 6 years old and had had his aforementioned bout with the “Inca two-step” just days before. We then drove to a nice place for a picnic lunch of Calsa which is this great stacked dish of mashed potatoes, chicken (or tuna) avocados, and sauces and spices and other good stuff. So good. Then we piled back into the van to get to the trail that leads to the trail head. Finally… at like 1:30 we were hiking the inca trail. The first day, needless to say was pretty easy. It was relatively low in elevation - we camped around 2600 feet. I can´t remember what the places were called so I´m sorry but if you really want to know email me and I´ll look it up for you. That night when we got to the camp I encountered the first hole in the ground asian style toilet. Yay. We also encountered some girls of about 9 or so two of whom had a little enterprise in the middle of our camp selling water, Gatorade and beer. Another of them had a baby lamb running after her and vice versa and yet another was in a tree hacking at the branches with a machete. Yeah. She told us that she was getting food for her rabbit. Our guide, David, told us that the people up there were very poor and during the dry season (winter, now) they did everything they could to feed their animals. Still, seemed a bit dangerous. And we worry about our kids cutting their hands on metal slides. Send them up a tree with a machete, that´ll teach them how to be careful.

Anyway the first night wasn´t all that cold and again, the meal was fantastic to get us ready for the dreaded “day 2”.

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Photos

Ready to Go
At the Compound getting ready to be picked up for the Trail

The Porters Getting Ready to Go
This was our last stop on the van before heading out on foot.

first night camp
ours is the one on the right. nice, eh?

Xander and Me
With the Andes Beyond...

Gina with the glacier Veronica
First day on the Trail

You can quite literally buy Coke anywhere
Ok ok so we know that you're not supposed to buy stuff like this from the locals, but I don't know. They hauled it all the way up there...

Masa and Me
Next to the first ruins of the hike.

Comments

[Rachel]

que increible!
Hey guys! Don't mind me - I'm just stopping by to spy on your adventures and steal some ideas for my own future gallavanting across the world. The landscape on the Inka trail looks phenomenal. And how awesome is it that you were able to squeeze in an unexpected stop in Colombia! Why do the Cusco police look like they're 14 years old? I don't know how safe I'd feel with them protecting me. Alright I am off to read Day 2 of the Inca Trail. West Hollywood misses you! Rachel

[Oscar]

Respond to Rachel
The Cusco Police are actually school kids who are out in the city to help out tourist. Their duties are not to protect the tourist. They are there to help as a course of national security.

[JM in Transit]

I think rach was kidding
I am not sure who you are Oscar, but in case you check back, I believe it was a joke. Sorry if you were offended or didn't understand. JN