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Published: January 14th 2017
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So the day started for us in Ollyantaytambo bright eyed and bushy tailed onto the coach to get to kilometer 82. A brief meeting with the crew and we were off. The first day was up and down with every kind of weather thrown at us possible. As a group we made good time but got to the camp site in the howling rain, so no way of getting dry in a tent for the night. We freshened up as able and then had a more formal introduction to our crew of porters, chef, sues chef and waiter!!! Our guides were James and Edison. After a fab meal ( seriously good considering we were camping) it was an early night in prep for the day we had all been dreading tomorrow. A nice 5am wake up call waited for us. 5am came by in the blink of an eye, me and Jo hadn't slept a wink, so not the best of starts. To be fair to the crew though we, did get woken up with a bowl of warm water and a cup of cocoa tea ( Families take note.........these boys know how to look after their girls :p )
Jo was feeling really poorly with an upset stomach and was understandably worried about the day that lat ahead. Day two is renown as being the hardest day due to "dead woman's pass" its a 10k 1000m ascent pretty much straight up taking us to a dizzy 4215m above sea level. Not nice! So we stuck together at the back of the group, keeping it steady with the help and encouragement of our guide Edison. slowly but surely we got to the half way point rest stop. Again the weather turned on us, this time in the shape of hail!!!! So we took shelter under a hut and actually had a cheeky nap!!! HUGE ERROR! Jo woke up feeling funky fresh and was raring to go, I however felt awful........and it only got worse. The ascent of dead woman's pass was something I never wish to relive. I think it would have been difficult to do well, let alone Ill. to cut a long story short, I threw up twice and needed oxygen to kick start me again twice! The altitude screwed me over big time. But again through grit and determination and a huge helping of support from Jo
and out tour guide we made it to the top of the pass at a respectable time still. I never wish to do that again. I got to camp and pretty much went straight to bed feeling rough as.
The next day I didn't feel better but still took it slow. 10k up hill all be it a bit gentler and then 6k all down hill after lunch. When we arrived at camp for lunch we were presented with a cake from the crew as a well done for making it the day before! All I could think was, how the hell do you make a full blown cake that feeds 20, ice and decorate it with just a camping stove??? Amazing, and it didn't taste to bad either.
Day 4 was a 3am start to get to the sun gate for sun rise. Again it was freezing but deep down we all knew it would be worth it. The clouds gradually lifted to reveal the stunning beauty of Machu Picchu. It was breath taking- what more can I say. We did it and now we have pictures and a stamp in our passport to prove it! Celebratory
beer and pisco sours at the top at 8am well earnt. we had loads of time to explore and taking a bazillion pictures! Thankfully we had a train ticket to get us back down and home to e fun didn't stop there though and we completed a 24 hour challenge as we partied into the wee hours of this morning.
Eventually we crawled out of bed bad got a well early massage and pedicure this morning to ease the aches and pains. I can say with great delight now that we are alive and well, writing this from our beds.
Chat soon
Lauren and Jo xx
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Paddington
Did Paddington get altitude sickness? Looks like he is a bit worse for wear on the PS. On a serious note well done girls. You are both pretty amazing xxxxxxx