Advertisement
Published: March 17th 2007
Edit Blog Post
We were picked up from our hostel bright and early on March 5th. We had some fun trying to stuff the sleeping bags that they gave us into the backpacks we had brought. Unfortunately...it wasn't meant to be. So we had to precariously tie them to the outsides of our packs. I had picked up a backpack from another traveller earlier in the week - which was a little bit bigger than the small pack i had, but significantly smaller than my huge one. I thought it would be perfect. Alas...it wasn't...it was rather uncomfortable..but i eventually found a way to dangle my sleeping bag and mat in a semi-comfortable way. It was more comfortable than i first had it...but definitely didn't feel good. My shoulder was aching every step of the way!! I maintain that it was the backpack that hindered me in my quest to reach the top first....
So day #1 started out with a few hills up and down, and a little bit of rain. We were told that day #1 was the easy day...and let me tell you, that being "easy", i was definitely feeling a little daunted going into day #2 which we were
Plaza de Armas in Cusco
Nice sunny day finally...and beautiful churches - and no hiking. Perfect! told was a killer. My legs and shoulder hurt after day 1...so we stretched out a bit at camp and prepped ourselves for the hardest day which was coming up earrrly the nexy morning...
Day #2 - so, they don´t even sugar coat it for you. They don´t even pretend like it´s going to be an easy day. We started out at 7am or something like that and right away had a massive hill to start with. Ok, that´s a lie. We started out with a massive hill that lasted ALL DAY. There was no downhill for a loonnnnnnggggg time. It´s the highest pass of the whole trail - at 4200m - we had camp at 2000 something. That´s a big ascent before lunch time!! You had to basically take one breath for every step you took - and even then i found myself stopping every 10 steps or so to try and gather enough oxygen to keep going. Man, my leg muscles were burrrrrnnnning. and really not in a good way! Anyway, the only thing that kept us going was knowing that this was the hardest part of the hike. And that from here, things only go better.
Those damn conquistors...
they built this church on TOP on the Inca ruins. Talk about power issues... And getting to the top of that hill (with all those who some how made it up wayyy faster cheering for the ones cresting the pass...) was sooo rewarding! I mean, it wasn´t at the time. I just wanted to take my backpack off and get a massage right there and then. But once it hit that the worst was over, then it was rewarding. We took a group picture at the top once everyone arrived...and then we had a lot of steps DOWN to take to get to camp. And let me tell you, a whole other set of muscles got their work out on the way down!! Between the slippery wet rocks, steep hillside, and porters running down with huuuuge packs on it was a daunting task even to get down! But nothing compared with the ascent. But tough none the less. Laying down after that has never been better. Lunch was pretty good too. Despite the shaky muscles and aching back...We camped that night pretty much in a mud puddle - and the rain didn´t let up the entire night - making getting to the tents quite an interesting predicament - hopping between rocks and trying not
to slip.
Day #3 - another early start...another early hill. Luckily this one wasn´t as hard as the previous days. But it was still an unwelcome start to the day! We saw some cool ruins along the way, and it really felt like I was walking through a cloud forest in BC. We sacrificed some Coca leaves and did a sun dance (the rain was being really good - only raining at night and then letting up mostly during the day...but it had started a little...so we figured a sacrifice was in order. And it WORKED. Not even kidding. It worked. And we got sun, about 20 seconds after our dance. It was insane! We definitely tried it the next morning too at Machu Picchu - it took a little longer to work...but alas...it still worked!) This day ended up being a really fun day of hiking. Just the right mix of ups and downs - we could actually USE our long legs to our advantage!! We camped in the rain again...but we knew that early the next morning was what we were all waiting for! Macuh Picchu!
Day #4 - earliest start yet...wake up at 4am...have breakfast...pack
the 12 sided stone
a famous example of the exact and difficult incan stone work - they didn't use mortar, just perfectly fitted stones our stuff..and head out before 5am. We get on the trail, and end up in line with all teh other groups, also vying for the first position for hiking. We hike 2 hours...and reach the stairs which were rather anticlimactical. I definitely thought that Machu Picchu would be just over the crest of the stairs. Unfortunately we still had another 20 minutes to walk. How disappointing!! Then we arrived at the Sun Gate...where you can first lay eyes on Machu Picchu. However - it was super cloudy, and we couldn´t see a thing. Needless to say we were a little bitter about the whole thing. We sacrificed more coca leaves. But it took a little while to work...it didn´t work while we were on the top at the Sun Gate, that´s for sure. So we walked down into the lost city of the Incans....started our tour...and little by little the clouds cleared up. It was fantastic. Our guides showed us around the whole complex, told us stories, and eventually we had free time to explore (actually Mike, Callie and myself took a nap on the grass of Machu Picchu - the hike really took it out of us!! All those
The Incan trail....here we go!
steps steps steps..all the way to Machu Picchu damn people who took the train kept looking at us like we looked like hell - well...not gonna lie, pretty sure we did - and after 4 days of no showers, pretty sure we didn´t smell too good either!)
Among those people who took the train...were mom and dad!!! I got a tap on my shoulder in the midst of an explanation from Marcel...and i turn around to see the both of them standing right there!!! How crazy is that...a reunion on top of Machu Picchu! It was really cool to see familiar faces after 2.5 months! We spent the next few days together in the Sacred Valley and then returned to Cusco together before flying to Lima so that they could start their cruise. We saw more ruins, i stayed in places wayyyy nicer than what i´m used to, ate food that cost more than my budget for a week...and did all those kinds of fun things that you can do with your parents on holiday!!
All in all...Machu Picchu and the Inca trail was SUPER tough, but really, SO worth it. The feeling of accomplishing something like that was incredible, and to be able to share
First day on the trail...
i don't think we really knew what we were getting into! it with such great people (Callie, Mike, and the best group ever...and of course Mom and Dad - although like i say...THEY took the train.....) So, here are some pictures...enjoy! A Posting and pictures together! imagine that!
Lotsa Love and hugs!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.053s; Tpl: 0.018s; cc: 8; qc: 24; dbt: 0.0245s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1mb
Catherine
non-member comment
Congratulations!!
Wow Lauren! What an amazing accomplishment. The pictures are once again, fantastic! Your "hike" sounds incredible. Gald you made it safe and that you got to share it with friends and your parents. Lots of love! Catherine