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Published: September 10th 2007
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WELL WE DID IT!
For me this was going to be one of the highlights of our trip, and it lived right up to and exceeded our expectations! It had been on my list for a long long time and it felt amazing to actually be doing it!
Our group was a real mix of people which turned out to work really well and after a sleepy bus trip to KM82 we were up and off the bus and getting our packs sorted to start walking.
I have to say, the porters are amazing! These guys are so zippy .... while we are huffing and puffing up hills they spring past you carrying gobsmackingly huge amounts with a cheery "Buenos Dias Señorita!"...... I was in complete awe of them and it was really encouraging to see the familiar faces bounding past you each day!
The trek itself was fairly tough going because of the altitude, but you are rewarded with such amazing views and terrain that it becomes just part of the experience. We had no idea that we were going to pass through so many amazing Inca ruins, cloud forests, waterfalls, snow capped peaks, beautiful wild
orchids, and wonderful views!
Day one was more of a warm up than anything. We certainly covered some ground but it was a gentle slope to the first campsite overlooking the snowy Mount Veronica at 5300+m. Day two was just up and up and up and UP..... to the first pass of 4200m - Dead Woman´s Pass. Its quite a satisfying climb as you can see exactly where you came from at the top. After that the rain kicked in and the path turned into a little waterfall which made the going rather interesting. That evening the rain didn´t stop and we all prepared ourselves for a day of fun in our damp clothes. The third day began with, yes you have guessed it, rain! We began our route up to the second pass and gradually the rain got heavier. I had a bit of a Ben Nevis flashback on that day (the time that we climbed BN with Sonia and Ross (Richard's Mum and Dad) a couple of years ago in sleet and rain and anything else the sky decided to throw at us, but claimed our peak despite in that miserable weather!). However I reminded myself that
we had got full on waterproofs since that day and as one of our friends always says "you aren´t going to dissolve!"). The rain moved on after a while and we carried on through the trail through cloud. Its so frustrating to know that behind the cloud there was amazing scenery. We would get little hints of it from time to time as the cloud moved around, which actually had quite a mystical effect. You also forget about the drops either side of you when you can´t see them! Mind you, the ruins and forests that we walked through as well as Inca tunnels on the path and the amazing path itself were enough to keep us occupied as we scaled the third and final pass.
On arrival in camp we treated ourselves to "Irish" hot chocolates (crazy kids!) thanks to Richard´s little whisky stash he had stowed away - very typical of Señor Lyders to suddenly appear with a bottle of hard liquor in his hand but noone was complaining - it was perfectly timed! We sunk into some beers with the other two Brits in the group (great company on the trail for the obligatory bogie and
fart jokes) and so to bed. Before we knew it it was the 4am wake up call (ouch) for the final sprint to the sun gate in time to see the sun rise over Macchu Piccu! The point of the trek!
For once we were greeted with clear skies!! Amazing!! (see photo .... we could see the surrounding mountains outlines, a beautiful crescent moon and venus).
It was really exciting waiting in the dark for the gates to the site to open, but another hours scramble uphill to get to the sungate. Once there you are rewarded with an awesome view of Macchu Piccu just as the sun starts to come over the mountains to hit it (see left). We were all stood there gasping for breath but smiling. Its only taken (mumbles) years to get here but we did it!!
Macchu Pichu itself was really amazing to visit. You know the famous view of the site from above but it was quite something to actually walk around the site and amongst the buildings of the city. Again the perfect stonework of the granite walls are so precise you can only wonder at the work and craftsmanship
involved. Quite a lot to take in, especially when your feet are telling you its time to sit down!
TICK!
Cath
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pru
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well done
Wonderful pics, thanks Cath. You're incredible you two! And I think you've got a career waiting for you in journalism. Your diaries read really well - hidden talents. And I'm getting to know you better each time too - scaryafter all this time. Take care - onwards and upwards