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Published: August 24th 2013
The Power Of The Mind With Limited Oxygen – A Personal Reflection.
Author Sue
We accomplished the Inca Trail Trek!!! – Keith, Kathy, Jamie and Sue
Starting out on a dream of a lifetime, the unknown the mystery of the journey saw us leave our safe haven in Cusco. That is, a warm comfortable bed; flushing toilet; hot showers and connection to the world and its daily events. Backpacks on backs with minimal clothing and extra water we descend to the Sacred Valley to meet our porters and organize bedding. The rush of excitement carries us past villages, children playing and blowing whistles thanks to Jamie and seeing how agriculture around the world is a means of survival. We pass many locals using this trail to walk from village to village selling their wares.
Our first nights camp after 12kms saw our tents erected in a village backyard with chooks, donkey and a flowing stream. Today was a good day and my hopes for the same in the following days gave me a good night sleep to be awoken by our
porters bringing coco tea at 5.00 am.
Day two – 11kms - the most mental and physically challenged I have ever been. Walking at altitude up steep steps straight up leaves us breathless and unable to talk a few simple words – nodding the preferred communication method that we are still hanging in. Walk five steps stop and gasp as much air as possible. Even the fitter people in our group struggled this leg of our journey.
The mind takes over and soon I swear the rocks were smiling at me as we continued on the trail. Each encouraging me to keep moving. It is hard to believe that this trail was laid stone by stone over six hundred years prior. My up-bringing with an Architect father saw me analyze the layout of each placement of stone and how they formed a well-constructed path - blending together like a snake slithering through the Andean Mountains. The things your mind wanders to when you hit the wall
Many thoughts which I believe got me through this rough, enduring day was thinking of the four most precious gifts Keith and
I have been given – our children. I reflected on each of personalities, their achievements and their ambitions. I am very proud of each of them and a huge thank you for the individual people they have become, led me each step further to the end of day two. A thank you is also extended to my loving husband Keith, who agreed to face this challenge alongside me. Jamie and Kathy were very inspiring and encouraging as we each successfully fulfilled our goals.
Meals on this trek are hard to describe. The magnitude that the chef and porters went to catering for individual needs, settings and variation. I felt like royalty arriving after walking to a wash basin to clean up, a sit down 3 course meal and friendly smiles inside a tent erected only for our lunch to be dissembled again and carried to our camp site, up and down the steep slopes of the Andes.
Day three – 16kms was a lot easier in mountain climbs but it was downhill and hard on the knees. The trekkers walking poles was a great addition to accomplish the hardest steepest steps I have walked.
I must admit I am very short and some steps were actually crawled down not walked. The scenery was magnificent as we walked over passes, looking at Andean glaciers, through high altitude rainforests and many Inca sightings along our path.
Day four – 13kms 3.30 wake up – 1 hour trek at fast pace to watch the sun come up and shine on Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate. Unfortunately we were surround by fog and only saw small glimpses on this Wonder of the World.
Looking around this intriguing site makes one wonder how many more sites our hiding in the jungles of Peru just waiting for the money to be uncovered and explored.
On a personal note I am pleased that Keith and I made the decision to walk the Inca trail together and experience what the Inca people had to endure amongst these mountains. Reflecting back on how hard it was both mentally and physically and testing all my will power. Some would question why did I do it and I am very proud to say it has proven that when you set your mind to
a task, determination takes over and things are accomplished.
SUE SMITH
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NoLimitations
No Limitations
I will be going in August
I am going in August and hiking the trail. I am concerned because I am not a walker or hiker; however, people say that usually people are able to finish it because of determination and I am bound and determined to finish it. I still have time to prepare (walking and hiking). But just to mentally overcome the challenge. Thank you for sharing!