Back from the land of the Incas
Dad and I just returned to Cusco after 5 days of hiking in the Andes although it feels as if we've been gone much much longer! It appeared there would only be one other person joining us in our hiking group, but at the last minute a British guy and 2 Spaniards joined the team. It ended up being a unique blend of accents, cultures, eating habbits etc... It was great because we all got to know each other quite well after spending the better part of 5 full days on the trails, during meals and in camp.
There are way too many stories to give an in-depth depiction of the whole trip but I'll try to sum things up whiling hitting the highlights.
Day 1: We were picked up early and driven to the trailhead. From there our gear was loaded onto mules and we started hiking with our daypacks. The first day was probably the most challenging mostly due to the high elevation we were dealing with. I suppose the combination of snow, hail and rain didn't help either. Within the first few hours of hiking I had serious doubts about the trek due to being cold and acquiring a pounding headache from the altitude. Popped a few advil before bed and woke up feeling like a new man.
Day 2: Set out early and hiked for about 5 hours. The hike was difficult because we were hiking downhill along muddy paths littered with slippery stones. Needless to say, by the end of the hike my legs (especially ankles, knees and shins) were screaming for relief! Relief came in the form of a natural hot spring located near the camp site. It felt marvelous to clean off and treat the sore muscles. We all stayed up late enjoying the local beer and playing cards until late into the night (disturbing a group of French hikers camping in a nearby field).
Day 3: The third day involved a rolling trail that paralleled a river surrounded by dense jungle on both sides. It was really interesting to pass through small indiginous communtities that consisted of little more than a few small huts made of sticks and straw. Bathed in the cold river before taking a power nap and relaxing with the crew.
Day 4: We woke up early to climb 2000 feet in 2 hours before the sun could punish us! It turned out to be foggy on the trails but the humidity prevented anyone from sweating through their clothes. Once at the top, the fog started to lift and we got a distant preview of Machu Picchu from across the valley. The mountains surrounding Machu Picchu are unlike anything I've seen before. The sharp angles, steep faces and kelly green color are unique to this section of the Andes where the tectonic plates have crumbled the earth's crust into these breath-taking mountains. After lunch it was a 2+ hour hike along the train tracks to the village below Machu Picchu.
Day 5: We woke up at 3:30 this morning to pack, eat and get to Maccu Picchu before the place got packed to the gills with tourists. We were planning to hike up to the top but morning rain showers forced us to take the bus. We entered the park at 6 to the site of faint stone structures slightly obscured by the mystical fluffy fog that danced across the mountain tops. Nestled beneith peaks that were stunning in and of themselves, the ancient Inca community looked surreal. I could only imagine the thrill of being one of the first explorers to stumble upon this hidden city. The craftmanship, engineering and volume of labor needed to construct Maccu Picchu were and are difficult to wrap my mind around. After a guided tour, Dad and I spent about an hour wandering though the maze-like hallways, staircases and rooms where there were fewer tourists.
In total, we hiked over 70 kilometers and reached an elevation as high as 15,000 feet! Obviously the climax was today's visit to Maccu Picchu. I'm looking forward to sleeping in a bed tonight and then laundry in the morning before we fly down to see Lake Titicaca for 3 days. Maccu Picchu will be a tough act to follow but I'm confident we'll have fun and see some more great stuff!
On a side note, please excuse any errors in my blog. The computers I've been using only have a Spanish spell-checker which is exposing my Achilles heal.
There are way too many stories to give an in-depth depiction of the whole trip but I'll try to sum things up whiling hitting the highlights.
Day 1: We were picked up early and driven to the trailhead. From there our gear was loaded onto mules and we started hiking with our daypacks. The first day was probably the most challenging mostly due to the high elevation we were dealing with. I suppose the combination of snow, hail and rain didn't help either. Within the first few hours of hiking I had serious doubts about the trek due to being cold and acquiring a pounding headache from the altitude. Popped a few advil before bed and woke up feeling like a new man.
Day 2: Set out early and hiked for about 5 hours. The hike was difficult because we were hiking downhill along muddy paths littered with slippery stones. Needless to say, by the end of the hike my legs (especially ankles, knees and shins) were screaming for relief! Relief came in the form of a natural hot spring located near the camp site. It felt marvelous to clean off and treat the sore muscles. We all stayed up late enjoying the local beer and playing cards until late into the night (disturbing a group of French hikers camping in a nearby field).
Day 3: The third day involved a rolling trail that paralleled a river surrounded by dense jungle on both sides. It was really interesting to pass through small indiginous communtities that consisted of little more than a few small huts made of sticks and straw. Bathed in the cold river before taking a power nap and relaxing with the crew.
Day 4: We woke up early to climb 2000 feet in 2 hours before the sun could punish us! It turned out to be foggy on the trails but the humidity prevented anyone from sweating through their clothes. Once at the top, the fog started to lift and we got a distant preview of Machu Picchu from across the valley. The mountains surrounding Machu Picchu are unlike anything I've seen before. The sharp angles, steep faces and kelly green color are unique to this section of the Andes where the tectonic plates have crumbled the earth's crust into these breath-taking mountains. After lunch it was a 2+ hour hike along the train tracks to the village below Machu Picchu.
Day 5: We woke up at 3:30 this morning to pack, eat and get to Maccu Picchu before the place got packed to the gills with tourists. We were planning to hike up to the top but morning rain showers forced us to take the bus. We entered the park at 6 to the site of faint stone structures slightly obscured by the mystical fluffy fog that danced across the mountain tops. Nestled beneith peaks that were stunning in and of themselves, the ancient Inca community looked surreal. I could only imagine the thrill of being one of the first explorers to stumble upon this hidden city. The craftmanship, engineering and volume of labor needed to construct Maccu Picchu were and are difficult to wrap my mind around. After a guided tour, Dad and I spent about an hour wandering though the maze-like hallways, staircases and rooms where there were fewer tourists.
In total, we hiked over 70 kilometers and reached an elevation as high as 15,000 feet! Obviously the climax was today's visit to Maccu Picchu. I'm looking forward to sleeping in a bed tonight and then laundry in the morning before we fly down to see Lake Titicaca for 3 days. Maccu Picchu will be a tough act to follow but I'm confident we'll have fun and see some more great stuff!
On a side note, please excuse any errors in my blog. The computers I've been using only have a Spanish spell-checker which is exposing my Achilles heal.
posted by Jason at
8:26 PM
2 Comments:
Bravo to both of you. Can't wait to hear more details of this life- time experience. Sooo proud of you. At a much lower altitude all is well and it is now 7 days and counting. Busy, busy. GB
By
Anonymous, at 10:37 PM
Wow! That sounds so fascinating. I'm glad you made it back safe from that crazy trek. All the best!
By
Julian, at 10:32 PM
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