Day 7 : The Inca Trail

The Inca Trail to Macchu Picchu.  How can you even think about visitng Peru and not hiking the Inca trail to Machu Piccchu. We're back from a 4 day adventure and the Trek was amazing, long, wet and worth every minute. One problem ... we started off the night before at a new restaurant. Big mistake. You saw the Guinea. Well he was pretty pissed at us the next day.

The Inca Trail in Peru is one of the world’s most famous hiking trails. Starting from the Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley of the Urubamba River and ending at the breathtaking ruins of Machu Picchu, the 45km trail takes three to five days to complete trek was for 4 days and we had a group of 11 + 8 porters, 1 cook and 2 guides. Started off at about 6,800 ft - up to 14,000 - down again to about 6,500 ft.

(trek) Day 1 was fairly easy. About 5 hours or so of moderate climbing.  So when we powered through to the first camp site pretty early in the day we realized there is not much to do. Maybe we need a different game plan.....

(trek) Day 2 was the hardest of the four days.  7+ hours of steep, rocky climbing with uneven knee crushing stairs up to Dead Woman Pass at 13,779 ft.  And I was sick as a dog all day. Is it the Altitude, the 24 hour flu... or the guinea Flu.....not sure? We camped at Pacaymayo camp at alpine level. Every night the tent sites are set up by the porters before we even get there - that is a nice treat.  They are an amazing crew. Knowing I was sick, the porters knocked on my tent every few hours and had me drink hot wild celery tea - which is said to take away any signs of fever and chills. Well it worked because the next morning I felt almost back to normal.

(trek) Day 3 was about 7 hours of hiking. Definitely the best day of the three so far.  Along the entire trek we got to stop and explore smaller ruins that no one even really knows exists along the Inca trail. They were pit stops and resting pointe from the original trail. That was a great highlight. Day 3 was about 7 hours again of ups and downs until we hit the "last stop before the Ruins". An Oasis... A cush campsite with showers, dance club and Cervasas galore.  As we hit the ridge above Machu Picchu, the sun was rising. A must do for sure. the way there are smaller ruins used as pitstops and messenger posts along the entire trail. Learning a lesson from Day 1, we took our time and really soaked in our location and experiences. Sean, Fleur, Brian and I were always the last to leave each stop (by a long shot) - strategically to take the best people free photos! There is no point getting to a campsite early when there is nothing to do there except eat dinner and go to sleep. Early in the day the hike was mostly climbing switching to a steady downhill of stone stairs until we hit the last campsite at Winayhuayna before the Ruins.  Now this campsite is an Oasis... A cush campsite with showers, a dance club, and chef made meals.  Did I say Cervesa?!

(trek) Day 4 Our final day, on the Inca Trail began at 4am. (YES, A.M.) Really let that sink in. It was cold.  And raining. And dark. And 4 AM!!!!  But, so exciting, because this is what we worked for. Have you ever tried changing clothes while caccooned inside a speeling bag?  its not easy I tell you. UN-like camping in Colorado, We simply got up, had a hot  breakfast waiting for us and simply hit the trail.  No breaking down the tents, no packing up and no carrying of anything down the hill. I like this porter business.....

See you at Machu Picchu!