We all finished the Inca Trail!

April 2-5 Inca trail hike to Matchu Pichu dept. early morning

We all finished the Inca Trail! The kids are proudly wearing the shirts I packed for the four day trek¨"I survived the Inca Trail" . It really was a tough 4 days which made the finish in Machu Picchu even more special.

We started the trek Apr. 2 with a 5 am pickup at our hostel in Cuzco. We hopped on a bus with 12 other people--quite intimidating being either the oldies (Mike and I) or the very young (Justin and Dylan). There were 2 - 18 yr. old elite rugby players from England, a 16 and 18 year old national champ swimmers from Wisconson and 4 other 25 year olds from Wales who looked fit too. Justin felt sick over the 2 hour bus ride--fear of being last! We started at km 82 of the trail. An elaborate registration and sign in at the trailhead and then we were off with our 2 guides and 21 porters. We each had a pack with our personal belongings but the porters had all the food, tents, sleeping bags etc.- 35 kg for each porter. We had a relatively easy first day. 10 km of undulating hills through 4 villages of mountain people and past some beautiful ruins. Because the porters basically run, our camp was all set up when we arrived including a cook tent and a dining tent with camp stools, along a long table. Tea, popcorn and grilled cheese sandwiches awaited us for a snack then a 4 course dinner somehow cooked on a two burner propane stove for dinner!

Day 2 started with a wake up call at 6 am with tea served at our tent then we started hiking at 7 am for a 15 km day including 1800 meters of elevation gain. We were all worried about how we would do. Dylan fell into a group with the couple from Wales and talked and snacked through his day. Justin was amazing and hiked all day with me and the 18 year old rugby guys. I loved the challenge of the steep inca stairs , the altitude ---4800 meters at the Dead Womens Pass yet the phenomenal mountain vistas. Our breathing was laboured all day and the heart was working at the max but we sure had a sense of accomplishment when we arrived at camp 2. The porters were lined up and they all clapped when each of us arrived at camp--the support was so genuine and welcomed. Most of us napped before dinner to get ready for day 3 and 15 km including 4000 steps of down hill after 3 more mountain passes. Another great dinner then early to bed with all our clothes on because of the high altitude of camp 2 and the minus 5 temperature.. I wore fleece jacket, pants, toque, gloves and wool socks and was just warm enough in the sleeping bag!

Day 3 was the toughest for Mike and I but the most fun for the kids. They took off with the rugby guys and did a longer detour to some elaborate ruins then ran down the 4000 stairs to camp 3. I was glad I wasn´t with them to think of the consequences of a misstep or a trip and they paid the price yesterday with seized up calf muscles. Mike and I had very sore knees half way down but still hobbled into camp proudly behind the kids. The entire trail today was the original inca trail and there were intact ruins every 2 or three hours to give us the excuse of a break! Everyone in our group made it to camp by 4 pm except 2 "dreamers " from Los Angeles who kept the second guide out past dark at 7:00 pm! Camp 3 is only 3 hours from Machu Picchu so any doubts we had about completing the trail were over- we knew we could all drag our butts for 3 hours after all the elevation we had climbed and descended. At camp 3 there was an old building with showers, and a little common room with old rock and roll blasting and cold drinks! Our whole group went for the showers then a couple of beer----coke for the kids! Lots of toasts to all the challenges we had overcome then more beers after dinner.

Day 4 was a 4 am wakeup, breakfast ---pancakes with a M and P written in caramel.... then 5 am at the last check point on the trail before a 2 hour climb up and down the inca staircases to Machu Picchu in drizzling rain. We were disappointed to reach the Sun Gate where we had hoped to see machu Picchu at sunrise to see only misty clouds and a mere glimpse of the terraces of Machu Picchu. However, when we arrived at Machu Picchu, the clouds quickly moved away as if to welcome us to this sacred site and we had 2 hours with our guide to take in all the important areas of the site. At one point the kids looked too tired and maybe bored with the guide talking so Mike offered them the chance to go down to the exit and buy a drink and wait for us. Justin was insulted and said "Ya right......I am going to go get a coke instead of learning about one of the wonders of the world"- Sometimes you just never know what is going through their heads and you can be pleasantly surprised ! A few insights--- all of the buildings face east and west to maximize the amt. of light and to keep in the heat in the cold nights. All buildings are built on levels so there are no shadows cast on the buildings. They had an agricultural side, a religious, worshipping area in the middle and an industrial side where things were built, designed and produced for the good of all. Most of Machu Picchu is original b ecause the spaniards never found this city.

We took the bus down about 50 switchbacks to the nei bouring town of Aguas Calientes had lunch with our group and said goodbye to all the wonderful porters and the guides then walked up to the hot springs to try to get rid of 4 days worth of stiff muscles. 4 pools of natural hotsprings with sandy bottoms. It was so nice hanging out with all the people in our group. It is amazing how you can be a group of 16 strangers then 4 days later be exchanging emails, invites to visit, etc. Justin and dylan were really disappointed that we had decided to stay one night in Aqua Calientes instead of heading back to Cuzco with the rest of the group. We celebrated our Inca Trail completion last night by enjoying a supper of french fries, nachos, chocolate cake with 2 scoops of ice cream each, non alcoholic strawberry daquiris (kids) and pisco sours--peruvian tequila drinks (mike and I) without a hint of guilt! I would recommend to any of you who have thought about this hike to do it. You really feel like you have accomplished something special and the scenery, history and the people make the journey feel like a once in a lifetime experience.

We slept 11 hours last night and feel refreshed yet we have continued to spoil ourselves with expresso, pizza, and more chocolate cake-----back to healthy peruvian fare tonite. I have not tried the peruvian special cuy (guinea pig) and have told the kids I am trying it tonite ---I will convince myself that they are not pets in peru. Dylan said if I order it, he will be a vegetarian from now on---- we will see. Back to Cuzco tonite on the train (4 hours) .

Bye for now Gail

April 2 - April 5 Aguas CalientesWirachocha Inn

April 6 day hike to waterfalls from Riupa Was Hotel

April 6 train evening Aguas calientes to CuzcoHotel –Ninos Hotel

April 7 Lan Peru Cuzco to Lima 11:35 am

April 7 and 8 Hostal Mamipanchita