I tried, but didn't make it to the top of Machu Picchu. Several things conspired against me, mostly me. Machu Picchu is about four hours from Cusco (home base) via cab,train and bus. I left my hotel at 5:30 AM and didn't get to the trailhead until 11 AM. I started hiking uphill and passed a site that I would return to in about one half hour. As I hiked uphill I would talk to folks who had already been to the top and were on their way down. I had read and they confirmed that to enter the top site, you have to arrive by 12:30 PM. It's about a 5 mile uphill hike at 8000 feet above sea level. No way was I going to makei it, I turned around and headed back down the hill to the first sight. In retrospect I should've spent the night prior to the hike at the small town near the trailhead and started the hike early in the morning. It's questionable at best if I could've made the top. If I did I probably would've blown out a knee on the way back down. Anyhow, in spite of my original disappointment, I had a great day at Machu Picchu. (See pictures)
