Ok... so I haven't got all the tiny facts on the trail with me just now. The Inca trail is longish... 40 something kms but most people do it in 3 or 4 days. The oldest person to do it was in his 90s... The fastest trip on the trail was 3 hours. It is a beautiful trail, with many mountains... winding its way through the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
Our group was surprised that for 10 of us we would have 17 porters and 2 guides! And that's with only 7kg weight of luggage each! But then there is the food and the camping equipment to think about also. My luggage consisted of thermals and jumpers... and a raincoat mostly.
We started the trail from a place called something like Ollyantambo (must learn to spell!) where there are some wonderful Inca ruins. The Incans built with such precisions and with such alignment to the stars...
The hike began with a little rain... but that was no deterant! The first day was beautiful... and mostly a flat hike. The last hour or so was steep. We saw many tourists but not so many as in days gone by due to new restrictions to conserve the trail.
The first night was beautiful... amazing stars... amazing meals... and bloody freezing!
The second day was the steep walk... about 3 hours of Castle Hill goat track, if you know what I mean. I was fine, though breathing wasn't always easy. I got to the top of Dead Woman's Pass, ultitude very high (I think 4500 metres). I was fine up the top where we waited an hour for others in our group to catch up. But Mountain Sickness caught up with me also and I managed to throw up the entire walk down to our lunch point. Yay! But once I was a bit lower I felt better.
The second night was amazing... misty... so beautiful. I'm hurrying now because breakfast has started and we go to an island on Lake Titicaca soon today.
The third day was beautiful and fine... such an amazing walk. Our plan B was to finish that day at Macchu Picchu and then go to the town of Aguas Caliente and then come back to see Macchu Picchu the next day to get the best of the weather... Plan A was to shortern the walk, camp another night on the trail and then go to Macchu Picchu on the 4th day. We did plan B and I was first to the sungate... and what an amazing view. Such fine weather also... as Macchu Picchu is often shrouded in mist (as it was the next day).
We didn't go into the city that day but walked down to the town of Aguas Calientes... went to the hot springs (so good to be clean again) and slept on top of a restaurant.
The next day we explored Macchu Picchu in great depth... so amazing. I will write more after breakfast or in a few days!! Hopefully the photos will be forthcoming soon.
Keep well all... think of me sailing on Lake Titicaca... where the air is thin and giant baggy frogs swim below...
Mez
