Machu, Machu Picchu...
Excuse the cheesy Village People title...
Wow...pretty pathetic descriptor, but that´s all I´ve got for the Inca trail. The views were absolutely unbelieveable, and the trail changes terrain so much its incredible. This hike is only 44 km and you do the bulk of it in 3 days with just a couple of hours hiking pre-dawn on day 4 to see sunrise hit Machu Picchu. This is why I (Paul) came to Sth. America really and it didn´t disappoint. You start through the valley floor and climb to the first campsite only 6 hrs hiking or something like that. Quite dry but great views of the mountains. The second day is the killer - you´re looking at at least 6 hours of climbing...the best calf workout I´ve ever had, but again picture postcard views in every direction. Day 3 you hit the cultural section, with lots of ruins and much of the original 800 year old trail still intact. On this day you flip over the other side of the mountain and hit rainforest - soaking wet, orchids, green vegetation, hummingbirds, waterfalls....incredible. On Day 4 you climb to what is known as the sun gate - the only real access point through to Machu Picchu other than from the valley floor. The morning was foggy so we couldn´t see it until we descended and the fog burnt off, but then there it was - the city of the Incas which was basically a research centre for agriculture, medicine , astrology and who knows what else. This is going to be nerdy, but as a scientist it felt great to be there and the stuff they knew and were technically capable of building defies description. Particularly their alignment of stone atrefacts with critical times in the astrological calendar, as well as thir chemistry and medicine...wow. The porters we had were incredible also, as was the food they manage to cook in the most primitive conditions! Equal to the hardest treks we´ve ever done, but oh so worth it.
Anyway, tomorrow we leave for the Amazon for a few days so who knows what that´ll reveal to us...hope you´re all well and your gardens are green and there are smiles on your faces.
Love, Paul and Sal
Wow...pretty pathetic descriptor, but that´s all I´ve got for the Inca trail. The views were absolutely unbelieveable, and the trail changes terrain so much its incredible. This hike is only 44 km and you do the bulk of it in 3 days with just a couple of hours hiking pre-dawn on day 4 to see sunrise hit Machu Picchu. This is why I (Paul) came to Sth. America really and it didn´t disappoint. You start through the valley floor and climb to the first campsite only 6 hrs hiking or something like that. Quite dry but great views of the mountains. The second day is the killer - you´re looking at at least 6 hours of climbing...the best calf workout I´ve ever had, but again picture postcard views in every direction. Day 3 you hit the cultural section, with lots of ruins and much of the original 800 year old trail still intact. On this day you flip over the other side of the mountain and hit rainforest - soaking wet, orchids, green vegetation, hummingbirds, waterfalls....incredible. On Day 4 you climb to what is known as the sun gate - the only real access point through to Machu Picchu other than from the valley floor. The morning was foggy so we couldn´t see it until we descended and the fog burnt off, but then there it was - the city of the Incas which was basically a research centre for agriculture, medicine , astrology and who knows what else. This is going to be nerdy, but as a scientist it felt great to be there and the stuff they knew and were technically capable of building defies description. Particularly their alignment of stone atrefacts with critical times in the astrological calendar, as well as thir chemistry and medicine...wow. The porters we had were incredible also, as was the food they manage to cook in the most primitive conditions! Equal to the hardest treks we´ve ever done, but oh so worth it.
Anyway, tomorrow we leave for the Amazon for a few days so who knows what that´ll reveal to us...hope you´re all well and your gardens are green and there are smiles on your faces.
Love, Paul and Sal
posted by Paul and Sal at 4:53 PM
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