4 days with the Inca's

So I have been in South America for exactly a week now and to try and sum it up would be extremely unfair. However the trip to Manchu Picchu via the Inca Trail was something else, the people, landscape, weather and even the lamas, all totally amazing. No matter how long you found yourself starving at the amazing scenery, flowers, wildlife, vegetation, ruins, you really couldn't take it all in. I didn't want to leave. Setting off from mill house hostel we caught the coach to km 82 where we met our homes for the next 4 days, a tent and sleeping bag and a roll mat. A quick brief of the day, some suntan application and a stamp of approval at the start gate we began our route on to Wayllabamba at 3000m above sea level. This turned out to be pretty easy and just proved a great opportunity to get to know the group, their backgrounds, reasons for the trip and their experiences of South America. Always good to get some extra tips too. It was then quickly noticeable we had an Atlantic divide. Natalie, Steve, Jessica and Aiden, and of course me were in the corner of queen and country and the remaining 12 where coming from the States, however those two sets of groups couldn't be any different. One group a family friend combo of doctors had flown over to try and sneak in as much of Peru as possible and a 'deepish' south of American family who however nice, did hit a few American cliches. All in all it was a great mix and as we sat down for our first dinner together it was apparent straight away, it was going to be a fun trip. Well, especially when we were presented with jam called fanny which then started a comical debate about front and back bottom... This did prove to be a constant source of entertainment over the entire 4 days. So after the first days hike and more food than I ever expected, I actually had the best sleep of my trip so far, maybe after the initial adrenaline had cooled off and my muscles had given up, it was finally a night to get some serious shut eye. After what felt light death sleep we began the difficult trek to dead woman's pase, an incline that would see us reach the highest point of the trip, an altitude of 4200m. Beginning with a steady incline, it soon came apparent the steps in place were not of incas, more giants, corner after corner we turned to be confronted with 2 foot steps a far as we could see. However every 25mins or so we stopped to take on water and chew on the secret energy food of coca leaves, what we could see behind us was worth the struggles, the views were unbelievable. As we came through the forrest we were also lucky to see a black deer of which we thought would boult, but considering how close we got, he or she was only interested in chewing down on a certain plant, it basically felt it stomach was more important. So as we took our last break at a around the 4000 mark we prepared ourselves for the last 200 metre stretch to sit on top of the incas at dead woman's pass, be blessed in the fact this was the hardest bit over (we thought) and finally we are able to see what was over the other side. After a few photos and some motivational pep talk to get everyone to the top, we took a few group photos, a take in of the view and some general chit--chat with other guys we meet at the top. Glorified in our achievements we made our way down to camp for a second night under the waterfall at Pacamayo - which was pretty awesome. After a night under the stars, a quick attempt at cards (President) we were called for another feast at dinner. On the morning of today's climb we were told about the story of the Incas and their gift to Pachi Mamma and as part of the gift we were asked if we wanted to take a rock with us up to the next ridge as a gift to her. The size, the shape, it didn't really matter and although the guides said the bigger the better, I really felt it was about what rock stood out for you. I chose this rock which did have some size compared to the others but if just felt right in my hand, the ergonomics, the weight, it all seem right. We then began our steady climb to Runkurakay where we had our first up close and personal experience of some Inca ruins. Looking back and getting a short yet interesting introduction to the Inca life, they basically built stuff, grew crops and transported everything on lamas to and from the each of the built up areas we continues our trek. Another 500 metres in vertical elevation, passing a few lakes which had seen better days due to over pollution, we arrived at the place to offer our stone. I'm not going to bore you with the fact due to my eagerness and being first up there, I just found the highest location I could put my rock down and took some amazing pictures, to then find out when coming down there was an actual virtual, but what I will say is that I went back up to that stone, maybe another 80metre in vertical elevation I made my wish and blew my coca leaves in the air. I contemplated on my wishes for sometime and considering the year that I have had and what the future may hold, I actually made three very simple wishes. I wished my family happiness, I wished myself happiness and I wished my ex-girl friend happiness. I felt it was too easy to concentrate on health, money, success. However, how it is justified by the individual can be so far apart, but to be happy, those elements can be just so simple. I don't know what life has in store for me or my family or my friends, but all I wish more than anything is for them to be happy, I just hope Pachi Mamma was listening. We then started to get a little bit excited now, like the film the Goonies or Indian Jones, we had out first clue of where we are going. This idea of Indian Jones as we soon found out, was bang on the mark. From there we started the walk which turned out to be my favourite walk of the entire trip. Was it the fact most of it was flat, was it that the temperature had dropped to a steady 20 degrees, maybe?! Due to the fact we were at tree level now we soon entered the rainforest area, which change the whole dynamics of our surroundings, the smell, the sounds, the taste in the air. Our only down side was the white out.... It had been threatening to rain all of yesterday, but luckily we avoided it, I wast sure if today was going to be the same. After about an hours walk up into the forests I was amazed by how much the surroundings looked like a scene out of prince of Persia, one of only a handful of games I have actually played. With flowers, trees, rocks all having over us, even at one point a spiral staircase which I actually thought might even turn into a slide as the stairs fell away came out of know where. A part of me wished they actually had, but you don't get extra lives in real life. I think at this point the altitude did start to get to us and from the white out scenery we began singing to songs that rymed with right or night. I will let you try and figure out the songs but the artist are as followed: Fat boy slim East 17 Lionel Ritchie New kids on the bloc And many more Although I felt we annoyed the girls somewhat, Steve, Aiden and I were having loads of fun. Well it past the time anyway. So after some much needed stupid conversation some peering over the very big and straight cliff faces we came to the section that requires some sort of decision - after Grigio killer and some 2000 steps down, do we take the short cut down to Sayamarca or do we go left and take in one of the other ruins. It was at this point well maybe 2 minutes earlier when we heard and felt our first glimpses of rain, do I finally after some very close calls get my poncho out? And secondly do we grin and bear the weather to take the long way round. Well my decision was already made before we even made it to the junction, I am no way coming all this way and going the cheap way out because or a little tired legs and a little rain. So rallying the troops we turned left and headed to the next ruins. Turned out we all had the same idea. When we arrived it was totally worth it. First thing we noticed well except for the shear size of it was the lama armada and the amount of shit on the floor - lama shit that is. We took some lama photos a couple of group ones and made our way down to camp. On our return to camp it was disappointing to discover the 6 of us were the only members of a 16 strong team that decided to take the same path, they truly missed out. After we arrived at base, all pretty knackered we (well some, I didn't have a towel) went for a slightly warmer than freezing shower and sat down for pop corn and biscuits. At the table it was made aware to us that this was the last time we would be seeing the porters....for some stupid reason they have two opportunities to get home, a train at 5:30am and one at 6pm, with many of them having to return to work the next day. A unbelievably stupid system. - it used to be earlier but after many porters had actually died falling trying to catch there relevant trains, the organisation thought it would be sensible to give them 30 more minutes - total dickheads!!!!!! Anyway after what was to be our last meal as a whole group, two chosen by the rest (little unfair) made a short yet respectable speech to thank them for all their work, these guys really were impressive. After a couple of cheers and thanks we even got presented with cake, how the chicken legs did they make that, clever little Peruvian dudes. So it was the last night, we played a few games of president, I am sure I ended it as the big cheese, but I think Aiden will disagree. We then crashed with great expectations for tomorrow. So we awoke at 3:30am, yep you heard that right, packed up quick sharpish so the porters can get to their families and made our way to the reserve entrance, hoping we can get a seat before the gate opens at 5am. - it turned out we were 2 mins too late and the seats in-fact were two metres away from our dirty bums on the floor. After getting somewhat comfortable we began playing word association games, which given how early it was, actually turned out quite fun. So 5am came, we turned our head torches on and got ready for the last section of this epic journey. I am not going to bore you with the next 3 mile walk because like me at this stage all I am waiting for is to turn that final corner and see what we had come all this way to see. That corner in-fact turned out to be a sher 150 degree climb up... Again like something out of Indian jones we slowly made our way up the rock face and it soon can apparent we had arrived, because the oohs and arhhhhs could be heard down the line of people. So we arrived at the golden gate, but instead of rushing to see what the fuss was about, i wanted to first make sure most people got up the rock face and also sort myself out to prepare myself, which looking back at it, you never could.... So after preparing myself I turned the corner and there it was, Manchu Picchu. And even more impressive than that, the sun just started to shine. We could see as we later ventured down the sun like a red curtain, was unveiling everything for us - totally amazing You might want to know what my first thought was and I will be honest, it wasn't wow, look where we are, look what I have achieved, it was shit, I really should be here with someone else. I am not going to get into who it is, you all know, but an experience like this is something you want to share with your loved ones. But life is short, experiences even shorter and to loose sight of our efforts would be a terrible thing.... So that was it, picture machine gun time and with everyone fighting for positioning and the perfect placement, the guys and i took are shots. However, like everything when it came to photography on this trip, I actually looked at the site in ore, rather than that through a lense. Evolution has supplied us with the best camera money can buy, our eyes!!! So I spent the next 20 minutes at least just staring in wonder and as the sun came over it and shined, like pachi mamma had provided us with the greatest picture frame we could ask for, we began to walk down towards it. Well from the first time you see it to the tired legs and scorching hot sunshine, you still can't pull your eyes away from it and to be honest whatever I write or how much I try I can never do it justice, so I'm not going to try. Instead i am going end this blog in two ways.... One by saying if you have thought of going to Macchi Picchu or indeed have it on a list of things to do, make the plans, save the pennies and get it done, you will never ever regret it. Secondly as I listen to police 'beds too big without you' make sure you take someone special with you because, something as wonderful needs to be shared. And although the guys I met played a huge part in my trip, it would have been something else to share it with a loved one. Lets hope one day I get chance to go back and experience that same thing Peace and love MND Charity Events