Thursday, April 15, 2010

Inka Trek- Day two: up... up.... UP!

Wake-up call: 4:55 am.
Altitude: From Wayllabamba campsite at 3550 metres, up to Warmiwañuska pass at 4200 metres and down to 3600 metres at Runquracay campsite.

This day loomed the fiercest. Nearly ten hours of hiking from one campsite to another. Reaching the comfortingly-named 'Dead Woman's Pass' at 4200 metres. Enduring four hours of straight uphill to reach said peak. So. Was it hard? Technically, yes. I decided to pay a porter to carry my massive backpack -- which included sleeping bag and matress- for this challenging day. If I hadn't, it would have been awful. But it was the most inspiring, astonishing and revealing days I have ever lived. During the steep ascension, we stopped every 100 metres to acclimate to the high altitude. While we lumbered up, tiny porters with enormous backpacks nearly sprinted past us. Llamas trotted by and local woman bypassed us on the way to their villages.
After the four hour ascension, we arrived-- and sprawled out-- at Dead Woman's Pass, amazed at the views stretched out all around us. We then trotted down for about two hours to reach our lunch stop, which was beautifully set out by the porters next to a stream. Again, we were spoiled by platters and platters of food-- and dessert! After lunch, we had another steep hike, during which we passed an ancient lookout post, a murky lagoon and, finally, the last peak before our glorious descent. By this point, all the other groups were behind us-- hurrah-- and the Inka road was ours. It was extremely mystical, magical, spiritual to be in the midst of such quiet yet strong beauty.
Daybreak at the camp.

Llama gallop.
The real heros-- los porteros.
Some great climber.

Quiet lake.

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