After our early morning wake-up, we are still a couple of hours away from the overlooks.
After
our
early
morning
wake-up
,
we
are
still
a
couple
of
hours
away
from
the
overlooks
.
It is pitch black.
It
is
pitch
black
.
I can feel the heavy humid fog left behind my last night's rain.
I
can
feel
the
heavy
humid
fog
left
behind
my
last
night
's
rain
.
This is why the tour memo listed "flashlight".
This
is
why
the
tour
memo
listed
``
flashlight
''
.
Unfortunately; the majority of our hiking party of nine must have missed the memo, so we have only four flashlights between us.
Unfortunately
;
the
majority
of
our
hiking
party
of
nine
must
have
missed
the
memo
,
so
we
have
only
four
flashlights
between
us
.
An hoar later, we are on the trail.
An
hoar
later
,
we
are
on
the
trail
.
It is dark, foggy, wet and the rocks are alippery.
It
is
dark
,
foggy
,
wet
and
the
rocks
are
alippery
.
We alternate places between the flashlights "haves" and "have-nots".
We
alternate
places
between
the
flashlights
``
haves
''
and
``
have-nots
''
.
As we march, the only voices heard are from the "haves": "Step up, step down, watch out for the rock on your left."
As
we
march
,
the
only
voices
heard
are
from
the
``
haves
''
:
``
Step
up
,
step
down
,
watch
out
for
the
rock
on
your
left
.
''
We reach Intipunku with only 15 minutes to spare.
We
reach
Intipunku
with
only
15
minutes
to
spare
.
The view at sunrise is not what we were told in the travel brochures.
The
view
at
sunrise
is
not
what
we
were
told
in
the
travel
brochures
.
Three feet in front of our faces is a white substance called "fog".
Three
feet
in
front
of
our
faces
is
a
white
substance
called
``
fog
''
.
As we walk towards the Machu Picchu ruins, my anticipation is mounting.
As
we
walk
towards
the
Machu
Picchu
ruins
,
my
anticipation
is
mounting
.
When will the fog lift?
When
will
the
fog
lift
?
Slowly, as if someone is cranking up a curtain, Huayna Picchu begins to appear, overlooking Machu Picchu.
Slowly
,
as
if
someone
is
cranking
up
a
curtain
,
Huayna
Picchu
begins
to
appear
,
overlooking
Machu
Picchu
.
First there are fleeting glimpses, and then finally, there is, in its full splendor.
First
there
are
fleeting
glimpses
,
and
then
finally
,
there
is
,
in
its
full
splendor
.
When I envisioned going to Machu Picchu, I always thought of mysterious ruins and the famous postcard picture looking toward Huayna Picchu.
When
I
envisioned
going
to
Machu
Picchu
,
I
always
thought
of
mysterious
ruins
and
the
famous
postcard
picture
looking
toward
Huayna
Picchu
.
But there is more to this man-made / natural wonder of the World.
But
there
is
more
to
this
man-made
/
natural
wonder
of
the
World
.
It is the adventure of getting there.
It
is
the
adventure
of
getting
there
.
I knew I wanted to experience the feel of the Inca culture and the energy of this sacred valley, I also knew I didn't want to take the train, but needed to hike.
I
knew
I
wanted
to
experience
the
feel
of
the
Inca
culture
and
the
energy
of
this
sacred
valley
,
I
also
knew
I
did
n't
want
to
take
the
train
,
but
needed
to
hike
.
Depending on your starting point, the Inca Trail is 25 to 33miles of semi-arid desert, breathless mountain passes and stunning tropical cloud forest.
Depending
on
your
starting
point
,
the
Inca
Trail
is
25
to
33miles
of
semi-arid
desert
,
breathless
mountain
passes
and
stunning
tropical
cloud
forest
.
Our hike took us four nights and 25 miles to finish.
Our
hike
took
us
four
nights
and
25
miles
to
finish
.
Our local guide MaurO keeps telling us "no worries, the hike is 90 percent mental and only 10 percent physical."
Our
local
guide
MaurO
keeps
telling
us
``
no
worries
,
the
hike
is
90
percent
mental
and
only
10
percent
physical
.
''
I am not convinced that the physical percentage is correct, but I definitely become more and more excited as we are now getting closer to Machu Picchu.
I
am
not
convinced
that
the
physical
percentage
is
correct
,
but
I
definitely
become
more
and
more
excited
as
we
are
now
getting
closer
to
Machu
Picchu
.
By getting myself into good shape, running 20 miles and hiking a 500-foot-high hill five to seven times per week before I left for Peru, I was able to enjoy the beauty of the hike and not worry much about aching muscles and lungs.
By
getting
myself
into
good
shape
,
running
20
miles
and
hiking
a
500-foot-high
hill
five
to
seven
times
per
week
before
I
left
for
Peru
,
I
was
able
to
enjoy
the
beauty
of
the
hike
and
not
worry
much
about
aching
muscles
and
lungs
.
After our early morning wake-up, we are still a couple of hours away from the overlooks. It is pitch black. I can feel the heavy humid fog left behind my last night's rain. This is why the tour memo listed "flashlight". Unfortunately; the majority of our hiking party of nine must have missed the memo, so we have only four flashlights between us.  An hoar later, we are on the trail. It is dark, foggy, wet and the rocks are alippery. We alternate places between the flashlights "haves" and "have-nots". As we march, the only voices heard are from the "haves": "Step up, step down, watch out for the rock on your left."  We reach Intipunku with only 15 minutes to spare. The view at sunrise is not what we were told in the travel brochures. Three feet in front of our faces is a white substance called "fog".  As we walk towards the Machu Picchu ruins, my anticipation is mounting. When will the fog lift? Slowly, as if someone is cranking up a curtain, Huayna Picchu begins to appear, overlooking Machu Picchu. First there are fleeting glimpses, and then finally, there is, in its full splendor.  When I envisioned going to Machu Picchu, I always thought of mysterious ruins and the famous postcard picture looking toward Huayna Picchu. But there is more to this man-made / natural wonder of the World. It is the adventure of getting there. I knew I wanted to experience the feel of the Inca culture and the energy of this sacred valley, I also knew I didn't want to take the train, but needed to hike. Depending on your starting point, the Inca Trail is 25 to 33miles of semi-arid desert, breathless mountain passes and stunning tropical cloud forest. Our hike took us four nights and 25 miles to finish.  Our local guide MaurO keeps telling us "no worries, the hike is 90 percent mental and only 10 percent physical." I am not convinced that the physical percentage is correct, but I definitely become more and more excited as we are now getting closer to Machu Picchu. By getting myself into good shape, running 20 miles and hiking a 500-foot-high hill five to seven times per week before I left for Peru, I was able to enjoy the beauty of the hike and not worry much about aching muscles and lungs.