Alright, it’s time for some more Inca Trail excitement. I’m going to be way behind on the rest of the trip, and that will all come within the next few days. Currently I’m in the Lima airport and have 11 hours until my flight back home. I just took a shower in the airport for the first time and it was the greatest thing ever. Thanks a bunch to Theresa who has provided me with all the Elevation and timing stats without me having to do the math. Onwards!
Inca Trail Day 2 – Happy Jenni
Elevation Change Overview:
- Llulluchapampa (3,700 meters, 12,139 feet) -Warmiwanuscca (4,200 meters, 13,779 feet) -
- Pacamayo (3,300 meters, 10,826 feet) -
- Runkuraqay (3,800 meters, 12,470 feet) -
- Chaquicocha (3,450 meters, 11,318 feet)
Approximate Elevation Change: 2, 150 meters (7,053 feet)
Distance: 15 kilometers
Time: 8.0 – 9.5 hours (depending on individual pace)
I wake up to the sound of the porters getting things ready for us but am grateful to lie in my cold cold sleeping bag for another hour or so. Finally, when it is time to get up I hear a pleasant “buenos dias” and when I open my tent, there is Victor offering me a steaming cup of coca tea. Also, a bowl of hot water to wash with. Seriously, this totally makes up for the cold nights sleep. We all have breakfast tea and breakfast and then make ready to go. Today is supposed to be the second half of the hardest part, and nothing could be worse than yesterday, so I’m READY! I can even see the end of the climb, dead woman’.s pass, from the beginning of the trek which really helps with the motivation level.
I”m slow up, as usual, but am not as exhausted as I was yesterday and all the way up, Victor is hanging behind with me, offering encouragement and conversation. When I finally make it to the top I’m so happy and proud! D&T have been waiting for over an hour, but that’s ok. I made it! It’s all downhill and easy from here. Slight uphills, but no big deal and downhill is NO PROBLEM for me!
So we begin our descent. First of all, the porters are incredible. We’re walking down the jagged, uneven, slippery stone stairs and they’re RUNNING. Seriously. It’s so steep that my little bag feels like it’s trying to throw me off the mountain, but these guys have about three times the weight and they’re just running like they’re about to visit the corner store or something. There’s a large waterfall to the left and the view is gorgeous. It’s nice to be able to really enjoy the natural setting and catch my breath. I can see the path ahead of us, and it looks pretty scary to be honest, but I’m not going to think about that. Right now I’m thinking about lunch and how excited I am to be done with the hardest part of the whole trek.
Lunch is excellent, as always, although we happen to be really far from the bathroom. Seriously, it’s like a trek in it of itself. Once lunch is finished it begins to rain. I have to wrap myself in my cheapo poncho so that my clothes and bags don’t get wet…. and UP we climb! And I do mean up. Actually, this climb is pretty killer, I would say that it’s as bad as yesterdays. Victor keeps saying just a bit longer, but I’m starting to not believe him. Starting to get into angry Jenni territory here, I thought this was supposed to be an easy hill. And when we get to the top, there’s no campsite in sight. Yeah, actually pretty much angry Jenni from here on out.
Angry Jenni
It’s just like yesterday! Every time I hit a place I think should be the top of this disgusting hill, there’s more! Here’s a lake. Awesome. First it’s far away, then it’s here, now I’m above it and I’m STILL CLIMBING! Finally we get to the top and have to descend even STEEPER steps than last time and they’re totally wet because of the rain. I’m pretty terrified of dying right now. We go through a natural tunnel and Victor tries to scare us, but we’re all too focused on getting through the day to feel any other kind of fear. On our way down, Victor points to our campsite, which is at the bottom of the mountain and THEN BACK UP AGAIN!
It’s a damn good thing that we’re in the cloud forest, it is amazingly beautiful and I can hardly appreciate it. I just start taking pictures, lots and lots of pictures so that I can remember the beauty and forget the pain. (To be honest I’m starting to forget the pain already). I’m also starting to really curse how far away from the bathroom we were at lunch. I thought I’d be ok until we reached camp and so didn’t bother trekking the mile or so it would take to go before we began trekking again, now i’m not so sure. Finally when I arrive, one of our porters is waiting to show us to camp, i have to make the poor man wait while i use the restroom. This camp is the beginning of my legs being next to useless. It is also the beginning of our mosquito infestation. Mosquitos so small that they leave bites in your hair. UGH! I feel like I’m trapped in my tent when we get to camp because there are like, 30 just outside my tent. Dinner and sleeping, at least tonight Victor had teh brilliant idea of filling our water bottles full of boiling water so we had a hot water bottle to go to sleep with. Thank god for small favors.
Until Next Time!!
