Sunday, September 20, 2009

Inka Jungle Trail Day 4: Machu Picchu

We woke up at 3:30 AM and set out on foot from Plaza de Armas in Aguas Calientes down the main road (which doubles as train tracks) to the base entry of Machu Picchu. About 300 other trekkers joined us at this hour. We were all eager to be one of the first 400 to enter for the day, securing one of the limited spots to hike up Wayna Picchu, one of the mountains overlooking the lost city.

Honestly, the climb to the Main Gate of Machu Picchu was a real bitch. 300 people with flashlights and headlamps scrambling up ~1000 meters all trying to get there before everyone else to secure that Wayna Picchu entry slot. While completing this ascent, Jeremy and I noticed we were probably some of the oldest people making the climb. I'm not joking - everyone was 23 and touring the world after college. The only thing that sucked more than feeling our age was getting passed by these "children" while we huffed and puffed up the mountain. (Sigh.)

About three quarters of the way to the top, we started to hear the busses making their way up the fourteen switchbacks in the road to the Main Gate. Yes we were completing this bitch of a climb by choice! But we had to reach the gate before the busses, otherwise those lazy, non trekking folks who did not wake up at 3:30 AM would get our tickets for Wayna Picchu! With this motivation, we continued our climbing and made it to the top. We were persons 264 and 265 on the list of 400 to climb Wayna Picchu.

At 6:00 AM, the gate opened and we took our first steps into the lost city. There isn't much to say about Machu Picchu, really. Few words can adequately describe how amazing of a place it is, so just wait for the pics we will post when we get home, and you'll see why we wanted to take this trip so badly. We took a two hour tour of the ruins, and then at 8:30 AM, had "lunch" as we had already been awake for five hours!

After lunch, it was time to decide which mountain to climb. Get this, Machu Picchu mountain, for which the lost city is named, is a higher climb than Wayna Picchu, is less crowded, and offers better views. It takes longer to complete, but the lack of crowds and better views sounded so appealing, that we decided to skip Wayna Picchu entirely to climb Machu Picchu instead. (All that early morning climbing in the dark for nothing! Other than pride, I guess...)

By now, Jeremy and I had been trekking about ten miles a day with lots of climbing for five days. Our legs were tired and in general, we were pretty much spent. Still, we trudged the ~1500 more meters to the top of the mountain, stopping to rest as much as we needed. It took us almost two hours to reach the summit, but the view from that point was amazing. Pictures to come, of course!

Exhausted but satisfied, we climbed down the mountain after resting at the top and talking with the other Trekkers for a bit. Trekking to and visiting Machu Picchu was everything we were hoping it would be, and much more. We are so grateful for this trip.

-- Posted from my iPhone

2 comments:

  1. What a great experience to share with each other - can't wait to see the pictures!

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  2. So, now at 29 you feel old to 23 year olds? Just think what 2 times 29 must feel like -- even with new knees. LOL

    Anyway, I looked at your pictures and they are truly spectacular. I can't wait to talk to you and Jeremy about your experiences -- especially the ones that you didn't post.

    Love
    Dad

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