The van from Mountain Lodges of Peru arrived at Torre Dorado pretty early and we were on our way. Ricardo was our guide initially.
We were running a bit behind so we raced through this site to beat the road construction closure ahead of us. At 9:30 the traffic in both directions was stopped until 1:00! We made it with minutes to spare.
Headed UP a side road to visit a town for a coffee break and a visit to a co-op that has been sponsored by Mountain Lodges of Peru. Mostly women, they have been able to purchase a home where they produce their wares and a nice sales area.
Drove to the trek trailhead (there were 2). The young group decided that they wanted to do the long walk and we opted for the "manageable" walk. The young group was to walk about 10 miles. We dropped them off first and transferred all the bags to the better van for delivery to Salkantay Lodge. Connie (still feeling bad) went with the bags directly to the lodge. Above is our portrait of the fast walkers.
We drove forward to our trailhead and started walking. They warned us to be prepared for any weather conditions and they were right. It started out hot and we were stripping off clothes. We soon were adding more clothes! We stopped at a backpackers resting place which had rest rooms to have our box lunch. Just before we got there it started raining a bit.
We walked upwards for a while (huffing and puffing) until we reached a fairly flat path that paralleled a water channel. Admil called this a Peruvian flat trail. Undulating softly up and down. There were a couple of really narrow spots but for the most part it was ok to walk.
Arrived at the Salkantay Lodge around about 4:00 I'm guessing and were shown to our rooms. Oh, by the way the young long walkers arrived at the lodge at exactly the same time we did. I say embarrassing, the other old people say that they are half our age!
Connie was still under the weather - slept a bunch with almost no food all day. She finally had a bit of food - some chicken broth for dinner and she is feeling much better.
I had a pretty rough night - altitude sickness again - had trouble sleeping. Sort of a panic attack - I kept waking myself up - almost no sleep for me. Connie says it just normal Harvey obsessing over everything. I say not - I could not fall asleep. I would have gotten up and walked around but there is no power from 11:00 to 5:00 in the morning. You are SUPPOSED to be sleeping after all.
We were to meet up with the other 6 in their van at an Inkan ruins site. Here Connie and I are in niches in the Inca stone walls. Mummies and other special items were placed in these niches.
The fast walkers getting ready to start their long walk.
Connie was feeling poorly so she was transferred directly to the lodge in the GE-MA van!
We drove forward to our trailhead and started walking. They warned us to be prepared for any weather conditions and they were right. It started out hot and we were stripping off clothes. We soon were adding more clothes! We stopped at a backpackers resting place which had rest rooms to have our box lunch. Just before we got there it started raining a bit.
We reached the flat after climbing up the hill.
This was one of the narrower spots. Rich Rediker was a bit put off with the possibility of falling "a thousand feet" if you took a misstep.
Closeup of one of the snow capped mountains along the trail.
Connie was still under the weather - slept a bunch with almost no food all day. She finally had a bit of food - some chicken broth for dinner and she is feeling much better.
I had a pretty rough night - altitude sickness again - had trouble sleeping. Sort of a panic attack - I kept waking myself up - almost no sleep for me. Connie says it just normal Harvey obsessing over everything. I say not - I could not fall asleep. I would have gotten up and walked around but there is no power from 11:00 to 5:00 in the morning. You are SUPPOSED to be sleeping after all.
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