Alright well I know your all dying to hear about our incredible Machu Picchu trek so here it is for ya. We started out early thursday morning and got on a van and headed about 3 hours to Mollepata, ate a nice little breakfast, then headed another 2 hours to hour drop off spot. We all unloaded the van, steri-penned our water and began the journey. We hiked a hot 2 hours or so on the road until we reached more of a trail in front of the large mountain Umantay. After about 45 minutes on the trail it started to hail followed by some pretty heavy rain, lucky for us we were only about 5 minutes from our lunch spot where we were able to find some shelter. After some gooood lunch (the cooks knew how to get it done) the rain let up and we headed up the mountain about 2 hours to nearly the base of the even larger mountain Salkantay. The camp site was amaaazingg. The mountains were surrounding us and the energy that the place held was completley indescribable. It was a cold place, which I loved, with some strong winds. So we all did our own thing that evening, I sat in some rock caves and read and experienced everything around me,watched the crescent moon sliver peering over the mountains and the stars dancing in the sky. It was really one of the best experiences of my life. Later in the night when we were all huddled in our tents with our bottles full of hot water tucked with us in our sleeping bag, the sky roared and lightning, rain and thunder filled our camp spot and made for an even more incredible, eye opening experience to the force of nature. The next morning started at 5:30 being pampered with some Mate de Coca in bed and then breakfast together before our longest day of the trek. We immediatly had a steep hike in front of us and the 13,000 ft or so altitude and backpacks were some obstacles that brought some challenge but we all soon made it to the top where we met up with an amazing view overlooking our camp spot and Salkantay to the left. After about 2 hours more of hiking we finally made it to Salkantay Pass, which was the most incredible sight.(Ooo I forgot to add we had an English buddy from London accompany us on our voyage who ended up being a great guy named Johnny and was loved by us all.) But the pass, at the base of Salkantay was incredible, finally we got to be with snow as we stood above all the clouds and saw the caps of the mountains poking there white heads out. After being with the spot for some time we made an offering with coca leaves and a rock pyramid to pay hommage to the amazing land that was enabling us to pass. Then it was time for more of what we did best and we headed down about 2 hours ate some lunch and then another 2 or so down where we moved from the amazing land of snow covered mountains to hot, jungle nature. When we finally reached our camp spot in the jungle we were pretty exhausted and blistered up so we took it easy. Once again had an amazing meal accompanied by some good talks about politics, this crazy world and other good conversation then straight to bed for us all. The morning of course started at 5:30, did the routine and got on our way. This day was obviously great, just a little different because we ran into more people than before. We hiked through the jungle for quite some time, passed by and amazing river, enjoyed it and kept on trekking. It was a good day for me because even though there were pèople I was able to get by myself and just do my thing alone, which felt really good because there is nothing like being away from everything and just alone with nature, thats the truth. So we hiked for a looong time and finally got this little town where we stopped, which concluded our mountain/jungle journey. Then took a van to Santa Teresa where we set up camp outside a hostel, hit up some hot spring, ate some dinner, chilled with the little monkey and made some friends before getting our sleep. Next day was filled with hiking along the dirt mountain roads for a long time, passed some amazing waterfalls, and finally got to the rail road where we stopped for lunch. Then the hiking was along the rail road foreveeerr, which was really fun. We all kinda got hypnotized by the neverending road and balancing acts on the rails. So after hours of that we finally made it to Aguas Calientes, which was kinda bitter sweet for me because it was a town, full of tourism and all this fake man made stuff after so much realness and nature, but it felt good to reach it. It was a good night though, more good food, had a really nice talk with everyone about everything, and slept in bed.
4 AM I wake up ready to get my trek on up to Machu Picchu and realize how loud the AC is in our room. I get up to see where it is, and oh well believe that, it´s dumping rain. It´s all good though nothings much better of an experience than a 4 AM hike to Machu Picchu in some real weather. So we meet up at 4, eat our food, and get right to it, no time to spare because the bus is right on our tail filled with old lazy tourists. So we start hiking, and we hike, and hike, and we´re working it up this steep mountain, beautiful mountain through a little rain with views of amazing mountains slowly being uncovered by the resting clouds, trying not to stop, but barley being able to breath. And after about an hour or so of hhaaarrdd reaaal work we get to the top, eeerrrewwww, kinda bitter sweet. A big restaurant and what not all looking nice for tourists. But it´s alright we know whatsup, and the hike was amazing itself. So we pretty much all make it up there before the bus unloads the hundreds of lazy people and the gates finaly open at 6. So we get in, head straight to the Wayna Picchu with our boy Jayer (our guide for the whole trip who just knows whatsup with everything) and are first in line to get some of the 400 tickets that are given out for access to Wayna Picchu. So after we get out tickets we go around, checking the place out, Jayer shows us around then we just do our own thing for awhile. Once you get away from the tourist factor it is a really amazing place. Elliot and I hiked Machu Picchu mountain, or as much as possible, which was the best idea we made cause it was away from everyone and had amaazzing views and was just beautiful all together. After that we all headed to Wayna Picchu, which was once again indescribable. I don´t even know what to say. It took about an hour to get up it, it sits next to Machu Picchu and overlooks everything and holds the craziest crazyness within it. Thats the only way I can describe the feeling when your there, your in a new world. The incans built the trail up it and built tempals and terraces on it´s top and it overlooks everything. You see all of Machu Picchu and everything around, and it really just grabs you and brings you somewhere new. So that was that. Then we headed back, all pretty much dead. Ate some food and caught the train for a long ride back to Cusco. So all together it was a great adventure. Personally the first couple days were the best for me, since it was filled with the most nature and everything seemed to speak to you and understand you. So what I take out of this is that the world is where ya need to be, so I gotta get away from most of the things that have made it impossible for the world to speak like it does when your with it. It feels good to see that. yuupp. woww damn sorry for writing so much, I didn´t really realize. alright hope all is well..
Jaackkk