Inca Trail - Day 1

In the beginning...I love challenges, I have been secretly obsessed with "spiritual mountains" since I tackled Mt. Shasta. Every adventure I take is another opportunity for self exploration, assessment, fine-tuning & readjustments.

Hope you enjoy my Inca Trail (aka Inca Stairs) journey...it has some drama...

First off, quick history of the Inca Trail to MP - it is just a small sector of the thread of paths that linked the Inca empire together. The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is thought to be a route of pilgrimage used by the Emperor (Inca) in the 15th century, and/or a religious route and/or a supply route to transport provisions to the ruling Inca and several hundred servants. 

I learned quickly, "no one knows anything for sure, because either it wasn't written down, or the Spanish destroyed what was written down".

Questions: 

Who built the inca stairs?

How long did it take? 

Who maintains the trail today? 

Inca Trail: Day 1 - the "Goat rodeo" ...

Start: km marker #82 Piscacucho 

End: 6.8 miles 

Elevation: +\- 2000'

Dress code: 80L pack filled (70lbs.), my NEW Hoka One One Tor Summit boots 🎉, Kuhl splash roll up pants, my reliable wrightsocks, a ski turtle neck, a tank and a tshirt, my every ready 9 hat and sunscreen...

I think the reason I have had a harder time writing about this trip is because I don't like to complain about things, but I wasn't thrilled with way this trip laid out... 

My trek group was supposed to be "Wayki Trek". I quickly found I was "sold/farmed out to/tacked onto" another trek group...think third wheel on a first date...wonky and bizarre! 

I am accustomed to REI: great treks, guides and itineraries, but because of the complex logistics of the #3GenCPeru trip I had to use a different group...

So let me start by saying I totally dug my guide, Luis, and was awed by the porter, Sonan...but the rest was wonky wonky! 

Hindsight, my first red flag should have started with the guy who briefed me on the trek...

Briefer: "Be in lobby at 4:00am, here is a list of things to pack..." 

Me: "really? A bathing suit? Really nothing else? What about tipping?"

Briefer: "I guess no bathing suit, here is a map you will follow, 60 soles ($18) for guide and same porter, bye bye" 

I was in the lobby promptly at 4:00am...My guide showed up at 6:30am to pick me up...I spent two hours thinking I had the wrong day, trek, meeting spot and I had missed my inca trail trek...

4am, 5am...6am...guide still not here but I am still staying positive and smiling...

Ok enough worry...Finally stars start to align, the guide arrives, we walk a mile to meet the bus and take an hour or so bus ride to the trailhead...

Don't forget your passport! Right after this start is the 1st passport control center. 

After passport control, bridge over the Cusichaca Stream. @ 9,022'

Up up we go, a village stop along the way. Bring some soles to buy snacks and drinks. 

Our lunch tent in Tarachayoc

The first of many amazing architectural amazements - Llaqtapata @ 8,694'

Wayllabamba @ 9,842' 

Almost to our campsite...its been a long day, I packed too much and should have hired a porter...

Ooooo, my new favorite snack, try it when you are in Peru - grenadilla 

Our first camp site. Filled with chickens, and other livestock grazing around. My tent is little yella'!

End of day! Retired my sweaty clothes to my make shift drying line...fingers crossed everything is dry by morning...

1st day over...