Day 2 of my first real 'backpacking' (versus 'car camping') trip to date was warned to be the most difficult day of the Inca Trail trek as well as the coldest night of the trip at -2 degrees Celsius.
But seriously, big kudos to the Llama Path guide Eddie and co-guide David for being motivational cheerleaders every step of the way and the porters for showing us how backpacking with 30kg on your back (and beating us by a mile) is really done!
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| Edwin Eddie Champi and David - Our guides |
Day's preview by our guide:
- Wake up 6 am
- Hike 2 hours uphill to Warmiwafiusca (aka Dead Woman's Pass) - highest pt of trek
- Descend 2 hours downhill
- Lunch
- Hike 2 hours uphill again to 2nd pass over another mountain pass
- Descend for 2 hours downhill to our campsite @ Chaquicocha
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| Heading up.... |
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| Yet another micro climate w/in the Andes... |
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| Yay! 1st 'wildlife' llama encounter having a snack... |
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| Crispy chilly but breathtaking views (and no not due to altitude gain:D) - so glad 2nd day was cooler for our 2 hour hill ascents! |
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| Still heading up... apparently a natural path tread by the local llamas |
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| Knees are definitely starting to feel the challenge...glad I got the walking stick! |
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| Still more up??? Where does it end? lol |
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| Our 1st orchid sighting! - tiny I know! Helped to have a biologist in the group to point then out:) |
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| Deadly nightshade (ID courtesy of our fellow biologist traveler Liam) |
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| Photo op/excuse for a break time! lol |
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| Representin' USA and Canada! (me, Sienmi, Anna) |
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| Downhill!!! - equally steep 2 hr descent |
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| down, down, down... |
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| Photo ops at every turn... |
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A surprise waterfall as we looked back up our path behind us:)
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LUNCH BREAK!!! :D
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