^8th July, 2003.

Hi there.

08/07/2003

Hi all,

Hope everyone is well. The last week has been one of the quickest weeks of the trip so far. It was great to get out of Cusco and into the country side for the Inca Trail. We had heard so much about it and both known a number of people who had done it that we really hoped it would not be a let down!!

We got off to an early start on the first day at 6am and started the walk at KM82. We went with SAS who had been highly recommended so we were expecting A lot. We met all the group at a gourmet breakfast just before the walk started. We were comprised of 2 Ozzies, a honeymoon couple, 3 young Americans, their teacher and the teachers accountant, a Welsh girl and 3 English. The first day there was a lot of stopping and starting and the walking was not too difficult. We got to our camp site where everything was set out for us and had a 4 course dinner before going to bed, the tents were luxury in comparison to our other camping trips as was the food.

Everyone talks about the second day as being the toughest as you have to make it to Dead Woman’s Pass which is at 4,200 metres. There was a bit of competition going on between the Irish and the American - English Alliance so there was a bit of a race to the top. When we arrived at the top we met a guy with an Irish flag so got a good photo of that. One of the guys called Nev was on his honey moon and his new wife was having trouble with her knees so had to take it easy. Mid way through the day Nev started to feel sick and barely made it to the second camp site which was the coldest as it was at the highest altitude. After another great dinner we had a bad nights sleep in a cold tent. The scenery on the trail is amazing with snow capped peaks.

Day 3 dawned bright and early and we were only too glad to get out of the tent and have lovely porridge which I have not eaten since I lived at home and wore a school uniform! The guy Nev who was sick went from bad to worse and eventually it was agreed that they would stretcher him to the next campsite, he was embarrassed but unable to do anything about it. The guide had told us that beside the third campsite was a beautiful magical place that we should not miss it all day we were hurrying to make it there before it got dark. Day 3 was the longest day and after lunch we had to climb to a pass then make our way down over 3,000 steps. This was when the trouble started as everyone was hurrying too much. Evan was gone flying ahead and myself and the teacher Michelle were going along at a good pace when suddenly Michelle went flying on her face at a really steep point. I was right in front of her and we both got a bad fright. My first aid skills leave a little to be desired but I managed to keep her calm and wipe all the blood off her face and everywhere else. People were so good stopping with all sorts of swabs and first aid kits. Eventually the guides arrived and it was agreed that she would have to be carried down as she had a head injury.

The cook dropped what he was carrying, wrapped Michelle in a blanket and carried her on his back, luckily she was only about 8 stone or he would never have managed, she said it was worse than any roller coaster ride. At the time Michelle had the accident Nev was being carried by on the stretcher, it was funny but not funny at all! She ended up with 4 stitches but we all realised how lucky we were. Another guy Jay also had a fall so we were not the most successful group ever to do the Inca Trail and the guy said we lacked technical ability!!!

However we all managed to make it to Sun Gate on the 4th day but because of the falls the day before we were not allowed walk in the dark therefore we missed the clouds breaking over the main event, Machu Picchu!! It was still really nice and well worth it.

We climbed the famous hill behind the site called Huana Picchu which you see in all the postcards, got lost coming down and ended up hiking for way too many hours!! We then met Evans sister Catharine and hiked down to the town beside the site called Aguas Calientes where we all soaked in the hot springs. It was a good end to the 4 days!! Had a few beers with the Ozzies who we had got on great with then slept properly in a bed for the first time in a few nights!! The luxury!!

Slan,

E&S