Enjoying the Journey. . .

One of the top tourist destinations in all of South America is Machu Picchu in Peru. (If you’re not already familiar with these amazing Incan ruins, watch for a post soon).  There are several ways to get up the mountains to these ruins – the easiest being to take the train. But since I’m trying to live life focusing on the journeys and not the destinations, I opted to hike the Salkantay trail through the mountains.

The Salkantay trek was named among the top 25 treks in the world by National Geographic Adventure Travel Magazine. It’s a four day hike which ends with a fifth day of exploring Machu Picchu. Much of the hike is spent in the shadow of a 20,574 foot high mountain, Mount Salkantay.

I suspect that the trek has been praised due to the spectacular vistas you pass during the three days of trekking!

Massive Landslide

I also enjoyed the adorable locals who cheer you on your way. . .okay, they don´t actually cheer, but they are adorable!

The trek itself is difficult in parts and sleeping in tents can be quite cold in the mountains! But the trekking companies do their best to make it comfortable: I was amazed the first afternoon to arrive at our lunch destination to find a table and chairs (complete with tablecloth) in the middle of a field!

In the evenings we gathered in the kitchen tent so we could eat in warmth (and so our cook could prepare the meal in comfort). This was posh camping!!

Thank you Jimmy!

The highest (and hardest) part of the trek comes on day 2 when you summit at the pass. The morning climb up to 15,091 feet isn’t easy, but the sense of accomplishment at the top makes it all worthwhile!

Peruvians are always respectful of Pachamama (Mother Earth) and recommend carrying three stones (or more) from the bottom to the highest point of any mountain as an offering to her and to give thanks for successfully reaching the top.

As you approach the top these offerings are everywhere.

I choose to do the hike carrying my entire pack (rather than use a donkey) so the thought of lugging rocks up the mountain as well was entirely unappealing. So I chose three "manageable" rocks to carry up. Can you even spot my offering in this picture?

(next to my left wrist)

After the trek, when I got a little help with my Spanish, I learned that the offering of stones to Pachamama is also meant to cleanse the soul of sin and guilt. The guiltier one´s conscious, the larger the stones one must carry -- to literally carry one´s burden to the top. After leaving the stones at the top, the guilt and sin are released. Seems I chose the right sized rocks after all!

The trek was great fun (and a great workout) and I can honestly say that I enjoyed the journey every bit as much as the destination!

onward

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