Peru – Inca Trail Aug 7-15, 2000 Home Page Itinerary Photo Album Contact Us	Our week-long visit to Peru allowed us a few days in Cuzco and its environs and four days of hiking the Inca Trail. Truth be told, it was beautiful and awe-inspiring in hindsight, but at the time, all awe was reserved for “aw, @#$!” and cardiac arrest and irrevocably-damaged knees dominated my thoughts. Warren & I were joined by Warren’s sister, Marjorie, for a “last hurrah” of sorts before her wedding this September. We were all excited for a good trip, full of physical demands… but none of us knew it was going to be 35 vertical miles. But vertical they were, so we owe Marj a more indulgent trip some day. On this trip altitudes were high and appetites were low (accompanying Megan’s admitted ‘tude – especially on the morning of day 3, when a string of fiery obscenities accompanied her 3,000 descent) In a small-world coincidence, we ran into three of Warren’s friends from business school: Alec, Inigo and Ted, while at some ruins near Cuzco. There being but one route to Machu Picchu, our two groups naturally passed one another repeatedly throughout the trek. In stark contrast with our own sputtering selves, the agility and raw strength of the native Peruvians continually amazed us. As we huffed and puffed, countless lithe-footed, flip-flop-clad porters speedily passed by, literally hopping along the trail bearing loads which covered two-thirds of their bodies’ length and several times their width. Their heavy loads led us to think of the loads their ancestors carried five-hundred years ago, as they carried the massive cut stones which formed the trail’s steps. On the last morning, we left camp at 4:30 a.m. in order to witness the sunrise over the Incas’ lost city, Machu Picchu. As light began to break, it revealed the best part of the trek thus far, with pink, purple and white orchids on either side of the path and other wildflowers abloom. When, at 6:30 a.m., we descended upon the open view of Machu Picchu, our efforts were well rewarded. The sun inched into view from the upper left, slowly revealing the details of the city as it crept diagonally from one corner of the settlement to the other.
	Pictures From Peru (click on each to enlarge)
	Breaking Camp	Happy Campers	Marj & Warren	The Summit
	Lunch in Cave	Rainbow Below	Warm at Last	HBS 95 Rendezvous
	Local Hangout	Sunrise	Machu Picchu	Top of The World