Place a gold star on this mountain hike. My hike on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in the Andes Mountains in Peru ranks as one of my most favorite hikes. As one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu’s ancient ruins were so impressive. I don’t often feel the sense of awe that I felt when I looked at the stone walls and terraces of the ancient city. Everything was constructed with such precision at a time long before modern tools and blueprinting became the norm. Yes, the ruins were a sight to see. They made the difficult, four-day climb worth every step. But the summit was just one of the amazing sights I saw on the Inca Trail. The scenery was another. Everywhere I looked, I saw the most beautiful mountains and valleys. We passed several ancient dwellings and sites that made me wonder about the people who once lived there.
The Grueling, Yet Rewarding Inca Trail
The Inca Trail is one of the most beautiful mountain paths I’ve hiked, and it was also one of the most challenging. To me, the Inca Trail seemed like an endless stairway leading up. But the stairs were not neat and tidy like at home. That would be too easy, and the Inca Trail is not easy! The trail was rocky and narrow in places, requiring me to take huge steps to hoist myself and my backpack up on the next rock. We were awake as early as 4am every day and climbed for hours at a time. It was exhausting. I really should have done more climbing in my training instead of hiking on flat terrain, but it’s not easy to find hills to climb in Wisconsin. By the end of the second day, the climb became as much a mental challenge as a physical challenge. My legs were so tired and heavy, it took all of my will just to keep going. I was huffing and puffing, but I kept moving. It was such a relief to reach our campsite each night.
Bonding with the Other Hikers
The grueling hike, the breathtaking scenery, and the connection with ancient peoples made the trip a gold star climb. But what really put this trip over the top was the people I shared the experience with. Everyone, including our guide, was so supportive and fun to be around. We joked around and got along great which made the trip even better and the memories even happier.
A Mountain Adventure with My Wife (Sort of)
Our group of 15 hikers included several married couples, and it was fun to see their interaction. My wife, Joan, decided to stay home because this mountain was out of her comfort zone. In a way, she was with me on my climb because I brought her Wonder Writer action figure with me. When Joan opened Writer to the Rescue in 2019, I ordered an action figure with a cape, boots, belt, and her face 3D printed on it. Wonder Writer goes on every mountain climb with me, and I have fun taking photos of her and telling the other hikers about Wonder Writer. I appreciate Joan’s support so much. I also appreciated the support of the 23 porters that accompanied us, including our fantastic guide and amazing cooks who surprised us with their mountain-kitchen skills. They even baked us a cake on the side of a mountain. That’s impressive!
Worlds Apart in Many Ways
With an elevation of nearly 14,000 ft., Machu Picchu is much higher than Wisconsin at 300 ft elevation. Thankfully, I didn’t suffer from elevation sickness. Peru is different from Wisconsin in other ways, too. I arrived in Cusco early so I had time for a city tour and chocolate-making workshop. We ground the cocoa beans into liquified dark chocolate and poured the chocolate into molds. I love chocolate, and the group experience was fun. I brought home enough chocolate to share, and I’m reminded of my trip every time I take a bite. Peruvian chocolate has more flavor and less sweetness than our U.S. chocolate.
Dining and Shopping Surprises
Another surprising food choice was alpaca, which I ate several times while climbing. Alpaca tastes like a cross between beef and mutton. It tasted good, but it’s OK if I never eat alpaca again in my lifetime. On the city tour, I visited a farm where they raised alpacas, llamas, and guinea pigs – a delicacy reserved for special occasions. I also visited the market in Cusco, and I was amazed by the varieties of cheese, potatoes, crafts, and alpaca clothing. I came home with the softest imaginable alpaca stuffed animal for our grandson and a few alpaca wool ponchos and sweaters for the rest of the family.
One of the Seven Wonders of the World
It’s not every day that I travel to Peru to climb a mountain and experience all that I experienced. This Wonder of the World was even better because of the wonderful people that shared the experience with me. If you liked reading this article, I invite you to read about my Mount Kilimanjaro climb.
