Peru Report
The following report was sent to us by Eimear who has recently completed an Overseas Fundraising Challenge on behalf of Cedar to Peru:
Belfast City Airport:
Arrived at the airport after having checked and triple checked the final kit list. Stephen obliged me by taking a photo of me with all my gear wearing the colourful sunshine yellow Cedar Foundation t-shirt which amused some tourists no end.
Heathrow airport:
Arrived at the Iberian airlines at the appointed hour and spotted a few other people wearing backpacks and sun hats (In November!!) Over a meal and some drinks we were all introduced and looking forward to the trek, 14 in total, 10 girls and 4 boys, ranging in ages from 19 to 57.
Acclimatisation walk. Taken by coach to Tambo Machay, 400m above Cuzco, which is 3,360m above sea level, then took several hours to walk back down to Cuzco. Stopped for a gourmet lunch after this provided by chef Guido, being entertained by a five piece band which played Andean music as we ate.
First day of the trek proper. Taken by coach to Totora, a small village on an unpaved road out of Calca at a height of 3,700m. As we walked we met several small children sitting by the roadside along the way, who shyly accepted our gifts of bananas and grenadines. After lunch we started the next leg of the journey and were overtaken a pair of ten year old schoolgirls who José told us had to walk two hours to and from school every day.. Started and finished the day at 3,700m above sea level.
The next day was the hardest. We climbed steeply emerging into a steadily ascending valley. This time we had a "horse ambulance", in case of emergencies. As we got to the end of the valley, with a steep rock face in front of us rising up to the pass, we came upon Lake Quehuñaccacha, which acted as a mirror to the mountains around it. Struggled up the last part of the ascent to the Huillkaccasa pass with many a stop, but were elated to arrive at the top, a height of 4,450m.
Saw a few chinchillas on the descent darting in and out of stone walls and rocks, also many snooty llamas and some colourful natives. Reached our camp site on the football pitch at Huacahuasi around 5 p.m., having been walking for a total of 9 ¼ hours - a long day!
Started walking again at 6 a.m The path took us into another ascending valley, where we climbed remorselessly upwards, for 4 hours. This was 4,570m above sea level, the highest point we would reach, and everyone made it. We gathered rocks to make a small cairn, and stood in a circle around it to thank Pachamama, the earth goddess, for allowing us to arrive there safely. It was then a half hour burst downhill from the pass to Lake Ipsaycocha for lunch.
The last bit of the trek after lunch was long and scenic, and along the way we went to the home of a local family. Inside living with the family were some adorable guinea pigs (kept as dinner for special occasions and wandering around freely). It rained quite hard during the night, and was still raining when we got up at 3.45 the next morning, but when we arrived at Machu Picchu the views with the sun beating down and the atmosphere were incredible and made it all worthwhile. It was a fantastic experience and I made some great friends along the way, for anyone thinking of doing a trek, I would say "Do it!"
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