Salkantay Trek!

       I signed up for the 5 day Salkantay trek, as a few friends had recommended it.  Another girl staying in my hostel, Flavia from the South of Brasil, also signed up with me.  We had our briefing with our guide, Victor, around 8 PM the night before we headed out. 
      The van picked us up around 5 AM.  There were 7 others in our group, in addition to Flavia and I.  We drove to Mollepata, where we all introduced ourselves and had breakfast before beginning our walk.  We also organized our backpacks- everyone could give around 5 kilograms for the horses to carry until Santa Teresa.  So in the group, in addition to Flavia and I, are Javier from the Canary Islands of Spain, Kathryn and Teresa from Ireland, Isabel from Holland, Roberto from Northern Brasil, and Marie and Ameline from France (mother and daughter).  I rented trekking poles and a sleeping bag in Cuzco, but otherwise I was quite prepared with what I had brought from the States for my trek.  Below shows the route we took.

      

Day 1- hiked about 4 hours in the morning to where we had lunch, then another 4  in the afternoon to our campsite

A stopping point along the way

I believe her name was Maria Inez, at the ¨village¨ we stopped at



Sisterly love!

I shared some cookies with the girls!

Cow for Katherine!

    The first day we walked from Mollepata to our covered campsite in Soraypampa.  When we began our walk, it was hot and sunny.  We went through a short spell of rain, and by the time we reached Soraypampa I had on my hat and scarf and warm jacket.  As we were about to arrive, after about 9 hours of walking total, we came upon a sort of 5 star hotel amidst the vast landscape.  Some folks were being served Pisco Sours as they lounged in the hot tub.  I thought - "Okay, when my parents make it to Peru, I think they could handle that place.  Then we continued on to our campsite, arriving just before dark.  Only one person on the trek, Roberto, had a little trouble with altitude sickness.  Along with our guide, a cook and a ¨horse man¨came along with us.  The food was incredible, considering everything was carried on the horses and cooked over a fire.  Everyone in the group spoke English, and most Spanish as well, so we all got along quite well.

View of a very isolated home along our path

The "resort" mirage just before our camping site

The hot tub

 

Almost to camp, its getting chilly!

Approaching camp

Awaiting our first dinner together. Left too right is Isabel, Flavia (in red), Victor our guide, and Roberto with troll

                     

The horses that carried our tents and food, waiting in the snow


Our first night camping our tents were set up under a covering, as this was the coldest area we would be in.  It poured throughout the night, and most of us woke up at some poinit in the night wet, as it rained so hard that water leaked into our tents.  The next morning we also realized it has snowed in the night, and everything was blanketed in white.  It was a beautiful morning, though morale was a little low after a cold, wet night, and several people also had much of there belongings soaked in the night as well.  The second day was the hardest, as we had to to hike up for a few hours to get to the highest point in our trek. 

Left to right- me, Flavia (Brazil) Javier (Canary Islands) Marie, Ameline (France), Isabel (Holland), and Teresa (Ireland)

Heading out, day 2- I was feeling right at home with the snow!

I couldn't help myself!  Snow angels in the Andes!

Guides Victor and Antonio

Not quite like headstands on the beach!

Troll's first snowfall!

At the highest point on our trek

The Whole Group!  This is day 2, but after the toughest climb.

Cheaters!  They took horses up...

Flavia.... enjoying a little rest

Then came the rain

All in one day... wake up in the snow, end up in the cloud rain forest

Are second campsite-- luckily much drier than the first

Day 3- walking through the jungle... warmer climate AND more mosquitoes


Overall, I was SO glad I did the trek, despite some rainy weather on our hike up to Macchu Picchu, and a couple of whiners within the group.  I have kept in touch with just about everyone from the trek via Facebook, and hope to visit me friends in Brazil in the next couple of years!  The whole experience was amazing, and never have I walked so much in my life!