Day 7 SA Day 2 on the Inca Trail - Dead Woman's Pass

Day 2 started with a tap on our tent at 5:00 am, we were handed a cup of Coca Tea and the day began. We packed up and headed to breakfast. Breakfast was crepes and porridge, a nice hearty breakfast to prepare us for the accent of Dead Woman Pass, at 4,215 meters it was the highest we will get on the trail. The 1st picture is of the trek we are on for those of you out their who like to a map to put things in perceptive.

The hike today started at our camp site of 3,000 m and would climb to 4,215 over 8 km taking about 4.5 hours. Julie was wearing the suntto heart monitor and both her and Ruth rested once it got to 150 beats per minute which was often. The walking sticks were great as it takes some pressure off the knees. Most of the hiking was along stone steps so lots of concentration and calculation was needed to determine where to step. Often we would switchback along a step in order to reduce the rise of the step. Most likely we hiked more than the 12kms as that distance does not take into account the horizontal zig zag across the steps. When we reached the pass there was lots of applause and cheers. We were now in a misty cloud forest.

We had our snack and headed down the remaining 4kms on steep steps. The weather was now clear and there were lots of flowers, waterfalls, and hummingbirds as we descended to our campsite at 3600 meters. The camp site along side a stream that drops ~800 m with most of it's coarse being visible from the camp.

Everyone in our group did extremely well. We are 6 Canadians all 49 or 50 years old, and 3 mid 30's Swedes. Us old farts kept right up with the younger crew. Doug got to camp first, then Mirja, then Ruth, Dawson and Julie ....then everyone else. Not a competition of course but Ruth and Julie were very pleased to have managed the challenge so well.

We got in to camp for a late lunch around 3 and the cooks/porters even had linen origami condors at our place settings. After lunch we napped until afternoon tea at 5, then dinner and a new card game called Chicago which we played with Odie and the 3 Swedes on the tour. Julie made a come from behind Chicago move to win the game.

Camp is quite crowded as there are 7 sleeping tents and 2 dining/cook tents on a small area. This camp site is used by a number of tours, there are 3 G tours and maybe another 7 or 8 tours, all packed in to small terraces on a steep slope. We are happy that toilets are located about every 2 hours of hiking. They are somewhat gross squat toilets with no toilet paper but there is running water to wash hands etc. we are well geared with our own TP and hand sanitizer so we are thankful for the privacy of the facilities. Just hold your breath for a moment and beg our exhausted jelly leg muscles to hold us up for a few minutes and we are good to go. Of course the guys have it a bit better as there are natural toilets everywhere.

Bed at around 8:30 ready for our 5 am call the next day.

Photo notes

1) Map of Inca trail to Machu Picchu
2) Start of day 2 hike - many steps through the forest
3) Snack site prior to summiting Dead Woman Pass
4) view back to snack site ~ 1/2 way up to pass
5) Doug at summit of Dead Woman's Pass
6) Julie and Ruth working hard nearing summit
7) Julie at summit
8) Flower along trail
9) Ruth leading the group down the descent, Julie is in the blue poncho
10) Julie along trail to 2nd campsite
11) waterfall above Campsite
12) Our tent site again had a spectacular view, last picture is a view from our tent.

Cheers Julie and Dawson