The Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu - The Hardest Day

Day 5
Santa Theresa, Peru
The Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu


The following entries will be short dispatches with an emphasis on images rather than words. For the APES students out there, let me know what you think about the images. Bonus points next fall if you can name the biomes and ecosystems I'm passing through (though I may give a few too many hints):


Dispatch 1 - Sunday 7/10
Depart Cusco at 4am and arrive at our trek's starting point, which is known as Soraypampa for our first 3 hour hike.

Prepping from the trek 

Breathe. Walk. Breathe. Walk. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Sip water. Breathe. Walk. The elevation gain hits you suddenly. Cusco was 11,000 feet and now we're quickly ascending from 12,000 to 13,000 and eventually up to 15,000 feet.

The trail ahead 

Our trek guide tells us that 5 years ago the glaciers on the Andean mountains to our right and left extended down to where we are hiking. The glaciers are in retreat. Terminal moraines are visible in all directions. Till slips down the mountain sides.

Name the geologic feature .. hint, I mentioned it in the text 

The winds whip and the trail steepens. We reach the top of the mountain pass - elevation 15,157 feet. It's a little easier to breathe. The view gives oxygen instead of taking it away.

PC and KD at the top of the Salkantay Pass 

That's all for now. More dispatches to come.


PC