I guess you could say we are on the way home. Tonight we are in Cuzco again. We took the train from Aquas Calientas part way and then switched to a van for the rest of the way to Cuzco. We saw scenery that was very different than the mountains or forest we had seen before.

 

We are hoping for good weather for our take-off to Lima tomorrow. It has been a good trip - good traveling companions, excellent guides, beautiful scenery, a good physical challenge.

Today we visited Machu Picchu. We've all seen beautiful pictures, but I don't think you get the real scope until you see it in person. It was a very cloudy, rainy day, but we did get a few good pictures.

For being the amazing architects that they were, I must say the steps are various heights and depths and somewhat difficult to navigate.

Today was our last hike before discovering Machu Picchu tomorrow. It has been a long day first hiking up 2,300 feet to Llactapata Pass and then hiking down several thousand feet over very slippery trail to catch the train to Aguas Calientas.

This is a view as we head up to the pass. Most of the morning was more shrouded in clouds.

WE passed one archeological site. Here I am with Juan de Dios.

This is another part of the site with walls that have not been restored. Here the Incas used mortar.

Our lunch spot for today. We had a delicious avocado salad and wonderful local  trout.

From our lunch spot, we saw nothing but clouds.

Even with some break in the clouds, we can't see Machu Picchu today.

Today was another walk through the cloud forest. We left Collpa Lodge at 7:30.

We descended down to the level of the river, actually where 2 rivers come together to form the Santa Teresa River. The river roars from the bottom of the valley as the trail undulates along the canyon side.

We crossed several side streams as they entered the canyon including this one with a spectacular waterfall.

The lush vegetation is beautiful, and we pass dazzling wildflowers and a passion fruit plantation.

Our chef prepared us lunch beside the river.

Soon after lunch, we crossed a new bridge. After a walk up a road under construction, we rode in a van along the canyon edge, bypassing an area where a landslide took out the trail. The view down into the canyon from the van was heart stopping at times. Finally, the van left us in a village where we once again began to climb to tonight's lodge, the Lucma at 7,100 feet.

Today was a long downhill day from the Wayra Lodge at 12,000 feet to the Collpa Lodge at 10,300 feet. The clouds did clear so we could see the beautiful setting where we spent last night.

Loading us the mules with our gear.

We didn't get rained on, but the morning was cloudy.

We began the descent from the mountains to the cloud forest.

 

This potato patch was on a steep hillside.

The trail was rocky, and the vegetation was tropical.

 

All along the way, we could hear the river roaring below.

 

When we arrived at the lodge, we were treated to a traditional Peruvian feast.

A fire is prepared and rocks heated to very high temperatures. Then the foods to be cooked (different kinds of potatoes, meats, fava beans, plantains) are covered with the hot rocks, cardboard, canvas tarps and dirt and left to cook for about 1/2 hour.

The cooking crew is removing the coverings.

And taking the food out.

The meats we sampled were chicken, beef, pork and guinea pig. There were 4 kinds of potatoes plus lots of other treats. They promised a light supper after this 2:30pm lunch!

 

 

 

 

We are at lodge #2, Wayra Lodge. Today's hike was everything it was promised to be, and we are bushed.

We started the hike at 7:00am with a few low clouds.

Before long, it had begun to rain, and the clouds moved in.

The landscape was beautiful, but the rain continued.

Here are some other hikers making their way up in the rain.

We had a break from the rain when we stopped for a short break, but the clouds were still low.

After about 5 hours, we were all at the pass at 15,300 feet above sea level, the highest either Norman or I had been except in an airplane. The view should be beautiful, but we couldn't see the mountains at all. It was very cold and sleeting as Norman snapped this photo.

We headed down to a hot lunch cooked along the trail by our chef

The rain stayed with us most of the almost 4 hour trip down.

 

I hope the clouds will lift so we can get a picture of this lodge in the morning as we head out for a downhill day.

Today was our warm-up hike to Lake Salkantay, a glacial lake in the Vilcabamba Range. The lake is at just over 14,000 feet.

The hike ascends quickly from the valley where our lodge is.

The lake is a beautiful turquoise color.

Here I am with our guide Juan de Dios at a rest stop along the way.

We also have a "911 mule" (in this case a horse instead) to carry extra water and take a pack if someone gets to worn out (probably me tomorrow).

This is our lodge as we approach on our return. On today's hike we saw several Andean condors and heard and saw avalanches.