Back-packing Birthday….

July 15th, 2009 by Jessica Marshall

What a way to start year 29 – wake up at 4:30 A.M. and hike up, down, and around a mountain that is more than 2000 meters high in the rain, then tour the rest of one of the 7 wonders of the world all before 1:30 P.M. Altough the morning started out very soggy and my quads ache like crazy, it was all worth it. Heather and I finished our Peru adventure this weekend taking a train to Aguas Calientes then up to the famous Machu Picchu on my birthday. I guess after having beautiful weather all week long, it was no surprise that is was pouring down rain all Sunday morning. Despite the rain, once Heather and I got passed the main entrance of Machu Picchu we ran (as careful as possible on the slippery, muddy, ruins of the Incas) to the entrance of Wayna Picchu. We ran because only 400 people are allowed onto this section of the ruins each day. After waiting 45 minutes in the rain, a group of students giving up on waiting in line, and deciding to miss our guided tour of Machu Picchu, we got in. First we went up the smaller of the 2 mountains Huayna Picchu where we had an okay view despite all of the fog and clouds. We also got a great picture of one of the local hawks sitting on one of the stones. Afterwards we started on what seemed to be one of the most dangerous, yet exciting things I’ve ever done. Although VERY slippery (and sometimes deadly according to the US embassy) we were determined to reach the top of Wayna Picchu (almost 2700 meters above sea level) no matter how long it took us. Well, they weren’t kidding when the entry sign stated as one of the rules to travel the mountain that “You must be fit.” Heather and I were pretty proud of ourselves because we were able to reach the top in about 90 minutes. Although we couldn’t see through all of the clouds, it was amazing to look down and realize we just hiked up this steep mountain, in the rain, and that only a few hundred people get to do a day. On our way down, we decided to go all out and hike the entire trail. Most people hike up to the top, then back the way we came, but you can also hike down to the sacred Temple of the Moon and the Gran Caverna. All together it took us about 4 hours and 20 minutes to do the whole thing. As I signed my name in the entry/exit log (to make sure no one is still lost on the mountain at the end of the day) I got this great feeling of accomplishment. After that, Heather and I wondered the temples, grasses, and other remains of Machu Picchu. We even got a few pictures of us with a baby llama on our way out. Although I have had many memoriable birthdays and hope to have even more to come, I’m not sure if I will ever have another as spectacular, tiresome, and accomplishing as this one. See you in a few days – Jess