4:45am
Wake up call again
5:30am
Time for breakfast. Omelettes, fried bananas, bread. I did not eat much as I was up last night fighting a suspected food poisoning. In fact most people in the group have been affected. Sucks.
6:00am
On the trail again. Fighting food poisoning. Every step is an adventure. I will never take for granted the ability to fart confidently again.
8:00am
The first two hours of todayâs hike were marked by a slow and gradual granite-paved incline to our third pass. On the way, you are treated to views of snow-capped mountains off in the distance. The view at the third pass, offered the group our first glimpse of Machu Picchu mountain. We are getting close!
8:16am
Just took a group photo with all of our porters. I've never had to stand in the back because of my height before. This was definitely a first.
8:30am
We've begun our descent to camp 3. The trail is really steep at parts. Brian is really struggling with food poisoning. In all my adventures with him, I've seen him this week. He is powering through though.
11:20am
Joe and I blasted ahead to the second archaeological site of the day, Intipata, which was mighty impressive. Perched on a steep hill, the site was a large farm, consisting of row upon row of grassy terraces that were once used to grow crops.
11:45am
Joe and I have been chilling in the very limited shade at Intipata, waiting for the rest of the group to show up, which arrives minus Brian and Kenneth. They have all been hit by food poisoning harder than the rest of us it seems. Brian and Kenneth decided to skip Intipata and take a shortcut to camp.
12:00pm
Rested at the ruins for a little bit and took the amazing view and some knowledge from Russell.
1:00pm
Got to camp and immediately entered nap mode. While today's hike was much shorter and generally easier than the first two days, it was also much warmer. That, mixed with everyone's sickness and lack of sleep has stolen some peopleâs energy. Everyone in the group is napping.
2:34pm
There are thunderstorms rolling over the mountains in the distance and it's awesome. I am watching from the comfort of the tent.
4:45pm
Russell took Sabrina and I to another archaeological site called Winay Wayna which was just a five minute walk from our camp. Everyone else was tired or sick. The site was incredible. Definitely the most preserved and largest of the sites weâve seen so far. Like the one we saw earlier in the day, this one had terrace after terrace for agricultural purposes. About half way up on the far side were buildings for housing. Up at the top was a house for the leader of the community and a fertility clinic next to it.
5:48pm
Just felt an earthquake. Cool!
5:52pm
Just felt another.
7:24pm
In bed. Just finished our last dinner. Once again, the chef cooked way too much food. It's Donald's (guy in our group) birthday and they even baked him a cake somehow. Very impressed with that. As I said, we have a 3am wake up call so we can be the first ones to sun gate which apparently opens at 5:15, so we'll be waiting there a while. Regardless, I'm looking forward to it.
Morning views from the trail.
What a bunch of misfits.
My new buddy Kenny hiking into the clouds.
The views from Intipata were second to none!
The view from Intipata. It was a great resting spot.
Watching the rain fall from the comfy confines of my tent.
The irrigation terraces at Winay Wayna. This was just steps from our campsite on day 3.
Close up of some of the housing situation at Winay Wayna.
A view from one of the houses at Winay Wayna.
