Survivor: the Inca Trail Doug Johnson Created … January 29, 2007

Blending in…

Lost City of the Incas Hiram Bingham III - Yale - 1911

Hiram Bingham III - Yale - 1911

Heart of the Incan Empire 1532 - 3,000 miles long - roads -200 ft bridges made of reeds - “pony-express” Never developed: writing the wheel use of draft animals Not Inca, Quechua (cash’-wa) Lasted only 300 years Greedo

Heart of the Incan Empire 1532 - 3,000 miles long - roads -200 ft bridges made of reeds - “pony-express” Never developed: writing the wheel use of draft animals

Not Inca, Quechua (cash’-wa)

Lasted only 300 years

Cusco 300,000 pop., 11,500 ft. elevation

Dominican Priory and Church of Santo Domingo

Sac-say-hua-man

300 TON stones

Tambo-machay

45 km (28 miles)- 4 days “ The trek is rated moderate and any reasonably fit person should be able to cover the route.”

45 km (28 miles)- 4 days

“ The trek is rated moderate and any reasonably fit person should be able to cover the route.”

Day One 7.5 miles - beginning elevation 8,500 feet, ending elevation 9,850 feet. Uru-bam-ba River

Freddy Zapata

Freddy Zapata

Llaq-ta-pata

Pre-hispanic history of Peru 60% speculation 30% probability 10% fact - P. Frost

Way-lla-bamba

Day Two 7 miles - beginning elevation 9,850 feet; high point, 13,800 feet; ending elevation, 11,500 feet

Peru: Poverty rate: 48%. Income pp has not risen in 25 years. History of political instability.

50 steps, catch your breath, repeat “ soroche” (aka Hypoxia or Acute Mountain Sickness) pills cocoa tea 2-3 day adjustment time go lower

Dead Woman’s Pass, 13,800 feet

Paca-mayo

Day Three 9 miles - beginning elevation 11,500 feet, highest points - two separate passes, 12,800 feet and 12,000 feet; ending elevation 8,700 feet

Run-kura-cay “The Egg”

Tribute to Pacha Mama

Sa-yac-marca “Inaccessible Town”

Phu-yu-pata-marca “Town in the Clouds”

3,000 ft drop = blisters

Win-ay way-na “Forever Young ”

Day Four 5.5 miles - beginning elevation 8,700 feet; ending elevation at Machu Picchu 7,800

Inti-pun-ku: The Sun Gate

Machu Picchu

Earth - Llama Underground - Serpent Heaven - Condor

Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail: a complete work of art

Aguas Calientes

If you go: Book early Get in shape Get good boots Read up ( Cusco by Frost) Have fun! And remember…

No man needs a vacation so much as the man who has just had one. - Elbert Hubbard

Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not be lazy.