Sock and Tie

If you ever meet anyone who just did a 4 or 5 day trek to Machu Picchu and they tell you that you have to do what sounds like "sock and tie," what they really mean is that you should do the 5 day Salkantay trek. Salkantay is the highest mountain in the Peruvian Andes and it means something like dangerous, wild, crazy mountain.


The highest point I climbed was about 4,400 meters. And I got some serious altitude sickness. Walk 2 steps, gasp, gasp, gasp. Hike up hill, more gasping. Feeling like vomiting. Having a headache. Guide hands me more coca leaves and assures me that this is all normal. Chewing coca leaves isn´t the most tastiest treat I have tasted, but it does work. It is so strange how the altitude can really mess with your mind and body. Losing appetite. Vomiting. Headache. All normal.

Made it to Machu Picchu on the 5th day and it is a serious rat race. Wake up at 3:30am. Get to the gate by 4:15am. Gate opens at 5:00am. Run. Run. Run. It is 400 meters to the top and you want to beat the buses. They only allow 400 people to Machu Picchu daily and we also wanted our 10:00 am stamp for Wayna Picchu. They only allow 200 people at 7:00am and 10:00am daily.

Everything was well worth it. And yes, I got more mosquito bites. I think by the time I head to the States my legs are going to be scarred with all these bites.



P.S. I am heading to the jungle tomorrow and won´t reach civilization again until 10 days from now.