Melastmohican Blog

I am now in Cuzco waiting for my transfer to airport and doing last minute shopping for gifts. Today I will fly from Lima back home.

I have done Inca Trail. It was tougher than I toughteven if trail itself is not that difficult. What makes it difficult forme was that I made many things first time in my life. First time I was hiking on altitude around 4000m, first timeI giked 4 times in rowso there was not time time to regenerate. My knees and feet are sore but I am happy I tried it. Many things could be better if I new some tricks before:

Do not try to carry all your stuff with you. Porters cost $50 for entire trail and you need really only camera, water, warmer cloths, rain poncho, insect repellant, sun screen. Your sleeping bag, tootbrush is not needed on a trail but it weights

If possible wear long sleeves and pants. Bugs are really enoying and you will not feel them busy with climbing

Hiking poles are usefull. Get lightest posiblebut you can buy wooden sticksfrom locals on thetrail. If you got hiking poles get rubber tips cause you cannot use metal on the trail. Again locals would sell you one pair for 3 soles

Sun screen is good if you do not want to get burned like me

I spent 4 days in Amazon jungle. It´s amazing but rauning season alrady started so it was quite muddy. We have to walk in rubber boots. I am in Cuzco tonight. Tomorrow I will go to Inca Trail.

I am waiting at Lima airport for my flight to Puerto Maldonado. It looks I did not take any ATM card with so I have to wait till 9:00 for bank opening to get some cash cause I do not have PINs for my credit cards. MIstake, always carry some cash with you

I spent a night in Carmel Hotel which was located on Atahualpa street what a coincidence

Surprise, they got US current outlets in hotels

On my last hike I broke my newly purchased carbon hiking pole. It looks like REI accepted it as defective and I bought new ones.

I also bought MSR Miox Water Purifier, it’s the latest water treatment device on the market:

Yesterday we hiked to the top of Kaiser Peak. There was no people on the trail. We got whole moutain for ourselves. For me it was tough hike. My first on this altitude. Last 500 feet in elevation felt I endless. 10289 ft is the highest altitude I walked in. I was higher in Colorado but by car.