Charity Hike

My Charity Hike to Peru .. everybody should do this at least once in their Lifetime !!!

Between the 9^th-19^th May 2003, I was fortunate in achieving, seeing and experiencing a long held `wish` I have had for several years ��. To hike along the Inca trail to the lost city of Machu Picchu, set high in the spectacular Andean mountain range of Peru, South America. The spectacular orchid-draped ruin had lain abandoned to the forest for 500 years until rediscovered again in1911 by the American explorer Hiram Bingham.

It was back in July 2002 that I applied to take part in the SCOPE `100km Peru Hike Away` sponsored challenge and promised to raise �2500 in sponsorship; Scope is the leading charity working with children and adults with cerebral palsy. One in 400 children born in this country has cerebral palsy. It can happen to any child; there is no warning and there is no cure.

Over the following months `with a little help from my friends` namely; work colleagues, TRW company sponsorship, my local branch of the Amicus union, a charity boxing evening, family, friends and numerous Saturday and Sunday overtime shifts, I achieved my goal to the tune of �2678.85p�.. Many thanks to all those who contributed.

Day One

London � Madrid � Lima

Our group of sixty-six, aged from 19yrs to 60yrs and from all over the country were feeling excited but also a little apprehensive as we departed London Heathrow Airport on an early morning flight to Madrid, and connected with our flight to Lima. Overnight we stayed at the Hotel Jose Antonio.

Day Two

Lima � Cusco

We took an early morning one-hour flight to Cusco (3,360m above sea level). We transferred to the Hotel Royal Inka II where we were offered copious cups of `Coca tea` a strange tasting herbal concoction, made from freshly brewed leaves of the Coca shrub, which the locals recommended to help us overcome `altitude sickness` A buffet lunch was provided, which was `very interesting` as it included roast guinea pig and Alpaca (a smaller version of a Lama), After lunch, the rest of the afternoon was free, and we were recommended to take things easy in order to acclimatise to the rarefied atmosphere of the High Andes.

Day Three

Cusco � Acclimatisation day

A briefing about the trek ahead, followed breakfast. Our guides for the duration of our hike were employed by Explorandes who told us amongst many other interesting things that their company were proud to have achieved I.S.O.14001 accreditation, due to their professional approach to the way they administered their day to day organization of the hike and its environmental impact on the land, fauna and flora; i.e. way the camp would be set up, segregation of waste into organic and non organic etc.

The rest of the day was our own to explore the fabulous city of Cusco. Cusco was the capital of the Incan empire and they called it �the navel of the earth�. The city contains numerous remains of Inca times and many of the present day houses have remains of Inca stonework in their foundations. Some of the group visited the Inca ruins of Sacsayhuaman or �house of the sun� which looks down from high above the city, or explored the Cathedral and colorful Andean markets in and around the central Plaza de Armas.

Day Four

Cusco � Papichu � Chilipahua 5 - 8 hours walking

We transferred early in the morning from Cusco on a two-hour coach journey to the start of our trek at Papichu Bridge (3200m). Here all our luggage and provisions were secured on mules.

The trail ascended immediately and we climbed for around 3 - 5 hours to the lunch spot at Watuq�asa (3800m) where we saw an Inca wall and Tambo (an Inca highway rest house) known as Qosqoq` awarina �the place where we can see Cusco�. After lunch we continued walking along Peruvian �flat� (which tends to be up and down) with stunning views of Mt Pumahuanca and Chicon as well as the pass south of Mt Veronika. After three hours or so, the trail descended to a small valley with a stream running through it called Anapahua. We then headed eagerly on to our campsite at Chilipahua (3750m)

Day Five

Chilipahua � Ankascocha 7-9 hours walking

A long day of hard trekking to the second highest pass, Pampaq`asa (4,500m). We left camp and it was a steady climb for 4-5hrs to the pass, where we were unexpectedly rewarded by the fantastic sight of a condor, one of the largest living flying birds with a wingspan of 10ft or just over 3m. Once over the pass, a further hour brought us to the lunch spot by the Silque River. After lunch we walked for a further 2-3hrs,up and downhill until we reached our campsite at Ankascocha (3,950m). In the Andes, the sun sets very quickly and the sky soon became filled with thousands of stars, including an amazingly clear view of the Milky Way.

Day Six

Ankascocha - Keska 6-9 hours walking

We left the campsite early and immediately began climbing for 3-5 hours to reach the pass at Ankascocha (4,600m). We passed a beautiful glacial lagoon and there were magnificent views of the snow-capped peaks close by, as well as the Silque Valley. Once over the pass, the trail descended and we continued for a further 1- 2 hours to our lunch spot by a waterfall at Moyo-Moyo. After lunch we hiked along gentle Peruvian flat for around two hours passing lamas along the way. Our campsite was in the village of Keska Valley (3700m).

Day Seven

Keska - Q�ente 5-8 hours walking

We broke camp and followed the trail along the Cusichaca Valley, passing small households of farmers working on their patchwork fields until we finally joined the commercial Inca Trail. The trail is again Peruvian flat with a lot of downhill. We walked for around four hours to our lunch spot. After lunch we continued until we reached Llactapacta ruins, an important site for the Incas. The scenery changed dramatically as we left the snow-capped peaks behind and entered more lush, tropical surroundings and we saw hummingbirds and smelled the strong scent of eucalyptus. We continued for 15 minutes until we reached Q�ente. The area is dotted with Inca sites such as Cusichaca, Q�entemarca, Machu Q�ente and Wayna Q�ente. Our campsite was once again a welcome sight close to the Urubamba River.

Day Eight

Q�ente - Machu Picchu 6 hours walking

This morning we had a 40-minute train journey along the Urubamba Valley to Km104 at Chachabamba. After crossing the bridge we hiked up to the Chachabamba site and then the trail ascended immediately, with lots of steps and steep sections. We walked for around 3- 5 hours, mainly uphill, until we reached the beautiful ruins at Winay`Wayna, an important spiritual site. We then had lunch in full view of the ruins. A further 1 - 2 hours walking through the jungle-like forest brought us to Intipunku �door of the sun� so named because it allows the first morning light to stream into Machu Picchu. As we looked down over this spectacular site, words seemed meaningless as emotions overcame many of us; we had finally made it, our personal and collective goals achieved, the head-aches, stomach-upsets, blisters and fatigue, paled into insignificance; and by helping each other along the way, our reward� to experience, at first hand, the breathtaking and awe inspiring `Lost city of Machu Picchu`.

In the late 15th century Machu Picchu was a major settlement and the centre of a huge Inca province. Today, the ruined city sits on a ridge between two peaks; high in the Urubamba Valley. We entered the citadel the way the Incas would have come, and walked straight through the ruins. We then took a coach into the spa town of Aguas Calientes, for our overnight stay at a local hotel. We were able to relax our tired muscles in the hot springs and explore the shops and bars.

Day Nine

Machu Picchu - Cusco

The morning was free to explore the ruins of Machu Picchu. Mystery surrounds the ancient city; what it was used for and why it was abandoned. Many people believe it is a very spiritual place and we saw numerous relics of the Inca religion and �echo stones� - which appear to mirror the shapes of the peaks around them. The city covers about 13 sq km and its terraces are built around a central plaza, linked by stairways. There was time to shop for souvenirs at Aguas Calientes. After lunch at a local hotel, we traveled by train to Ollantaytambo, a beautiful two-hour journey through the Urubamba Valley. On arrival at Ollantaytambo we were met and transferred by coach to our Hotel Royal Inka II, Cusco.

Day Ten / Eleven

Cusco � Lima - Madrid - London �.. 24hrs of traveling!

Day Twelve

Back to work �.. On nights !!!!

In total our group raised over �200,000

Many thanks to SCOPE for granting and helping me to achieve my `wish`

... click here to see a few more photos ...

visit www.scope.org.uk to find out how You can make your wish come true!