Team Rose Bowl Treks to Final Destination!
Yesterday was a big day for team Rose Bowl! After 6 days of trekking through the Andes we left the Lucma Lodge and headed towards Aguas Calientes, the gateway town to Machu Picchu.
After another delicious breakfast at the lodge we put on the day packs one last time and the majority of the group hit the trail, climbing over 2,000 feet through the cloud forest to the Inca site of Llactapata located high on a ridge between the Urubamba and Santa Teresa drainages. It is suggested that the site was an important rest stop and roadside shrine on the journey to Machu Picchu. We had perfect weather and could see the ridge where Machu Picchu sits from the site!
From there we hiked down to a lovely cafe perched high on an exposed ridge line and stopped for a leisurely lunch of avacado salad, chicken and lentils and rice with of course banana desert. It was a nice spot to rest and even catch a cat nap 
After another 2,000 feet down we hiked along the river to the hydro eclectic plant aka the train stop where we met up with the team members who decided to take a rest day on their knees amd taxied to the train(options are good!) and we caught our train to Agaus Calientes. The train wrapped around Machu Picchu mountain and had beautiful sweeping views through the skylights of rugged Andean ridge lines and forested cliffs. We were dropped off near our beautiful Inkaterra hotel and all quite happy to take off our hiking boots and get into the shower!
We ended the day with a happy hour and a beautiful dinner together by the hotel, celebrating the completion of our trek to Machu Picchu! A job well done by all.
Next: Machu Picchu!
Trekking in Peru From Collpa lodge to Lucma Lodge!
Team Rose Bowl Trekking Into the cloud forest
Tomorrow we continue on our path to Machu Picchu! Stay tuned.
Team Rose Bowl hiked over Salkantay Pass!
Today our team made the trek up and over Salkantay Pass at 15,200 ft! We had perfect temperatures on the hike up and the clouds lifted enough to make out the hulking shape of Salkantay Peak (20,100). On the way down the clouds socked us in and we hiked through some rain, clearing up as we reached the Wayrac lodge and enjoyed hot tea, hot soup and a fire as well as a steaming hot tub!
Everyone did great and got through the steep elevation changes. The highlight for us today was reaching the pass and soaking up the mountain scenery.
Tomorrow we will trek on to Colpa Lodge through the Andean cloud forest! Stay tuned!
Team Rose Bowl enjoys a day hike Humantay Lake
Today team ‘Rose Bowl’ enjoyed an acclimitization hike to Humantay Lake, situated at 14,000 beneath Humantay Peak which reaches 18,000 ft!
We saw condors flying high up in the sky, (did you know condors live from 50-80 years of age and have a wing span of 9-11 feet?!) and enjoyed vast snowy Andean mountain views. Above the lake we partook in a Q’uero ceremony which was very special as the Q’uero are direct descendants of the Inca people and carry on their spiritual traditions and language.
After our hike some folks are enjoying massages while others are going horseback riding. And of course there is always the option to simply soak in the hot tub with the best view in all of Peru
Happy Birthday to Dog man!!! We had a special cake and singing at lunch.
Tomorrow we will hike over the Salkantay Pass at 15,200 ft. Stay tuned!
I thoroughly enjoyed my trek to Machu Picchu. Not only was the trek itself a fun challenge but learning about the Inca culture along was a wonderful added bonus.
