Old Inca Trail Day1

Let me begin with saying the Old Inca trail is beautiful beyond words or pictures can describe. The trek on the other hand is sometimes so hard that you just want to give up and there were many times i was cursing myself for doing this to myself! 

However, in all its an experience everyone should have at-least once! I am so glad I did it (but also will not want to do it again).

So Day1 started with the alram going off at 3:30 in the morning... I struggled to wake up but on the other hand was anxious not to be late for our pick up (This was probably the only time I was on time and not behind the group).

So with our duffle bags and bag packs ready we got picked up for a 3 hour bus ride to where we start the hike..after multiple stops for breakfast, return train tickets and checkpoints we finally reached the starting point of the old Inca trail! We were 11 of us with two guides... Everyone was super excited to start the trek.. We took couple group photos and off we went... Our pace was good and the guide was giving us good info all the way.The trail was flat and on our way we also saw couple inca ruins sites which is accessible only through trail. Me and Akarsh were thinking 'Ok this is easy... This can be done... Yes we can do it;)' but we were concluding too soon...45 mins before the lunch camp site it got very very hot and the mild uphill seemed like climbing Everest...we were 15 mins behind our fast group but a lot ahead of the slow couple in our group. We finally made to lunch... Have to say the porters or the 'Red Army' as we called them do an amazing job... They carry atleast 25 kgs each (our luggage, tents, tables, chairs, utensils, food, water and everything else you can think of) and reach the camp site before us, set up everything, prepare lunch for us and have it all ready by the time we reach there!!  The lunch was yummy:) Most other companies end day one at the place where we had lunch but like our guide Roger says 'we are stronger' and so we had 2 more hours of uphill...Climbing uphill after lunch is always difficult and I was not proven wrong, somehow we managed to reach the campsite around 5:00ish and was so glad to see the tent set up already. All I wanted to do was sleep but we had to unpack, go to happy hour and have dinner.. We were all also introduced to the red army on day 1.. Some of them were as young as 20 yrs and some were as old as 60 yrs!!! I was so impressed... Roger told us that most of the younger porters are preparing for their guide certificate (which is a 3 yr university certification) and the older porters are saving up to send their kids to school/university so that they don't have to become porters... Its really very hard work and impressive what they do!

So after group dinner we were told we have to be ready by 6:00 am tomorrow and be on the trail by 6:30! How in the hell was I going to start hiking at 6:30 in almost zero degree temperature? I had to take 2 aleve so that I get good night sleep before the biggest and hardest day of the trek!!