.. Jalbum 8.3 June 5, 2007 - This was our toughest day. Among the challenges: hiking up some 4000 ft straight up Warmiwañusca Pass at 13,776 ft. (4,200 mt.). Grace asked me to not hike too fast and to stay with her. I thought the request was reasonable, especially considering that this was our honeymoon. Nevertheless, for Grace, she still thought she was going to die several times on the trip. In many spots, she was very tired and thought that a misstep in any of several places would have ended in death or serious injury. The hike itself was a little harder than I expected. I was also surprised to find how cold it got at places. In consolation, we did get great weather and great views. On our descent from Warmiwañusca Pass, I went ahead a little and walked with Ian. Ian and I had a wonderful conversation about China first and later about democracy in general. Grace would later scold me for going ahead, claiming that she was rarely more thirsty in her life than that hike down to camp at Pacaymayo.... Today we again had wonderful food. For lunch, we had onion beef stir fry, salad, as well as asparagus soup. For dinner, we had potato soup, chicken spaghetti, and pudding desert. At night, we did some star watching. The camp yesterday was in a deep valley and hence was not as conducive to lazy star gazing as today's. Besides seeing the milky way, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, various constellations, I also saw at least three shooting stars before we finally turned in for bed. slides/100_4678.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 Packing up for Day 2 on the Inca Trail Packing up for Day 2 on the Inca Trail slides/100_4678.JPG slides/100_4681.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 Porters working Porters working slides/100_4681.JPG slides/100_4682.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 Local girl grinding grain #1 Local girl grinding grain #1 slides/100_4682.JPG slides/100_4683.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 Local girl grinding grain #2 Local girl grinding grain #2 slides/100_4683.JPG slides/100_4684.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 Grace with medley of corn drying on roof in the back Grace with medley of corn drying on roof in the back slides/100_4684.JPG slides/100_4687.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 Roosters chilling in shade Roosters chilling in shade slides/100_4687.JPG slides/100_4688.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 Grace with chickens Grace with chickens slides/100_4688.JPG slides/100_4691.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 Grace is all business here Grace is all business here slides/100_4691.JPG slides/100_4692.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 Hens hatching eggs Hens hatching eggs slides/100_4692.JPG slides/100_4693.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 Hiking across a creek Hiking across a creek slides/100_4693.JPG slides/100_4695.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 Eric hiking uphill Eric hiking uphill slides/100_4695.JPG slides/100_4696.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 Grace hiking uphill (with porter behind making a move to pass) Grace hiking uphill (with porter behind making a move to pass) slides/100_4696.JPG slides/100_4701.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 Porter with sack Porter with sack slides/100_4701.JPG slides/100_4702.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 They may be smiling, but this is hard, grueling work They may be smiling, but this is hard, grueling work slides/100_4702.JPG slides/DSC_2587.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 Some places are freezing and shady... Some places are freezing and shady... slides/DSC_2587.jpg slides/DSC_2633.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 Great shot from Bruce - Caracara? Great shot from Bruce - Caracara? slides/DSC_2633.jpg slides/100_4703.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 Allen taking a breather Allen taking a breather slides/100_4703.JPG slides/100_4704.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 Mount Veronica Mount Veronica slides/100_4704.JPG slides/100_4707.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 Hiking up a meadow to our lunch spot Hiking up a meadow to our lunch spot slides/100_4707.JPG slides/100_4708.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 Hiking up a meadow to our lunch spot with Mount Veronica in the backdrop Hiking up a meadow to our lunch spot with Mount Veronica in the backdrop slides/100_4708.JPG slides/100_4710.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 Allen and Grace with sheep Allen and Grace with sheep slides/100_4710.JPG slides/100_4711.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 Hiking up to Warmiwañusca Pass overlooking our lunch spot Hiking up to Warmiwañusca Pass overlooking our lunch spot slides/100_4711.JPG slides/100_4713.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 Aimee hiking up Warmiwañusca Pass Aimee hiking up Warmiwañusca Pass slides/100_4713.JPG slides/100_4718.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 At the Warmiwañusca Pass (13,776 ft.) At the Warmiwañusca Pass (13,776 ft.) slides/100_4718.JPG slides/DSC_2798.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 View along the way View along the way slides/DSC_2798.jpg slides/DSC_2621.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 Drinks are more expensive the higher you get Drinks are more expensive the higher you get slides/DSC_2621.jpg slides/DSC_2658.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 Stretch before lunch Stretch before lunch slides/DSC_2658.jpg slides/DSC_2668.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 Packing up after lunch - readying for our final push up Warmiwañusca Pass Packing up after lunch - readying for our final push up Warmiwañusca Pass slides/DSC_2668.jpg slides/DSC_2710.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 Up on the Warmiwañusca Pass Up on the Warmiwañusca Pass slides/DSC_2710.jpg slides/100_4720.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 Group photo at Warmiwañusca Pass Group photo at Warmiwañusca Pass slides/100_4720.JPG slides/100_4721.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 Allen climbing up Warmiwañusca Pass Allen climbing up Warmiwañusca Pass slides/100_4721.JPG slides/100_4723.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 Grace and Allen at Warmiwañusca Pass Grace and Allen at Warmiwañusca Pass slides/100_4723.JPG slides/100_4726.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 Looking for the beginning of the paved section of the Inca Trail (this is not it) Looking for the beginning of the paved section of the Inca Trail (this is not it) slides/100_4726.JPG slides/100_4727cropped.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 Waterfall near our campsite at Pacaymayo Waterfall near our campsite at Pacaymayo slides/100_4727cropped.JPG slides/100_4729.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 Grace and Aimee nearing camp Grace and Aimee nearing camp slides/100_4729.JPG slides/DSC_2788.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 Ramiro shows off his botanical knowledge- Local fauna #1 Ramiro shows off his botanical knowledge- Local fauna #1 slides/DSC_2788.jpg slides/DSC_2789.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 Local fauna #2 Local fauna #2 slides/DSC_2789.jpg slides/DSC_2792.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 Local fauna #3 Local fauna #3 slides/DSC_2792.jpg slides/DSC_2561.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 Local fauna 4 Local fauna 4 slides/DSC_2561.jpg slides/DSC_2785.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 Local fauna #5 Local fauna #5 slides/DSC_2785.jpg slides/DSC_2787.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:14 -0700 Local fauna #6 Local fauna #6 slides/DSC_2787.jpg