.. Jalbum 8.3 June 6, 2007 - Amazingly, today is already the third day of our four day hike to Machu Picchu. Our challenge today consisted mainly of climbing Runkuracay Pass (12,792 ft.) in the morning. The weather and view, like yesterday, was great. Compared to yesterday, it was a relatively short day. We arrived at camp at around 2 p.m. and had lunch at the campground. Grace would take a nice siesta in the afternoon while I'd wonder around exploring several of the nearby peaks. I also had a nice talk with Miguel, our head porter, about being a porter, their lifestyles, and the future of the Andean people in general. Miguel also told me about how he was working toward obtaining a "grade" (license) to be a full-fledged tour guide soon - perhaps as soon as December of this year. Supposedly being a guide for the Inca Trail is a very privileged and coveted position. We did more star gazing tonight, with Odon showing us various constellations from his star book (I was especially taken with the Southern Cross and the Scorpio). We all felt a little nostalgic today. This would be our last night of camping. One of the porters got out his banjero and played and sang a few notes for us before we turned in. The night would turn out to be a long one for a few of us. Aimee and Carin (sharing the same tent) would end up having symptoms of altitude sickness and/or food poisoning. They both had severe diarrhea and vomiting throughout the night. Amazingly, they would still be able to hike with us the next day and appeared all but recovered a couple of days later. slides/100_4731.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Porter taking down our tents Porter taking down our tents slides/100_4731.JPG slides/DSC_2810.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Us waiting around for breakfast... Us waiting around for breakfast... slides/DSC_2810.jpg slides/100_4742.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Grace and Allen at ruins in Runkurakay Grace and Allen at ruins in Runkurakay slides/100_4742.JPG slides/100_4743.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Allen at Runkurakay Allen at Runkurakay slides/100_4743.JPG slides/100_4746.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Porters hauling up our loads up Runkurakay Pass Porters hauling up our loads up Runkurakay Pass slides/100_4746.JPG slides/100_4747.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Ruins at Runkurakay Ruins at Runkurakay slides/100_4747.JPG slides/100_4748.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 View on way up to Runkurakay Pass View on way up to Runkurakay Pass slides/100_4748.JPG slides/100_4749.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Allen and Grace working up Runkurakay Pass with Conchapata in the backdrop Allen and Grace working up Runkurakay Pass with Conchapata in the backdrop slides/100_4749.JPG slides/100_4753.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 View near top of Runkurakay Pass (12,792 ft.) View near top of Runkurakay Pass (12,792 ft.) slides/100_4753.JPG slides/100_4762.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 View at top of Runkurakay Pass View at top of Runkurakay Pass slides/100_4762.JPG slides/100_4764.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Grace after the Pass Grace after the Pass slides/100_4764.JPG slides/100_4763.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Are we there yet? Are we there yet? slides/100_4763.JPG slides/100_4766.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Flowers Flowers slides/100_4766.JPG slides/100_4774.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Sayacmarca Sayacmarca slides/100_4774.JPG slides/100_4775.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Interesting rock formations Interesting rock formations slides/100_4775.JPG slides/100_4777.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Allen with Conchamarcha in the backdrop Allen with Conchamarcha in the backdrop slides/100_4777.JPG slides/100_4778.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Aimee, Odon, and Allen with Sayacmarca in the backdrop Aimee, Odon, and Allen with Sayacmarca in the backdrop slides/100_4778.JPG slides/100_4779.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Sayacmarca #1 Sayacmarca #1 slides/100_4779.JPG slides/100_4780.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Sayacmarca #2 Sayacmarca #2 slides/100_4780.JPG slides/100_4781.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Sayacmarca #3 Sayacmarca #3 slides/100_4781.JPG slides/100_4783.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Conchamarcha Conchamarcha slides/100_4783.JPG slides/100_4784.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Sayacmarca #4 Sayacmarca #4 slides/100_4784.JPG slides/100_4785.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Sayacmarca #5 Sayacmarca #5 slides/100_4785.JPG slides/100_4786.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Grace and Allen at Sayacmarca Grace and Allen at Sayacmarca slides/100_4786.JPG slides/100_4790.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Grace holding one of the many mysterious smooth handholds at Sayacmarca Grace holding one of the many mysterious smooth handholds at Sayacmarca slides/100_4790.JPG slides/100_4792.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Aimee, Grace and Odon resting against a wall Aimee, Grace and Odon resting against a wall slides/100_4792.JPG slides/100_4793.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Sayacmarca with snowcapped mountains in the background Sayacmarca with snowcapped mountains in the background slides/100_4793.JPG slides/100_4794.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Sayacmarca #6 Sayacmarca #6 slides/100_4794.JPG slides/100_4804.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Grace at trail Grace at trail slides/100_4804.JPG slides/100_4807.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Grace on Inca Trail Grace on Inca Trail slides/100_4807.JPG slides/100_4808.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 At a tight spot on the trails At a tight spot on the trails slides/100_4808.JPG slides/DSC_2833.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 slides/DSC_2833.jpg slides/DSC_2834.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 slides/DSC_2834.jpg slides/100_4812.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Grace with soup Grace with soup slides/100_4812.JPG slides/100_4813.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 This is the main course for lunch This is the main course for lunch slides/100_4813.JPG slides/100_4814.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Allen enjoying his lunch Allen enjoying his lunch slides/100_4814.JPG slides/100_4817.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 A pickup soccer game for our energetic porters A pickup soccer game for our energetic porters slides/100_4817.JPG slides/100_4821.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Ruins at Phuyupatamarka Ruins at Phuyupatamarka slides/100_4821.JPG slides/100_4822.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Flag indicates Machu Picchu Mountain Flag indicates Machu Picchu Mountain slides/100_4822.JPG slides/DSC_3045.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 View along the way #1 View along the way #1 slides/DSC_3045.jpg slides/DSC_3078.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 View along the way #2 View along the way #2 slides/DSC_3078.jpg slides/DSC_2964.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 View along the way #3 View along the way #3 slides/DSC_2964.jpg slides/DSC_2983.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 View along the way #4 View along the way #4 slides/DSC_2983.jpg slides/100_4835.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Allen at sunset at Phuyupatamarka camp Allen at sunset at Phuyupatamarka camp slides/100_4835.JPG slides/100_4836.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Grace at sunset at Phuyupatamarka camp Grace at sunset at Phuyupatamarka camp slides/100_4836.JPG slides/100_4838.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Allen and Steve at sunset at Phuyupatamarka camp Allen and Steve at sunset at Phuyupatamarka camp slides/100_4838.JPG slides/100_4844.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Our funny cook and an assistant Our funny cook and an assistant slides/100_4844.JPG slides/100_4845.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Our cook and an assistant Our cook and an assistant slides/100_4845.JPG slides/100_4847.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Music performance by one of the porters at last day of camp Music performance by one of the porters at last day of camp slides/100_4847.JPG slides/DSC_3106.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Bruce found a lizard Bruce found a lizard slides/DSC_3106.jpg slides/100_4737.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 With Ramiro around, we had lots of chances to notice the local fauna... With Ramiro around, we had lots of chances to notice the local fauna... slides/100_4737.JPG slides/100_4740.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 slides/100_4740.JPG slides/100_4768.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 slides/100_4768.JPG slides/100_4769.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 slides/100_4769.JPG slides/100_4773.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 slides/100_4773.JPG slides/100_4776.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Orchids Orchids slides/100_4776.JPG slides/100_4797.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 slides/100_4797.JPG slides/100_4801.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Lichens Lichens slides/100_4801.JPG slides/100_4806.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Saplings Saplings slides/100_4806.JPG slides/100_4841.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 slides/100_4841.JPG slides/100_4843.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Flowers Flowers slides/100_4843.JPG slides/DSC_2847.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Orchids Orchids slides/DSC_2847.jpg slides/DSC_2848.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 slides/DSC_2848.jpg slides/DSC_2862.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 slides/DSC_2862.jpg slides/DSC_2886.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 Lupine Lupine slides/DSC_2886.jpg slides/DSC_2932.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 slides/DSC_2932.jpg slides/DSC_3003.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 slides/DSC_3003.jpg slides/DSC_3004.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 slides/DSC_3004.jpg slides/DSC_3007.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:17 -0700 slides/DSC_3007.jpg