We're up early and it's pretty cloudy although still no rain. Since it's the beginning of the rainy season this is actually great weather according to Martin.
On the way out of our campsite.
Wild orchids along the trail.
More wild flowers, I forget what these are.
The trail starts to get steep, with many steps.
We're now on the official Inca Trail, built 600+ years ago.
Looking up towards Warmiwañusca (Dead Woman's Pass), still a way to go.
Getting closer.
At the top, 4215 meters (13,800 feet) the highest point on the Inca Trail. Everyone gets a round of applause on reaching the pass.
Looking back down the valley to where we started this morning.
Looking down to the other side of the pass.
Continuing along the Inca Trail.
It's just as steep going down as going up.
Lunchtime. Although this is he hardest day it's also the shortest, most of the hard climbing and descending is done by lunch. Again, our porters and cook have preceded us and set up a nice lunch in the dining tent.
After lunch it's an easy couple of hours to our campsite. It even has a shower, although it feels like it's coming straight out of a glacier. I stick my head under it but that's as much as I can manage.
Late in the afternoon the clouds start to roll in.
Armando and I have a solitaire marathon going in the dining tent before dinner.
