Peru 6

2019-05-15

Our goal today: Huayna Picchu  (aka Waynapicchu) Mountain.  We had three hikers in addition to myself and our guide Vidal participate in the climb.

These guys are pretty cool. I had to take another photo of him.

We signed in with our start time and were reminded that we have to sign again when we return.  They are keeping track to make sure that everyone returns.  We did see one person being carried out on a backboard as we entered and the rescue helicopter was circling about earlier.  Once you descend into the small canyon separating Machu Picchu from Huayna Picchu, the trail appears in the bushes ahead.

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Here is our small group climbing the steep stairs with a cable hand hold.

This is our first flat spot and we called for a “catch your breath” break. The vista was amazing.

After crossing back over a terrace, we continued skyward on the right side of these small terraces.

Nearing the summit, buildings and other structures began appearing.

There are buildings near the top.

These narrow (toe hold only for me) steps took us to the top without hand holds.  A trip here and you may wind up in the Urubamba below.

There was a survey marker near the summit.

Our group reached the summit.

No worries, he was just sunning himself.

Vidal and me at the photo-op with Machu Picchu in the distance.

From the top, the switchback road leading from the valley to Machu Picchu.

You can see the original Inca trail leading from the Sun Gate down in Machu Picchu.  We will make this climb in the morning.  The Sun Gate is in the notch in the middle of the photo. (The trail is a horizontal, light colored line leading to the notch, primarily in the shadows)

This is the view when looking down the right side of the mountain.  Vidal has previously climbed this peak.

There is a VERY small tunnel/opening in the rock which must be traversed going down.  I wound up crawling through this and was still scraping my noggin’ on the rock ceiling.

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We passed this watchtower on the decent.  When visitors approached the Sun Gate on the opposite mountain, the guards signaled via conch shell to this tower which in turn signaled downstream to the next watchtower and so on.  The Inca had a pretty good security network as the sanctuary was never breached.

Yes, that is Machu Picchu down there.  It does not look quite so impressive from the air.

We passed more ruins on the descent.  Most of these are not visible from below.

The cable hand hold really helps on the very steep sections.  A trip or fall here could be trouble.

The right side of the mountain was a shear drop off to the river below.

Back down, we checked in with the entrance station then proceeded to the sanctuary exit, passing the sanctuary’s primary living quarters.

And, of course, the llamas were in full feast mode.

Looking back, the mountain doesn’t seem so ominous.

This is the ground of the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Hotel leading to our room.  There was running water everywhere, a small pond with hundreds of birds and a hot shower! Cathy was waiting and we visited downtown for a short walking tour, lunch and some serious shopping!

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