Anne at Machu Picchu

Almost Home

What a day...wake up at 11,120 feet, in the mountains to sunshine and sad goodbyes as some of our group are staying on in Cusco. We fly to Lima, overcast and cool - for a tour of the city and a great meal at laRosa Nautica on the beach....what an experience...waves crashing to the shore under us, great food and service and washrooms with all the services. Our flight is delayed in Lima as we wait for a connection flight

I Made It

after 4 fantastic days of climbing steep mountains, descending steep steps, camping out, reaching the 4,200 peak with dehydration symptoms and finally making the steep climb to the gateway to the sun we arrived in machu picchu this morning at 7 am. It was fantastic....I can´t believe how challenging the climb was and I feel absolutely excited about making it. Great group, attentive guides and porters, good food and sore muscles.....but it was worth it. Can´t wait to share my photos and stories. YAHOO

Off to Machu Picchu

early morning departure to the trail. sleeping is difficult becasue of altitude and so much coca tea. yesterday we trekked up to the ruins of Picaq, an Inca stronghold in the sacred valley. We got medallions and everyone is on a high. we have almost 9 hrs of trekking today and there will be no contact until Friday. can´t wait to tell you of the adventures. great group to travel with - my porter will take 5k so I have to fine tune my snacks for carrying. cheers

Cusco

The altitude is deadly here....slight headaches and nausea prevail. We are still aclimatizing but enjoying the markets and the people. Lots of history and interesting stories to relate. Today we are visiting a mission in the hills...it´s hard to imagine the poverty or lower standard of living but everyone has a smile and the weather is fabulous. Arriving here was amazing...we flew through mountains and backtracked....no wonder it took the Spaniards so long to find it.
The team is fun and represents east and west...tomorrow we begin the trek...hope we are all feeling better. More later.

Arrival in Lima, Peru

Saturday arrival in Lima - city is overcast and glum. The drive from the airport takes you along the coast and the waves are pounding into the shore. We see the some damage from the earthquake. We are in the Miraflores district which is very cosmopolitan. More later.

Ready to go!

After all the fundraising, all the walking up hills and being involved with the Arthritis Society I am finally ready to go to Peru and conquer the Inca Empire at Machu Picchu. My walking buddy Viviana MacKay has been a great motivator....every day of hill climbing was enjoyable.
Thank you again to my many sponsors and supporters...your faith in me and my cause has been phenomenal. I look forward to sharing my adventure with you all.

Trek to Machu Picchu, Peru August 27, 2007

Located in the region of Cuzco, the most popular trekking route and possibly one of the most spectacular walks in the Americas. It forms part of the more than 23,000 km of roads built by the Incas across South America. Each year, some 25,000 hikers from all over the world walk the 43 km stone-paved trail, built by the Incas to get to the impregnable citadel of Machu Picchu, deep in the Cuzco cloud forest.

The trail sets out from Qorihuayrachina, at Kilometre 88 of the Cuzco-Quillabamba railway, and takes three to four days of tough hiking. Along the way the trail winds past carved granite Inca settlements (Wiñay Wayna, Phuyupatamarca), and is surrounded by breath-taking natural scenery. The forests abound in hundreds of species of orchids, brightly colored birds and dream-like landscapes, the ideal complement to this indispensable hikers' route. The route runs through an impressive range of altitudes, where climates and eco-systems range from the high Andean plain down to the cloud forests. The trail climbs up through two highland passes) before reaching Machu Picchu through the Inti Punku or Gateway of the Sun. It is here, where Joints in Motion participants reach “their summit.” A truly life changing experience

My Message

Support The Arthritis Society please. After my accident with a horse and buggy I was told I would have to wait for a hip replacement - it was recommended that I should wait as long as possible as the lifespan of the new hip would be 20 years and I would need another before I got much older. After 5 years, the hip became too painful due to arthritis and I was fast-tracked. The hip replacement has changed my life and I am so looking forward to both the personal challenge of completing the trek and the opportunity to raise funds for further research. As a very active person the wait for the hip replacement was excruciating - I gained weight and I lost my energy. I'm back now and I'm ready to trek. Please help me raise awareness and funds. Thank you for your support. Anne

For more information about The Arthritis Society's Joints In Motion Training Team, please visit www.arthritis.ca/jointsinmotion.