Day One of the Inca Trail
Trip Start
Jan 2003
1
179
200
Trip End
Dec 2003
Inca Trail (Day One),
Peru
Tuesday, December 2, 2003
Small by Inca Trail standards, our group for the next four days consists of seven people, three English couples and an Australian student. Before we began we were introduced to not just each other but the SAS (the company we are doing the trip with) team. These introductions were a lengthy affair because in addition to our guide, there were twelve other staff. There was the cook, the cook's assistant, the cook's assistant's assistant, the logistics man and eight porters, one of whom will double up as our waiter. I'd underestimated the Inca Trail before it had even begun. Things did not bode well.
Day one is generally regarded as a gentle opener and despite walking for 14kms and rising from an altitude of 2380m to around 3000m it was easy going. the pace was slow and the group chatted and got to know one another. Our guide, Freddie, illustrated his knowledge not just of Inca ruins we passed but also of the flora and fauna and consequently there were plenty of breaks to attend these seminars. The weather was kind, the food plentiful and tasty and as a whole, the day was relaxing and enjoyable. The main concern is that it was also misleading for what lays ahead.
