many Incan ruins along the way was so surreal that we forgot the pain
on our legs or blisters on our feet.
The second day, we would climb the highest point of the Inca Trail
which was at 14,000 feet, the place Peruvians call “Dead Woman’s
Pass.” It would be challenging for us to climb 4,000 feet elevation gain
in five miles because of the high altitude. The Dead Woman’s Pass has a
fearsome reputation among trekkers because failure to cross the pass
results in going back Cusco without reaching Machu Picchu. Even
today, I remember how breathing became difficult and how every little
step I took was painful as we gained elevation. I felt like the gravity was
working against me. For a moment, while I was pushing my limits, some
negative thoughts sat on my shoulders and would not let me move. My
heart, legs, lungs and my total body simply were screaming, STOP! At
this very moment, I focused on myself -on how hard I trained for this
trip and how much I dreamed about watching Machu Picchu over the
Sun Gate, which is the main entrance to Machu Picchu, where hikers get
a beautiful glimpse of the citadel. At that very moment, I thought of the
chasquis (the messengers of the Inca Empire), who were not only
physically but also mentally strong to make this journey every day, and I
imagined that their spirits accompanied me to the Dead Woman’s Pass. I
was amazed at how far I could push my body to keep going while there
were a thousand reasons to stop. Reaching the pass was one of the most
rewarding moments of my whole trip.