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From Choquequirao to Machu Picchu
Hiking the Inca Trail with Two Olympic Athletes
Peru’s first winter Olympian, Roberto Carcelen, called and asked the question I always dread to hear from professional athletes.
“Hey, what’s your fitness level?”
For the record, my fitness level is pretty decent. I typically compete in America’s largest cross-country ski race, the American Birkebeiner and run a marathon or two a year. However, compared to Olympic athletes, I’m essentially just another couch potato.
“Err,” I answered, “I’ve been doing an hour run about three or four times a week.”
“Great!” replied Roberto. “How would you like to hike the Inca trail?”
Roberto’s question gave me pause. I lived in Lima, Peru for close to ten years and I’ve done just about every tourist activity except the famous Inca trail.
However, the prospect of hiking all day long and camping at altitude is not the type of undertaking you should agree to without consideration. From all accounts, the Inca trail is pretty difficult, so I wanted to make sure it’d be worth the trouble.