Jon Climbs Huaynapicchu

Jon found his climb to Huaynapicchu in a select group of pre-registered trekkers very fulfilling and it allowed for an alternative view of Machu Picchu; Simon remained at base-camp to research the History of Bingham’s discovery… A further six-hundred metre hike to the peak made great way for a photo opportunity as it was almost like a birds-eye view. We had to be extremely careful of our footing as one slip and game over! We had been told that one guy had fallen to his death whilst climbing the peak, but we are still puzzled as to how no more people have had accidents because it seems very hazardous. The most thrilling part, besides the marvellous vista, was the narrow crevasse we had to squeeze through and up towards the peak. There were ungenerously sized, slippery stone steps that were there to assist us a little, and on reaching the upper side of the cave, there were even better views. Scary to see though, were two Chinese guys going carelessly off-route, down some tiny stone steps that were the only things between the side of the mountain and a sharp, roughly half-mile, drop!

We were at the height that the magnificent Andean condors fly at, with a gentle breeze whispering past us, the view beneath was dizzying, but what was really euphoric was the feeling of reaching the top, and in Machu Picchu too!