Staircase to Pachamama

What better place to reflect on our Peruvien adventure than in a hammock, overlooking Titicaca Lake.


Throughout the 1.5 weeks in Peru, I kept making mental sticky notes on what to write about. The people of Peru, One's ability to bronze and hike all at once or at the very least in the same day, etc....


To be honest, I really only have the ability to talk about one specific region, Cuzco and the Andean mountain people.


Our first step (the sound of this very word makes me quiver. You will see why) in our adventure was a bold and steep one. With little to no athletic training within the last couple months topped off with endless xmas meals (lets be honest.. it was the gentle pinting), we thought.... 


Why not trek the inka trail. Its only 46km, 10-12hr hiking days topped off with rain, sun and cold climates changing every second. Oh... what was that? You mean I get to climb a staircase made of rock from the 1400's that was built for giants for 3.5hrs only to follow it up with 2 hrs walking down the same type of stairs at a steeper incline? Sounds awesome... I mean, me and Berman walked up a glacier with nothing but Puma's, short shorts and a hoodie.... how hard could it be??


In all seriousnesss, the trek was an experience of a lifetime and Im stoked we were able to start off the trip with it. What a way to celebrate a trip of the size we are taking on by kicking our asses right out of the gates.


As I forementioned, the andean people of the Cuzco region really impressed me. Learning about their culture, history and whart makes them tick rreminded me why we are on this trip in the first place. To gain some real perspective on the world through a variety of different lenses. 


Looking through the lens of the Inka and Andean people, I was reminded of what it means to live a good life. 



Im sure Tals or CK will go into the nitty gritty about the Inka and how smart they are etc... but what I was moved by, was not so much the accomplishment of completing the trail peaking at Machu Picchu (although that was awesome), but more so a new lens to measure life success with.


We had an epic trail guide, Victor. He was a spiritual and fun dude. Very knowledgable about the world around him and even more so his andean and Inka roots. He started off by explaining to me 3 simple morals and 3 simple rules that the Inka lived by:

Reading these, they couldnt be more universal. I mean, how easy would it be to practice these simple rules with the end goal of just living a good life?


For them, its not about religion. Its about respect, appreciation and resirpocity for the things that give the Andean people their good lives... The Pachamama (mother nature). The lakes, mountains and weather give them their land, things to make homes out of, food to live off and sell, etc.... It is these things that they give thanks for.


That is my attempt at describing a serious take away from our adventure. To sum it up. Go to Peru, Walk/experience the trail and take from it what it gives you....


Now for the fun part... Introducing the YUK OF THE WEEK....
If you havent guessed it yet, the YUK OF THE WEEK was the stairs... FUCK THOSE STAIRS!!
Lets be honest. Who is that tall or has legs like Keith Addy? Honestly!!
And was it really necessary to make the stairs stretch over 1100 meters, just going up? Not to mention to the 2,000 even steeper steps DOWN!!

FUCK THOSE STAIRS... fuck em. Sorry for the rant... but its just how I feel


We have just spent to chill nights in Copacabana, Bolivia at Titicaca Lake to recooperate form the trek (hasnt fully worked yet), and will be heading to La Paz for a few days as we prep for en epic tour of the Salar de Uyuni.


That is it for now..... Forever and Always...
OOO_Jonny