Five Months In and Machu Picchu
It was pouring rain and miserable on the last morning of our trek. We had woken up at 3 am to begin the last six hours of our hike into Machu Picchu. The night before, I had developed a slight sore throat and cough. Three hours in to the morning’s ascent, coughing brought tears to my eyes and deep breathing was unbearable. Slowly, members of my group passed me until I was the last person. Feeling sick and defeated, I rounded a corner on the trail and made a dead stop. Before me was my first view of Machu Picchu – my goal, my dream, and now my current reality. Without a conscious thought, my tears of pain became free-flowing tears of joy.
In that moment, I realized this is why I had come. I had just proven to myself that I could do it. I had kept a promise to myself that I had made at the age of ten, a promise that I kept making to myself over the years even when others doubted me. Especially when others doubted me and maintaining my faith became work. I had begun my trip a completely different person. Definitely a person that could not have physically and mentally handled this trek. In that moment, alone on that ancient trail, I saw I was no longer that person. I had made it.
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Just chillin' at Machu Picchu. I am totally prepared for the downpour that is about to happen.
Real talk: I barely even remember Machu Picchu. Within 30 minutes of my first glimpse, the fog rolled in and blocked much of the view. Within two hours, it was POURING rain. Enough rain to dissuade all but four of us from actually touring Machu Picchu. Also, I quickly found out that my rain jacket was not at water resistant as I had thought. Already sick, I was miserable – freezing cold, craving a shower and a real bed, unable to see or hear the tour because the rain was falling so hard. Of course I was disappointed, but nothing will ever take away the power of those four days and the moment when I first saw Machu Picchu. That moment will always be tangible to me. It is an instant in which I saw the transformation that had taken place in the past five months. To date, it is my greatest achievement and proudest moment.
I do not think I can ever stress enough that I was nowhere near ready for this trek when I departed from San Francisco in February. I was shy and uncomfortable and had no idea what I was doing. It would take me two days to open my mouth to speak to others in my hostel. I was twenty-five pounds heavier and could not climb a hill without getting winded. I did not know how to push myself past physical and emotional comfort. I hated hiking. What had I gotten myself into?
My trek was the antithesis of my original struggles. First of all, my fellow trekkers made this hike an amazing experience. We gathered as people from all walks, at different points in our lives, and we enjoyed the heck out of each other. Each day was spent laughing, sharing stories, playing games, and teasing each other. We became a family on that trail, bonded by the trek and our enthusiasm. Second, I loved the mental and physical challenges of this hike. I loved being in nature, the silence of the woods, switching between the solitude of my thoughts or a conversation with a hiking buddy, the incredible scenery, the rhythm of my steps and hiking poles, encouraging myself during the difficult sections. This trek introduced me to a passion for the outdoors and hiking. Lastly, l lost my self-doubt. This experience is not for the feint of faith – I was not allowed to doubt my abilities or my strength or my perseverance. It was liberating to know the only solution was to keep going.
Looking back, my trek to Machu Picchu were the pinnacle of the first leg of my journey. I did not realize the extent to which this last adventure would provide the lesson that I needed most before returning home – I can handle this. On this trip, I found a strength that I did not know I possessed. I made my dreams into my reality. I impressed myself by pushing past my perceived limits. It was the most enlightening five months of my life thus far.
Now, back to my city by the Bay. Back to four months of family, friends, work, and familiarity!