Arequipa, Peru

12/9/2005

hey everyone
this is gonna be short cause i have to be back at the tour office down the
street to catch the bus to puno in 30 minutes.
just got back from the colca canyon, a 6 hour drive outside of arequipa,
further up into the highlands... and i don´t think i will be doing the 4 day
incan trial up to machu picchu after all. i hiked down that canyon and it
about tore me apart. its one of the deepest canyons in the world, and they
got these little narrow mule trails down into them, and that is what we
hiked down to get to these bungalows at the bottom. the trail started at
about 10,000 feet and ended around 6000 something, and the altitude was
killing me. by the time i was at the bottom my legs felt like jelly, i
could barely breath and my sinuses were about to explode. i am a wimp - and
this was only emphasized when i was passed by an elderly woman with a huge
pack of stuff on her back. we have only been at higher altitudes since
wednesday i think, and i don´t think i gave myself adequate time to adjust.
and also i am a wimp.
but it was beautiful. we had this guide for the three of us, and he was
hilarious. at first i didn´t like him too much cause he kinda stretched the
truth when describing the trek to us, but i got over it when i was in so
much pain that i didn´t have the energy to carry the grudge anymore. paul
and edgar managed pretty well, but they are in much better shape than me.
paul does mt si all the time. they are complaining of pain today, but they
hiked back up the canyon while i took the mule. and that was pretty scary
too; it was walking way too close the edge of these cliffs, and i just never
knew what it was thinking: "man this guy has been eating way too much guinea
pig!" and then get tired of carrying me and toss me over the side. in fact,
right after we got to the top -the mule slipped a bit while trying to cross
this ditch, and it threw me off into the rocks. i think he thought his job
was done - so i decided to walk the rest of the way after that.
so i need to think about this whole thing - time is running out and i just
don´t think i will be in any shape to go on that hike by then (the 14th).
it was never my plan anyway, but i got caught up in the excitement or
something.
well, there is much more to say but i gotta head out back across the street.
hope yall are well. thanks for the emails; i will have some answers to
questions next time i email... maybe in 2 days?.
joseph