Getting High in Peru: Machu Picchu Arrival and Climb to Wayna Picchu, Part One.

Getting High in Peru: Machu Picchu and the Climb to Wayna Picchu.

You need a separate ticket to climb this peak

 

Google Earth picture of Aqua Caliente and the switchbacks up to Machu Picchu

Hotel painting of Machu Picchu dominated by Wayna Picchu in back

After Ollantaytambo (previous post), we took the short bus ride to the train station to catch a ride to Agua Caliente arriving there after dark. I remember hearing water fall around me, but since it was dark, I could not see anything but cliffs surrounding me. The following morning I went to breakfast early, which was on the top floor of our hotel. There I could see that Agua Caliente was in a canyon with a river flowing through it. The canyon walls were dripping water and were enveloped with clouds releasing rain. So, we wore ponchos to the bus stop for the ride to Machu Picchu.

It was my first time here, and the bus took switchback after switchback (visible on Google Earth) up to the site. Now here, we were hurried on a trail to an unknown destination, at least for me—Profe Bierling knew since she set this up. A bit later she mentioned that we were going to climb Wayna Picchu (“Young Peak” where “Peak” actually refers to the protrusion that your cheek has with a wad of coca leaf in it). This is a mountain peak from which we could look down on Machu Picchu. We had the coveted pass for the climb limited to 200 climbers, and we needed to get to the gate at a particular time. Okay, I thought, but we can’t see anything since the peak was enveloped in clouds. Up we climbed (beginning at 8067 feet ascending to 9030 feet) for at least 90 minutes after which we reached the summit. 

On site at Michu Picchu but hurrying to the gate to climb Wayna Picchu

Gate and entrance to climb Wayna Picchu

Sign at entrance

I shot this after we returned to Micchu Picchu from the climb

It was not an easy climb. First, we had to go downhill below 8000 feet to get to the base of the peak where the steep ascent began, but when we finally reached the peak, the clouds began to break up and we were able to see what we had climbed. The Rio Urubamba was more than a thousand feet directly below and nothing but air between. I began to stress seeing what we had climbed and what we needed to do to descend. I was pleased that I did not see this on the ascent. The pictures will show how narrow the steps were (and no guard rails) and they were still wet. One slip, one loose step or stone in many places meant that it would be over for the person falling. 

On the climb

The trail is in center and the next shots I'll zoom in

Several students are ahead of me

See the students? Look for the colors

Strenuous but not the most challenging part yet. The lower 2 students spot me and take a pic.

On the climb we hear and spot the train below

We also see the river below

Not at the summit and unable to see the depth of the fall if we slipped

Another view at our rest stop up

We needed to go through a tunnel and needed to take our backpacks off

On top with little room to sit

Our student group on top

The view became both spectacular and worrisome for me. There is little room at the peak for many climbers, which is why the numbers doing the ascent is limited. I was unable to find a comfortable place to sit to eat my snacks. The students were happy though, and some of their pictures show the plus 1000 feet of air between their smiles and the river below. Profe and I started down ahead of the other students; I was a bit worried for me and Profe. There was one guy ahead of us who was even more worried than me, and it took a long while before we were able to pass him. By the time the students caught up to us, the difficult part was done and I started to relax.

A break in the clouds allowing us to see Machu Picchu

On the 2 above shots you can see the switchbacks up to Machu Picchu

Student shot, note the happy faces

Student selfie shot--note the river below--hang gliding anyone?

Student shot: Some of the steps

Student shot: smile but look at the student farther down

Student shot: Profe smiles but not me--no guardrail and the river below

Lower right--the person ahead of him was slowing our descent

Now some final shots from Machu Picchu zooming up at Wayna Picchu

From the Wayna Picchu gate after our descent now that the skies cleared

Look for color other than tree color

Now you can easily spot the colored shirts, terraces, and ruins of buildings on top

I'm shooting the same group with the green shirts.

Google Earth shots next

Google Earth: Machu Picchu center and Wayna Picchu upper center

Google Earth and Wayna Picchu

 

Paz, Neal Bierling