Peru and the Salkantay Trek June '09

If I couldn't feel the sun, I would surely be done

playing like a child, laughing like a toothless old man

obliviously happy, all the suffering of my middle years

beyond me.

If I couldn't feel the immensity of these mountains I would

be cold to the touch, aching to the bone with longing

for something that much greater (that much more)

that much stronger than myself.

But the sun grows weary of holding up the

weight of each day and if I cannot afford the

calm tranquilo that darkness bestows, I am

broken - like an expanding mountain range that

pulls itself apart to feed the earth below.

La montanita - a little mountain,

that sustains itself through sacrifice, self-preservation

and an ever present blissful exposure to all

that is real, or imaginary, or hard, or

this.

Friends,

Nine women, from America, Canada and England finished the 5-day Salkantay Trek last evening after spending a very fullfilling day at Machu Picchu. Salkantay means ¨wild mountain´¨ in Quechua, one of the native languages of the Andes and it was a perfect backdrop to a thus far very unforgettable journey. I cannot tell you how spoiled I have been! Walking into camp, our tents were already up, a dinner table set (complete with fresh wildflowers and candles) and our 6am wake up call even came with coffee in the tent! Our cook was amazing. Amazing! How will I ever backpack in Colorado without such amenities?

Mt Salkantay is nearly 19000 feet tall and the Salkantay Pass rose to 15200 feet which means I successfully broke the 14000 foot barrier! Of course, now I just want to climb something higher. All in all the trek was roughly 30 miles, very steep and undulating (our guides would insist the trail was plano, flat, but then we´d be huffing up hundreds of meters of steep. Dios Mio!) The last two days found me scrambling up optional peaks (including Machu Picchu Mountain where I had a small ceremony for several of you along with my grandfather - who made this trip possible). I have been feeling stronger than I have in a long time and so open to the love and spiritual energy emanating from these mountains and people.

I have to say, it was amazing to pass through these very poor villages, including La Playa, where the children run from the fields begging for sweets - so "poor", to the material eye - yet they often seem SO HAPPY. I think much of it has to do with family - the Incas believed strongly in family and it was always the strongest bond. I imagine my life back home, how complicated we sometimes allow ourselves to make our own lives, and I want to remember those children running, giggling and looking at me with the sweetest eyes. I am excited for this next phase of my life and to pursue medicine and hopefully lead a life of service towards others.

The small piece I wrote above i just plucked from my journal while I was resting on top of Machu Picchu Mountain looking at the ruins. Stunning. As a writer I love the somewhat game of trying to describe everything, but some things, my friends, are simply indescribable. The Andean people believe the mountains are like great protected mothers - the glaciers feeding the valleys and the people below. There is so much that is beautiful and unexpected but when you get right down to it, these people worship the mountains - a phenomenon I more than feel kindred with.

Today we are in Cusco exploring the vast temples and churches. Tomorrow we leave on a night bus for Lake Titicaca and from there I think Bolivia. I am lucky in that 3 of my traveling companions speak fluent Spanish so I can hack my way through some choice phrases and pick up what I need to get by. Fake it til you make it, baby!