Après une pause et un bon lunch, nous repartons pour rejoindre notre deuxième campement pour la nuit. Mais atteindre le deuxième col, Kuychicassa, est plus ardu que prévu même s’il ne reste que 50m de dénivelé. On y arrive par un assez long sentier qui monte et descend jusqu’à une finale assez abrupte. C’est après le 2e col que la surprise de la journée nous attend. Une descente abrupte et poussiéreuse sur près de 400m qui finit d’achever nos jambes fatiguées. Et on voit tout en bas le site où nous passerons la nuit. Qu’il paraît loin! Heureusement, nos nouveaux bâtons de marche nous aident beaucoup et protègent nos genoux. Les chevaux qui transportent le matériel de cuisine nous dépassent et nous empoussièrent. On se demande comment ces animaux font pour descendre un tel sentier sans se blesser.
Avant d’arriver au campement, Pierre fait le détour vers Intipunko, la porte du soleil. La vue de la vallée sacrée est vraiment magnifique. Quant à Suzanne, elle s’est rendue directement au campement avec Rolando et s’est étendue au sol à son arrivée, crevée. Peu après, thé chaud bien mérité, souper et dodo avant 8 heures! Quelle journée épuisante! Mais en récompense des vues incroyables sur les Andes.
After a break and a good lunch, we leave to reach our second night camp. But reaching the second pass, Kuychicassa, is more difficult than expected even if there is only 50m of elevation remaining. You get there by a fairly long path that goes up and down to a fairly steep finish. It is after the 2nd pass that the surprise of the day awaits us. A steep and dusty descent of almost 400m which ends up finishing off our tired legs. And we see at the bottom the site where we will spend the night. How far away it seems! Fortunately, our new walking poles help us a lot and protect our knees. The horses carrying the kitchen equipment passed us and dusted us. One wonders how these animals manage to descend such a path without hurting themselves.
Before arriving at the camp, Pierre makes the detour to Intipunko, the gate of the sun. The view of the Sacred Valley is truly magnificent. As for Suzanne, she went directly to the camp with Rolando and lay on the ground when she arrived, exhausted. Shortly after, well-deserved hot tea, supper and bedtime before 8 am! What an exhausting day! But as a reward incredible views of the Andes.
Deuxième col / Second pass
Vue de la descente / View of the descent
Inca Quarry Trail: 4h30 heures de marche, 750m de dénivelé, 7km, campement à 3,750m / 4:30 hours of walking, 750m of elevation gain, 5km. Campement à 3,750m
[Auteur/Author: Pierre & Suzanne]
Suzanne and Pierre, you guys are amazing! I really admire your guts in doing such a long and challenging trek. The photos are hard-earned evidence of your courage. Bravo! 🙌🏻
Thanks Mel. Glad you enjoyed the photos. We found this hike very difficult but we were very proud to have done it.
More stunning scenery, and what a descent! Bravo for your perseverance!
Thanks Sue. Well there weren’t much choice than to go forward. Pass a certain point there were no options for going back. You had to finish.
Well, yes, I guess so!
What a trek! Congratulations on surviving it, and for sharing your photos.
Thanks for your note. We still have one day to go on the trek but the last day was easier as we were going down more gently. We were quite pleased to have completed it.
I agree with the others about your perseverance and let’s not forget fitness! The colours in these photos seems super saturated. Is that a trick of the camera or is that really how vivid the scenes were?
Thanks Jacqui. As for the saturation, it is probably a bit of both. The light was quite harsh and the sky very blue so the colours were vivid…glad you enjoyed this series.
Stunning! My stomach flipped ay the picture of the descent. I think I’d definitely have been flat out along with Suzanne!
Thanks Anabel. We were a bit depressed when we saw the descent but we managed to get down without incident just a bit slower than the rest of the group. Our trekking poles were very helpful.
Que de merveilleux souvenirs rapportés !
Des paysages fabuleux et mythiques, le bout du monde pour des gens nés en bordure de mer et n’ayant que très rarement atteint les 3000 m !!
Merci Marion. Effectivement de très beaux souvenirs de ce trek. Nous avons presque oublié les difficultés.
Lovely photographs! Thank you, S&P 🙂
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed this series.
Stunning views, well-earned! Bravo!
Thanks Eliza. It was indeed stunning…
Truly amazing, wow! Kudos to you both!!
Thanks Donna. It was a very difficult and tiring day but amazing experience.