Trekking Inca Trail in 2005

Quoted message said:

I, also, need to know the areas that I can go walking in in England which
have the altitude I need to get used to. Also, if there any any walkers in
the Yorkshire area that meet up and walk together?

As you can probably tell, this is a new venture for me and I need all the
advice I can get. Anything gratefully appreciated.

ta Colette x

There is nothing in the UK that comes close to the altitude that you get on
the Inca Trail... Generally, the level that altitude becomes an issue is
about 10,000ft, or about 3300 metres. The highest in the UK is Ben Nevis
which comes in at 4418ft, less than half that... Machu Picchu is up there at
about 2700 metres (8858ft). If you start of in Cusco, you're looking at
something a little higher (11,000ft, which might be a problem, but you
should be given time to adjust...!)

But don't be scared by that... Generally, if you are fit enough and can
handle the ups and downs of hills, then the thing to think about is not so
much the altitude, as whether you can keep walking for many hours per day...

How many days are you looking at? If you're thinking of starting at about
km.82 (quite popular, starting at Ollantaytambo), it's probably a four or
five day walk to Machu Picchu? As long as you can keep walking up and down
with a daysack on your back (between 35 and 40 litres), then you should be
fine: there are plenty of walks in Wales, the Lakes and Scotland that will
do that for you.

The important thing is that you don't want to be doing just a single up and
down for any training (although that is a good way to start), but some
longer walks that take in a few tops to get you into the swing of things...

Basically, if you can walk for up to eight hours up and down per day in the
hills, you should be fine...

There are loads of books in most walking type shops with guides to walks in
the areas above. One really good publisher is Cicerone - great books:
http://www.cicerone-guides.co.uk/acatalog/index.htm.

Good luck with the trek - it should be fantastic!

Gareth.

Gareth Crawshaw typed:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I, also, need to know the areas that I can go walking in in England
which have the altitude I need to get used to. Also, if there any
any walkers in the Yorkshire area that meet up and walk together?

As you can probably tell, this is a new venture for me and I need
all the advice I can get. Anything gratefully appreciated.

ta Colette x

There is nothing in the UK that comes close to the altitude that you
get on the Inca Trail... Generally, the level that altitude becomes
an issue is about 10,000ft, or about 3300 metres. The highest in the
UK is Ben Nevis which comes in at 4418ft, less than half that...
Machu Picchu is up there at about 2700 metres (8858ft). If you start
of in Cusco, you're looking at something a little higher (11,000ft,
which might be a problem, but you should be given time to adjust...!)

But don't be scared by that... Generally, if you are fit enough and
can handle the ups and downs of hills, then the thing to think about
is not so much the altitude, as whether you can keep walking for many
hours per day...
How many days are you looking at? If you're thinking of starting at
about km.82 (quite popular, starting at Ollantaytambo), it's probably
a four or five day walk to Machu Picchu? As long as you can keep
walking up and down with a daysack on your back (between 35 and 40
litres), then you should be fine: there are plenty of walks in Wales,
the Lakes and Scotland that will do that for you.

The important thing is that you don't want to be doing just a single
up and down for any training (although that is a good way to start),
but some longer walks that take in a few tops to get you into the
swing of things...
Basically, if you can walk for up to eight hours up and down per day
in the hills, you should be fine...

There are loads of books in most walking type shops with guides to
walks in the areas above. One really good publisher is Cicerone -
great books: http://www.cicerone-guides.co.uk/acatalog/index.htm.

Good luck with the trek - it should be fantastic!

Gareth.

I echo Gareth's comments. I completed it three years ago without any
problems. If you are generally fit and enjoy hill walking go there and make
the most of a fantastic experience.

I challenge you not to have a tear in your eye as you get your first view of
Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate!

Make sure you have the tissues ready!

--
Andy Crawford
www.chiadfhear.co.uk

Remove "my boots" to e-mail me

Quoted message said:

the areas that I can go walking in in England which have the altitude

As Gareth has said nowhere in Britain comes close, Ben Nevis c1,400m ;
on the regular route taken to MP, the highest pass is c4,700m

Quoted message said:

I need all the advice I can get. Anything gratefully appreciated.

I did this the year of foot and mouth, when it had been years since I
had walked and I had sat in front of a computer becoming unfit. When
they opened Snowdon to the public, I went up it, did the same for four
sundays on the run, then I went to the Lakes for two weekends.
In the first few weeks I saw a very noticeable increase in my
enjoyment, speed and fitness, then it started to trail off.
My recommendation would be to get out into the Yorkshire hills (I
assume thats where you are based) and walk them, you have got lots of
time ahead to get fit (if you are not), I was NOT fit, on my first
Snowdon walk my legs were shaking on the way down, (so maybe start on
the lower hills and work up to higher things) next week I shaved an
hour off the time it took me.

I was planing to do MP, then onto Bolivia and carry my tent/bag/stove,
this I did and enjoyed it, so you should be fine for MP, as you will
have porters to carry the equipment, all you will need is some clothes
and water (thats the way I assume these charity things go)

I think charity walks take a diffrent route to the popular route that
most take,
but for me (on a popular route) the days were not long; it was 4 days,
day 1 is a half-day after getting to the trail-head, maybe 3 hours
walk; the last day is also a short day 2-21/2 beging pre-dawn for most
people, you are at MP before sunrise. Just the middle two days are
propper walking days and even then they were nowhere near 8 hour days,
more like 5-6 hours. The second day is a long climb up to altitude,
take it slow, and if you have done some UK mountain walks before going
you should be fine.

This is about as far from a "wilderness" experience as you will get in
the mountains; but thats half the point, this is where a civilisation
and mountains meet and manage to complement each other. enjoy the
trip.

In fact, there's not much point in getting used to the altitude somewhere
else if it's not immediately before you go out as you lose altitude
acclimatisation about as quickly as you gain it. Better to spend a week in
Cuzco before the trek starts - there's plenty to see and do in the area.
It's worth working on your aerobic fitness before you go, though.

Adrian

"Col" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi,
hope you don't mind me butting in but just wondering if anyone can give me
any assistance, advice or whatever. I am hoping to trek the Inca Trail

next

Quoted message said:

September for The National Autistic Society and am looking for any advice,
hints, tips, etc anyone can give me.

I, also, need to know the areas that I can go walking in in England which
have the altitude I need to get used to. Also, if there any any walkers in
the Yorkshire area that meet up and walk together?

As you can probably tell, this is a new venture for me and I need all the
advice I can get. Anything gratefully appreciated.

ta Colette x