The drive to survive

As winter set in we resigned ourselves to spending 20 minutes at a time climbing up and down the church stairs (not to mention a few for times around the block).  Not glorious hiking, but the weather was nearly perfect.  Gaining 160 to 200 feet of altitude in a climate controlled space was slow going but comfortable.  That all changed on December 28th as I sat at my computer writing a check for Luke's animation summer camp.

"What are you doing!?" Nate gasped as he entered our room.

"Getting Gabe and Luke registered for camps."  I answered thinking Nate was commenting on the insanity of planning for July in December.

Machu Picchu, Peru

"You can't fill up our Summer!"  He said as he turned around the computer he was carrying.  It had a picture of Machu Picchu (Peru) on it and I was blown away!  Every Spanish teacher can identify the ruins of the famous Incan city from a mile away.

So gaining 160 to 200 feet of altitude with every visit to the church stairwell was not going to cut it as a means of preparing for such a famous hike.  Nate had decided that if we were ever going to do some crazy mountain hiking in the heart of the Andes Mountains, it might as well be while the altitude would count toward "Climbing Everest".

Nate is leading the way as we
pass a dying raccoon (bottom right)

And so I have stepped up my days at the gym.  I keep saying I will get a shirt that says "I am here because I don't want to die on Machu Picchu".  I go 2-3 times a week (Nate goes to the climbing gym 3x/wk) and we are trying to make an additional day a weekend altitude hike.  Since December, we have returned to Hawk Rock (Duncannon) twice with a gain of 1,530 ft of altitude.  Both hikes were done in inclement weather as a way to test out our hiking gear for Peru.

A beautiful sunny day
awaited us at the top

Machu Picchu is located among impressive peaks and claims some of the most famous hiking in the world.  In an effort to avoid the crowds of the popular Incan Trail, we have chosen to hike the Lares Trek.  It will begin at 10,500ft above sea level and cross through a mountain pass at 15,000 feet. for a total 21 miles of high altitude hiking with nights of camping and hostels.  We will end at the ruins with our guide to fill us in on the amazing history.

So, as we repeatedly ascend to Hawk Rock in the snow in February... and I step on slippery patches, have to use the bathroom outside or my toes fall asleep... I remember that I am choosing to do a ridiculous 3 day hike through freezing temperatures for my summer vacation and this is only the 90 minute practice version.

Our second climb was done while it was snowing

The drive to survive in Peru is certainly doing wonders for our altitude gain on our Everest Adventure.  Nate really knows how to motivate me and he has also been able to open more presents from his 40th Birthday last September.  Most recently he opened a hiking bandana with survival tips on it and a night at a Bed and Breakfast.  Go Team!