Mollepata

Photographer's Note

The main highlight in Peru was our 5 day Trek through the Salkantay Mountain Range with the final destination being Machu Picchu.

This was by far the most difficult trek/hike I've ever done, my first real High Altitude experience.

We were in a group of 11, ages ranging from 25 - 62, and we had 2 guides. Ironically, 8 of the 11 from our group were Canadian! Two were from the USA, and 1 was from England.

We all got along tremendously, we couldn't have asked for a better group of people. And the guides we fantastic too - all in all an A+ experience.

We were warned about altitude sickness, and it struck many of us in the group. People experienced nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, shortness of breath...it was difficult. We were advised to spend 2 or 3 days in Cusco first, so our bodies could adapt. By the time the trek began, my body was fine - thank goodness!

Believe it or not, we reached a height of almost 15,000 feet!! Not many people get to hike at that level, so it was an honor to say the least. At those altitudes oxygen is about 30-35% less available, so shortness of breath and breathing becomes difficult.

As for the trek itself, the scenery was amazing. The photo you see here is the camp site location on Day 1. The scenery only gets better from here :) I'll show another photo in my next post.

If you ever want to hike to Machu Picchu, I highly recommend the Salkantay Trek. The most famous trek is the "Machu Picchu" but i learned that its about 80% STAIRS!!! Yikes! (and most people don't know that when they sign up for it months in advance)

On this Salkantay Trek, you're actually passing through high altitudes with dramatic mountain scapes and also through lower altitudes with Jungle type of landscapes, it has the best of everything.

I hope you'll enjoy these photos.
Cheers
-------------------------------------------------------
PS
As I look at the photo after posting it, the colors are dulled compared to the photo I have on my laptop. This has happened a few times on TE. Not sure why.

dta, rigoletto, timecapturer, ikeharel, adramad, Gigidusud, krzychu30, jjcordier, Sonata11, Graal, nikkitta, Miguel82 ha contrassegnato questa nota come utile

Critiques | Translate

dta (98848) 2013-06-06 2:38

Hello Craig ,
As you say , the colors are a little dulled . But the moutain landscape is splendid , especially with this beautiful clouds . The whole composition is interesting , giving us the feeling of the camp before departure .
Regards

rigoletto (34279) 2013-06-06 3:16

Hi Craig,

You went again for something different and rarely shown. The destination is usually considered photographically, but the Inca Trail preperation stage is also interesting. 15000 feet makes 4500 meters, that is quite high. I remember the difficulties of trekking up to the Kackar mountain plateaus in Turkey which is "only" 2500-3000 meters high, i cannot imagine going up with 30-35% less O2. Though i am a heavy smoker, i'd go for the 5 days trail. So you go with horses or horses + walk?

Regarding the dullness upon uploading, that happened to me several times. I also wonder why.

Deniz

timecapturer (49288) 2013-06-06 4:59

Hi Craig
fascinating notes to accompany this delightful image. Altitude sickness is no fun and you sound like you adapted pretty quickly, only experienced it slightly once and the lack of air in the lungs is really quite alarming at first and you seem to be walking through treacle. Worth it thought to get shots and scenery like this. Looking forward to this series immensely.

Brian.

Urs (14082) 2013-06-06 5:15

Hi Craig

Good use of the wide angle lens showing us the majestic mountain scenery. Pastel colour hues with high sharpness and cloudy sky. Well done

Warm regards
Urs

Sergiom (117241) 2013-06-06 5:16

Bonjour Craig,

Tu t'es payé tout un voyage.Peu sont allés à cet endroit. Le paysage est rude et beau. Les deux chevaux sont un beau point focal devant cette immensité.

Amicalement

Serge

Oceania (5202) 2013-06-06 5:53

Hi Craig,

In short period of time, you went to Iceland, Peru, and Chile...I consider you are professional travelers. You really made me jealous, lol.

adramad (73030) 2013-06-06 10:05

Hi Craig.
A beautiful note, do not doubt that the experience will have been unique and wonderful photos you've got, this is a splendid example of the great mountain scenery, superb prospect with high mountains and a fabulous sky, horses add a special charm.
POV is a magnificent, with a remarkable chromatic.
Ideal good brightness and sharpness.
Well done.
Have a good day.
Best wishes.
Luis.

Fis2 (170919) 2013-06-06 12:51

Witaj Craig!
Beautiful landscape!
I like composition amd colors.
Well done.
Have a nice afternoon
Krzysztof

Gigidusud (21679) 2013-06-06 13:41

Hi Greg,
You've been around the world !;)Beautiful landscape and interesting note. What experience!
TFS.
Gigi

krzychu30 (15512) 2013-06-06 14:18

Hi Craig,
I can imagine the hike to Machu Picchu was demanding and difficult,but I bet it´s one of those experiences you will remember your whole life.
It´s really great,kind of documenting photo showing us your way up to the Machu Picchu.I like the way you composed the scene.The usage of wide angle lens gives here nice feeling of open spaces.
Nicely done!

Best regards
Krzysztof

jcpix (14030) 2013-06-06 20:11

Hi Craig,

I've experienced the same concerns with some of my posted photos, but I'm now seeing this on my monitor at home...and well, it looks incredible! The colors are natural and rich, and carry your trademark precision. You definitely know how to make that wide angle lens work to your advantage, this is a wonderful open view of the mountains and sky. Very good notes to accompany the shot, I think they add a great deal of added interest to what we're seeing. Glad we get to share the trip through your point of view.:) Can't wait for the next one! Have a good evening.

All the best,

Jason

jjcordier (79299) 2013-06-06 22:18

Craig
La chaîne montagneuse, qui se détache sur ce beau ciel, est magnifique. Le premier plan situe bien la scène, malgré des couleurs pas très vives.
Amicalement
JJ

Sonata11 (34119) 2013-06-06 22:35

Hello Craig,
what a spectacular picturesque view. Amazingly beautiful composition. Perfect executed image. Magnificent colors, sharpness, clarity, light, excellent POV and DOF as well. Love it.
All the best,
Barbara

Graal (103040) 2013-06-07 3:37

Hi Craig,
amazing landscape and view of wild nature in Peru. Nice composition with the horses on FG. Interesting note also. Photo I like.
Have a nice day.
Aleksander

mvinagre (859) 2013-06-07 11:23

Olá Craig,

very nice shot, beautiful landscape!

abraço
miguel

npecanhuk (79329) 2013-06-09 8:24

Hi Craig!
I seems it was a wonderful and enjoyable trip around Peru!
I was there back in 2007 and just loved it (in spite of some difficulties of the Country itself)!
This picture invites me for a return!
TFS - congrats,
Cheers,
Neyvan

nikkitta (17070) 2013-08-09 16:36

Hola Craig

Quite true what you said about altitude, I staid first at Valle Sagrado and from there I did a treak on an inca road heigh 3800 meters = 12467 feet at the Andean mountains above Pizac, not touristic at all, still used by the natives and plenty of stairs sometimes wide of about a little more of one feet, next time go there a way to know how natives lives

Now your capture of great contrast with the dramatic sky, like the position of the waiting horses
Will follow this serie
Maria

Miguel82 (47110) 2013-11-06 11:22

This is an excellent picture of trek in the Andes Craig, I like the pov, the horses carried the equiment to sleep and cook in altitude, nice colors and high resolution, thanks for critique..all the best, good evening