Tracey Hall’s Adventure to Machu Picchu
Tracey Hall at Machu Picchu
Tracey Hall, the inaugural Expedition Grant recipient, recently returned from an epic trip through Peru. She shares her reflections on the journey to Machu Picchu:
Walking the iconic Inca trail to Machu Picchu has truly changed my life. After spending a year planning and training for my trip to South America, there are not enough words in the dictionary for me to explain the experience or all the emotions that I felt during this incredible journey.
The four-day Inca Trail takes you through the Andes on the incredible rock path that was hand laid by the Incas. We started walking around 10 a.m. and 10 steps into the trail we crossed a wee bridge. I couldn’t help but smile from ear to ear! The thought that I was about to walk the Inca trail, something I’ve wanted to do since I was a little girl, and that I was finally here, taking my first steps and about to embark on a journey of a lifetime… it was so exciting.
With every step I took over the next few days, I could feel myself getting entrenched more and more in the mystery and magic of the place and culture. It left a huge mark on my heart and I still remember it so vividly. I was lucky enough to experience beautiful little ceremonies with my guide, giving thanks to Patchamama (Mother Nature). I can still feel the energy in my feet and the sun on my face. I can still hear the sounds of the wildlife and of my feet hitting the rock path. I can still feel the extreme exhaustion of climbing up to 4,250 metres, but also the sheer determination to keep going and not give up.
Best of all, I remember the feeling of reaching the Sun Gate where I viewed the ruins at Machu Picchu for the first time. Standing at the Sun Gate, I could hardly bring myself to look because it would mean that my life-long dream of walking the Inca trail to Machu Picchu would nearly be over. Needless to say, the tears started to flow. I composed myself, moved to the ledge and there it was: Machu Picchu in all its glory, beauty, magic, mystery and power which I could feel.
I was still very emotional and the tears still flowed as I descended closer and closer to the ruins. I could feel Patchamama wrap her warm sun rays around my shoulders, as if to say “your time is here and it’s ok”. And then, suddenly, I was there. I was in the ruins of Machu Picchu. It was incredible!
In that moment, I felt a deep richness. I felt richer than the richest person on earth, I felt like the luckiest person alive, and I felt pride and ownership of the journey I had just taken. I felt the healthiest I had felt in years, even after climbing 30,000 stairs in four days, climbing up to 4,250 metres in altitude and pushing myself every step of the way. How this could be, despite having MS, I still don’t fully understand. I know that Patchamama had a lot to do with it and I am very thankful.
Standing there, at the edge of the ruins, all I could think was how grateful I was to everyone involved in getting me here. It has been a long journey and Mastering Mountains Charitable Trust, World Expeditions, Macpac and MitoQ, along with my specialist trainers from Massey University (Arbie Hong and Grayson Nicholls) supported me every step of the way.
The journey was not only physically demanding but also deeply spiritual, soaked in all the energy, magic and beliefs of the Incan culture and Machu Picchu. A trip like this comes with a greater awareness of self and all the resulting emotions. Truly, I still feel like the richest person alive, and the most lucky!
You can follow Tracey’s journey on Instagram.
Mastering Mountains Charitable Trust thanks Macpac, MitoQ and World Expeditions for their generous support of Tracey’s grant.