Six Cochrane women hike the Inca Trail in trip of a lifetime

A group of women from Cochrane has just returned from an unforgettable adventure, hiking the ancient Inca Trail in Peru to visit Machu Picchu, one of the world's most iconic sites.

Among the 15-woman group, six were from Cochrane, and Samantha recounts their journey through the Andes to the “lost city.” The inspiration for her trip to this historic destination came after an earlier adventure in Africa with her husband.

"When we lived in the UK, my husband and I were looking for some adventure, so we decided to hike Kilimanjaro," she recalled. "We were young, and it was just before we had kids. After that trip, we asked ourselves, 'Where else do we want to hike?'"

Machu Picchu quickly caught her attention, but raising her family kept her from pursuing that dream. Once her children became independent, she felt it was time to tackle the top item on her bucket list.

On September 10, she and her group embarked on their journey. "We faced a 26-mile hike, which might not seem daunting, but the elevation and challenging landscape with the ancient steps made it tough," she explained.

Originally planning to go with just a friend, she decided to share her plans on social media to see if others would join. "I thought I’d post on Facebook to see if anyone was interested, and within two weeks, I had filled the group," she said.

The trek took four days and three nights along the Inca Trail. "Each day, we hiked between 12 and 16 kilometers," she noted. "Overall, we climbed over 11,621 steps, many of which were uneven and narrow, making it quite challenging."

Day two was particularly demanding, with the group reaching 4,200 meters at Dead Woman’s Pass. On the third day, they trekked for about 12 hours due to the terrain.

On the final day, they set off shortly after midnight to reach the 15th-century citadel. "We began at 3 a.m. to arrive at Machu Picchu and hiked up to the Sun Gate, where we were rewarded with a breathtaking view as we descended into the site, joining 4,485 other visitors that day," she shared.

Despite the physical challenges, she described the experience as remarkable. "It was tough on our bodies, with long days, especially since some ladies were new to camping," she admitted. "What stood out was the incredible support we provided each other. At various points, everyone faced challenges—whether altitude sickness, stomach bugs, or nausea—and we all stepped in to help."

Reflecting on her journey, she expressed bittersweet feelings about its conclusion but felt deeply fulfilled. She hopes to inspire other women to chase their own adventures. "I want to encourage women to live their dreams and check off their bucket lists. Life is short, and we never know how long we have," she said. "So, go for your dreams."

In conclusion, she expressed gratitude to her fellow travelers, and the guides and porters who supported them throughout the trek.

In conclusion, Teskey expressed gratitude to G Adventures, her fellow travelers, and the guides and porters who supported them throughout the trek.