17. Hiking the Inca Trail in Peru: Mountains, Meaning and Machu Picchu

What started as a hiking adventure in Peru became something much deeper.In this episode (and that's Percy and Edson on today's podcast cover), I share the story of trekking the legendary Inca Trail to Machu Picchu--from acclimating to the altitude in Cusco, to climbing up, up, up to Dead Woman’s Pass at nearly 14,000 feet, to finally arriving at the breathtaking Sun Gate entrance overlooking Machu Picchu.Along the way, I reflect on:The physical and emotional challenge of the trekThe beauty and brilliance of the Incan civilizationWhat resilience is really built fromWhy hard adventures can change us from the inside outThis episode is about more than hiking. It’s about mountains, meaning, growth, and the realization that sometimes we come home from an adventure not depleted, but deeply alive.If you love hiking, travel, culture, or stories of resilience and transformation, this episode is for you (and I'm linking Episode 1 below--my Kilimanjaro trek story. Oof!)Until next time… onward and upward.--Links for You!--If you'd like to hear my Kilimanjaro story, here's Episode 1: The Summit I Didn't Reach - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1-the-summit-i-didnt-reach-lasting-lessons-from-kilimanjaro/id1868855299?i=1000745071237Interested in doing the Inca Trail? Here's the trip link to the company I went with--fantastic! https://iantaylortrekking.com/inca-trail/classic-5-day-inca-trail-trek/