While pretty much everyone else had gone on a guided trip with horses and mules carrying their stuff I had gone by myself. I had a big backpack with 4 days worth of food, tent, sleeping bag, my travel camera and some other small stuff. The pack felt heavy. Even more so at this altitude.

It had taken me a while to reach the pass at 4630 masl (or 4629, or 4600 - depending on the sign you refer to). Many of the other hikers were astonished that I carried my own stuff. One Peruvian guide said: "That would even be hard for me." But with a bit of time and nuts, raisins and chocolate I made it to the pass. And on the way down I even met some other crazy people that carried their own stuff and got really great hiking company for my remaining days on the Salkantay trek.