Machu Picchu Day 2 - Expect the Unexpected

Ellie McKenzie • July 17, 2025

Machu Picchu Day 2: Expect the Unexpected

At CrossFit Odyssey, we often remind our athletes to expect the unexpected. Life rarely sticks to the plan—and how you respond when it doesn’t makes all the difference.

Day two of our trek proved this lesson in spades. 

We woke at 5 a.m., packed our gear, and set out to summit Apu Salkantay—revered as a Mountain God—via a 7-kilometer climb to Salkantay Pass at 4,630 meters (15,190 feet). The weather was raw and unforgiving: cold rain pelted us at the base, and snow greeted us at the summit. I was not excited about it.

A Note About Day One.
The day before, many of us tried chewing local coca leaves—a traditional remedy believed to ease altitude sickness. For the record, coca leaves are not the same as cocaine. Some in the group said it helped them breathe easier. Others thought it tasted awful. A few of us, ended up with immediate stomach cramps. That was me.

By the time we climbed to Humantay Lake that afternoon, my gut was in full protest. I quietly drifted to the back of the pack, hoping fresh air would help. Later, at dinner, more people were feeling queasy and couldn’t face a meal.

Horses to the Rescue

When we started the ascent to Salkantay Pass the next morning, I made the call for four of us to go up on horseback. Two of us were battling upset stomachs, and the other two simply wanted the experience. Watching my daughter—so confident after years at Camp Waldemar—lead her horse up the mountain, felt like a proud mom moment I’ll never forget.


Meanwhile, the rest of the group pressed on foot. One of the girls developed a sudden stomach bug, and in the middle of that chaos, her favorite hiking boots were sacrificed to the Salkantay god. Our guide saved the day with a roll of duct tape, wrapping her boots tight so she could keep moving, one careful step at a time.


Into the Cloud Forest

By lunch, we were exhausted, soaked, chilled—and, frankly, a little poopy. But the day was only halfway over. We still had six more hours of hiking.

As we descended, the landscape transformed. Boulders gave way to lush green grass. Flowers lined the trail again. We entered the cloud forest, the edge of the Amazon rainforest, and trekked another 9.5 kilometers (5.9 miles) through dense, vibrant jungle.



Somewhere along the path, we met two young Brits. When we asked where they were staying, they shrugged and said, “We’ll know it when we find it.” They wandered the world this way—no plan, just curiosity. My daughter was instantly inspired.

“MOM!!!!! I want to do that!!!!!”


Not today, dear child. Not today.


But watching her face light up, I knew she’d found her spark.


Bigger Mountains

That night, we reached CollpaPampa. Many of us skipped dinner in favor of precious sleep. We had to be up again by 4:30 a.m.

As we hiked, I talked with one of the women about these mountains. Yes, this was one literal mountain—a physical challenge you cross by putting one foot in front of the other. But life gives us metaphorical mountains too.


Paying bills. Raising kids. Losing someone you love. Facing sudden illness or watching a business you poured your heart into fail. These moments feel impossible.


But they’re conquered the same way. One step. Then another. Focus on what’s in front of you. Eventually, you find yourself on the other side.

And don’t forget to look up along the way. Look and see how far you have come, and remember that beauty is everywhere—blazing in nature and glowing in the faces of those who climb beside you.