Challenge of a Lifetime

- Mon 21st Aug 2006

Forum regular “Download Dave” will soon be taking on a challenge of a lifetime and fulfilling a childhood dream as he Treks the Inca Trail through the jungles and Andes mountains of Peru to raise money for Help the Aged.

“As a youngster at junior school, I still recall with defiant clarity the lesson on the ancient people known as the Inca's and the relatively newly discovered Machu Picchu, a city high up in the Andes Mountains of Peru. Although I was never exactly a swat at school, the teacher had me transfixed during this particular lesson and might as well have been talking about Peter Pan and his magical land. The memories of that lesson have stuck with me far more than any other lesson from my school days, including the enthralling maths lessons where we learned all about algebra!!”

The challenging trip, planned for next may,  will take 10 days in all, including a 4 day gruelling trek through the south American jungle before arriving at the ‘Magical’ land of Machu Picchu.

“Without much persuasion, I have taken up the challenge and have even managed to convince my sister to join me, so at the end of May 2007, I shall be undertaking the most challenging and ‘yearned for’ trip of my life. At the same time I can take pride in the fact that I shall be raising money for the charity ‘Help the Aged’. Possibly an investment in the future I might add. “

Machu Picchu (which means "manly peak") is a city located high in the Andes mountains in modern Peru.  It lies 43 miles northwest of Cuzco at the top of a ridge, hiding it from the Urabamba gorge below. The ridge is between a block of highland and the massive Huaynac Picchu, around which the Urubamba River takes a sharp bend. The surrounding area is covered in dense bush, some of it covering Pre-Colombian cultivation terraces.

Dave will be looking for sponsorship for his challenging trip, so expect to see him drumming up support on the forum over the coming months.  Despite a few communications challenges, we hope to be able to bring you occasional updates during the trip itself.

By forum user, Mat