I’m in the middle of a chapter in the book “The Comfort Crisis” when I read that according to the Journal of Anatomy, “natural selection over time seems to have picked humans who were the best, most efficient carriers.”  The book goes on to talk about the history of humans hunting and then having to carry the full weight of the animal, their food, back to their tribe or village, the fact that our ancestors carried heavy weapons as well as massive, heavy rocks to make tools, not to mention all of their belongings when moving camp which in some cases meant moving hundreds, even thousands of miles a year.  

This section is followed up with some super interesting information about “rucking”, essentially carrying weight in a pack.  Carrying weight has been a part of our evolution as humans, and according to the book, “humans carry during vitally human acts, like hunting, exploring, and fighting”. 

Exploring. Bingo. Exactly what myself and the group will be doing on our trek while we carry the weight of our day packs from just over 11,000 feet to just under 16,000 feet.  And so, as the plane touches down in Cusco, as I take in the sights of a city below me that I am seeing for the first time, the discomfort, the unknown of it all hits me face first.  

Jason McCarthy, the founder of GORUCK, is quoted in “”The Comfort Crisis” as saying, “Do hard things and the rest of life gets easier and you appreciate it all more.”  Challenges, discomfort, and hard things are things I have come to love for this exact reason.  I’ll be doing some hard things for sure on this adventure because if you’re not growing, you’re dying.  I am all in on growth. 

I meet a fellow trekker from Minnesota at good old baggage claim and we find one of the four guides, Nep, that will be leading our journey.  He takes us to our driver.  As we make the short drive to our hotel, Nep shares with us that June is the most important month in Cusco.  It is filled with major celebrations, parades, and festivities all month long and of course, Inti Raymi, the Winter Solstice celebration.   Along the drive, Nep points out groups on the side of the street practicing dances and routines for the parade and festivities that will soon wind through the streets just outside of our hotel.  

We arrive to the hotel and I realize Nep wasn’t joking. Out hotel literally sits in the heart of Cusco right on the edge of the Plaza de Armas.  We are surrounded by beautiful cathedrals, gardens, shops, and restaurants, and just nearby there are several markets,  neighborhoods, and so much more to explore!

I quickly realize that being dropped in at over 11,000 feet from about 865 feet where I sit in New Hampshire is a shock to my system. My body feels it and as I head up the stairs, my lungs are screaming.

Water.  I need A LOT of water.  And as they said in Tanzania, pole pole.  Slowly, slowly I will go today to allow my body to acclimate to the altitude.  

I spend the day meeting others in the group, exploring Cusco, shopping, having some lunch, listening to some live music in the square, and taking a brief nap before we all gather on the hotel rooftop to hang out just before our first team meeting and dinner.  The view from where we sit on the rooftop is phenomenal and I have to pinch myself to know I am wide awake and not dreaming.  Stars above, a sea of humans below in the plaza for the largest live music festival in Cusco, a cool breeze, and tons of laughter and excitement in the air.  I am exactly where I am meant to be. 

Gathering twenty-two people is no small feat, but almost immediately I love the energy, positivity, and overall vibe of everyone I am meeting. I feel grateful to be part of a group despite not knowing anyone in it before today. 

After dinner and after we made our way back to the hotel through a literal mob of humans in the streets, I realized the music and the celebration were not ending anytime soon, not to mention the fireworks.  Feeling completely exhausted, I headed off to bed feeling hopeful as I put my earplugs in, ocean waves on repeat, and did some self Reiki.  I made my best attempt to drown out the endless party in the streets, sneak off to dream land, and let my body rest and reset.    

Tomorrow is another brand new day filled with endless possibility, exploration, and I am sure, a lot of learning.