Peru -- Primarily Machu Picchu (Dec 2010)

This is the next day, after we had taken a train to Ollantaytambo. This was perhaps 5 or 6 stations "up" from where we boarded the train in Aguas Calentes that morning. Most of the trail guides and porters who had been "working with Inca Trail hikers) also got off here.

It was interesting to see that many were carrying very large loads in poorly-made backpacks,with crude shoulder straps (and no belt provisions for transfering the weigh of the pack onto the hips -- some were not even backpacks at all; what some had were more like duffle bags, with no shoulder straps.

Apparently, when you pay to go on an "organized" 4-day hike of the Inca Trail, you only have to carry your clothes, a canteen, and (maybe) a sandwiich for your lunch on a given day. The porters carry the tents, food, cooking equipment, etc. I think they also go ahead and have tents set up and food cooked when you get to the campsite for each night..