- Playing
- Hiking the Andes
- From
- Cynthia Graber
Reporter Cynthia Graber had long dreamed of hiking the Inca Trail. She recently fulfilled that dream, going on a four-day trek in the mountains of Peru that ends at the ancient Inca city of Machu Picchu, one of the most famous archeological sites in the world. But she found the experience wasn?t quite as simple a pleasure as she had expected.
More from Cynthia Graber
Buying conflict-free diamonds
(05:15)
From: Cynthia Graber
So you want to find a conflict-free diamond? Listen here.
Academic Success at an Unusual Washington School
(04:38)
From: Cynthia Graber
Test scores show that public schools in the nation's capital have been failing a large portion of their students ? the mostly poor African Americans and Latinos. However, one ...
Peru Negro - music celebrating the Afro-Peruvian experience
(04:48)
From: Cynthia Graber
Afro-Peruvian musical group Peru Negro brings the country's African heritage to life.
The Promise of Hydrogen - two parts
(30:38)
From: Cynthia Graber
As the world grows more concerned about the cost and supply of oil and about climate change, Iceland is beginning an ambitious proejct to wean itself off imported oil entirely.
Return to Israel
(04:55)
From: Cynthia Graber
Cynthia Graber returns to Israel for the first time in four years, since the beginning of the second intifada, and interviews friends and relatives about the changes in the ...
Related Pieces
Piece Description
Reporter Cynthia Graber had long dreamed of hiking the Inca Trail. She recently fulfilled that dream, going on a four-day trek in the mountains of Peru that ends at the ancient Inca city of Machu Picchu, one of the most famous archeological sites in the world. But she found the experience wasn?t quite as simple a pleasure as she had expected.
Broadcast History
Never aired on public radio. Aired on the World Vision Report in October, 2005. Evergreen piece.
Transcript
LEAD
Reporter Cynthia Graber had long dreamed of hiking the Inca Trail. She recently fulfilled that dream, going on a four-day trek in the mountains of Peru that ends at the ancient Inca city of Machu Picchu. But she found the experience wasn?t quite as simple a pleasure as she had expected.
(SOUND OF GUIDE)
Early on a hot sunny morning, our tour guide Hugo starts us off on the hike. All around me, the mountains of the Andes stretch towards the cloudless blue sky.
There are ten of us on this hike, all tourists in our twenties and thirties. And we?re all full of energy. But I am nervous about the long, steep climbs ahead of me.
We have two Peruvian guides, one cook, and thirteen porters with us. The porters carry our clothes, tents, sleeping bags, even a dining tent. And enough food for everyone, for four days.
As we set off, the exhilaration I feel is slightly diminished by...
Read the full transcript
