I stayed warm last night and thought the temperature was about the same as the first night.  Ruben says days three and four of the hike are his favorites as we are going to pass by several ruins and go through numerous rain forests.  We only have one moderate climb today through Runkurakay Pass and then the trail is mostly level after that.  Our campsite last night was in a very cramped location.  Part way up the climb this morning you can see our campsite last night and Dead Woman's Pass in the background.  Ann has followed Barbara's advice and switched from her hiking boots to tennis shoes and really likes the change.

Our cramped campsite below 5-28-2008 @ 8:21	Our campsite below, Dead Woman's Pass above 5-28-2008 @ 8:43

    I continue to be amazed at the beautiful flowers that are everywhere.

Orchids 5-28-2008 @ 8:25	Flowers 5-28-2008 @ 8:26	Orchids 5-28-2008 @ 8:26

     About an hour into our hike today, we come to the Runkurakay ruins.  The lower ruins were used as food storage by the Incas.

Sign by the ruins 5-28-2008 @ 9:00	Runkurakay ruins 5-28-2008 @ 9:05	Runkurakay ruins 5-28-2008 @ 9:43

     Our climb continues toward the pass, going by two small but pretty ponds.

A small pond 5-28-2008 @ 9:58	A small pond near the top 5-28-2008 @ 10:05

     We finally reach Runkurakay Pass at 12,792'.  After a short break, Ruben takes us on a small side hike up and over to a narrow point where we have great views of the mountains and valleys below.

Beth on our side hike 5-28-2008 @ 10:54	Sign at Runkurakay Pass 5-28-2008 @ 10:11	Richard on our side hike 5-28-2008 @ 10:55

     From our side hike location, we also have wonderful views of our campsite last night far below us and the Runkurakay ruins we passed this morning.

View down to our campsite from our side hike 5-28-2008 @ 10:56	View down to the Runurakay ruins from our side hike 5-28-2008 @ 10:56

     There are more pretty flowers along the way.

Flowers 5-28-2008 @ 12:10	Orchids 5-28-2008 @ 12:08	Flowers 5-28-2008 @ 12:23

     A little after noon we reach the Sayaqmarka ruins.  They were most likely a resting spot for priests and others journeying to Machu Picchu.  The complex is divided into a rough lower section and a more elaborate upper area that was probably used for ceremonial purposes.  The Incas set blocks with holes in them into the walls at a doorway to provide a way to latch a door closed.

Sign at Sayaqmarka ruins 5-28-2008 @ 12:30	Beth at Sayaqmarka ruins 5-28-2008 @ 12:39	Sayaqmarka ruins 5-28-2008 @ 12:36

Sayaqmarka ruins 5-28-2008 @ 12:44	Door latch at Sayaqmarka ruins 5-28-2008 @ 12:43	Lower Sayaqmarka ruins 5-28-2008 @ 12:40

     The trail then takes us through a rain forest and by some small ruins along the way.  The area is thick with plants.  One plant is quite tall and looks like bamboo, but Ruben tells me it is actually something else.  Large ferns are everywhere.

The trail through a rain forest 5-28-2008 @ 12:58	Ruins in the rain forest 5-28-2008 @ 1:02

Rain forest 5-28-2008 @ 1:03	Bamboo like plant in the rain forest 5-28-2008 @ 1:07	Large fern in the rain forest 5-28-2008 @ 1:13

     Our lunch spot today is in the middle of the rain forest.  We notice that with each meal the silverware place setting is more elaborate.  Today's setting has the knives and forks placed together so they stand upright with our cups on top.  Victor, our head cook, has really outdone himself.  He is quite the showman.

Sign at our lunch rest area 5-28-2008 @ 1:17	Our lunch tent with elaborate place settings 5-28-2008 @ 1:23

     After lunch we continue on the trail through the rain forest.  One area has brightly colored moss and fungus growing everywhere on the walls.  We see lots of tropical plants and ferns.

Moss-fungus in the rain forest 5-28-2008 @ 2:35	Large fern in the rain forest 5-28-2008 @ 2:30	Moss-fungus in the rain forest 5-28-2008 @ 2:35

     The trail has a few ups and downs, but nothing of substance.  We pass another waterfall along the way.

The trail climbing through the rain forest 5-28-2008 @ 2:38	Waterfall near the trail 5-28-2008 @ 2:43

     At one point on the trail, we reach a great spot for viewing the surrounding mountains.  The Andes are magnificent with snow covered peaks and clouds shrouding the mountain tops.

Mountains near our campsite 5-28-2008 @ 3:29	Mountains near our campsite 5-28-2008 @ 3:48	Mountains near our campsite 5-28-2008 @ 3:44

     We continue on the trail through the rain forest finally reaching our campsite at Phuyupatamarka at 11,742'.

The trail through the rain forest 5-28-2008 @ 3:45	The sign at our campsite 5-28-2008 @ 3:55

     Our campsite is perched high on a point with great views in all directions.  The grandeur of this area is difficult to describe.  The mountains and entire area are simply gorgeous. 

Our campsite high in the mountains 5-28-2008 @ 5:09	Mountains near our campsite 5-28-2008 @ 5:09	Nearby Mountains at sunset 5-28-2008 @ 5:42

     I can see why Ruben said this day was one of his favorites.  Today we passed numerous ruins and saw magnificent mountains, lush rain forests, and stunning flowers.  We are another 1,000' higher than last night, so this should be the coldest night of the hike.  Ruben has us all getting up early tomorrow morning so we can see the sunrise from a point high above our campsite.

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