Blue Steel Dash Planning Document

Transcription

1 Salkantay Track (Machu Picchu) 2016 Name of Walk/Event Distance (km) Overview Details Salkantay Track to Machu Picchu ~66km Mollepata to Agua Calientes Duration (Days) 14 Altitude Consideration Yesþ No n/a Comments Estimated walking time: 6 hours per day If yes, include acclimatisation plan into itinerary below Line or loop Loop Map reference (s) 1:100,000 IGN 2444 and 2344 Purchase from IGN in Lima. (27r and 27q) Trek Leader Bruce Lyman Trek Master TBA For longer treks and/or large groups(8+) a leader and master will be appointed. Other guide - if applicable Tullio Proposed dates 1-17 July 2016 Total Number of Trekkers 14 Level of Difficulty Grade One is suitable for the disabled with assistance Grade Two is suitable for families with young children Grade Three is recommended for people with some bushwalking experience Grade Four is recommended for experienced bushwalkers, and Grade Five is recommended for very experienced bushwalkers Hazards 4 A subjective assessment but always calculated on the basis of the least experienced group member. The usual range of hazards encountered while walking in mountains. Refer to Risk Management Below

2 Name Emergency Contact On the trek Bruce will be contactable if members don t wish to carry their own cell phones. Emergency contact details remain on the front page of the Blue Steel Dash web site. Number Lima Contact Tullio Cell , ,4318 Objectives 1. Cross Salkantay Pass (15,000) 2. Reach and climb Machu Picchu and Wayga Picchu 3. Tick the bucket list 4. GPS Start Mollepata S W Finish Agua Calientes S W Emergency Pickup n/a Key Equipment Needed (Separate Notes issued. In general note that core camping gear is supplied on the trail section of the trip) Tent Cold Weather Clothing Footwear (specialist) EPIRB Clothing Supplied Yes. We are travelling in the Peru winter so expect Cusco to be at 0 degrees overnight. No flip flops. Runners for camp. Strong walking boots for day. Yes registered to BSD Mix of cold wx and warm. Aim for layers of clothing + one shell/gortex.

3 Water Sleeping bag Mattress Don t go overboard on cold wx gear but a puffy jacket may be an investment for the Salcantay Pass Needs to be treated. Group water will be boiled. Bring you own. Also bring a liner. There will be nights you may be very cool, other nights very warm. If you have a goose down lined air mattress that you got for Christmas bring it along. Is there local potable or treatable water? Or is all water carried in? What treatment, if applicable? Preparation Required Cold Weather Crossing at 15,000 in winter. Need cold wx gloves, thermals, gortex shell. Fitness Training High stepping 10+ km each week at a minimum. Track such as Cowan/BW. Weight of Pack Aim for 15-17kg Considerations max. Experienced/Inexperienced? Moderate experience Plan carefully the cold wx gear will only be used for a couple of days. It will take up room in your pack. e.g. 20kg limit Communications EPIRB UHF Unit registered to BSD will be carried. n/a

4 Proposed channel and fallback channel UHF Coverage Phone Parents/friends notified Permission slips signed Police advised? National Parks Advised Permits Secured Planning document posted to website? Medical information sheet submitted Risk release submitted Transport to start point Transport from finish point Accommodation Fires/Fuel stove only? Other Any cultural considerations? n/a n/a Local International Administration Yesþ No n/a Yes No n/aþ Yes No n/aþ Yes No n/aþ Yesþ No n/a Yesþ No n/a Yesþ No n/a Yesþ No n/a Logistics Bus from Cusco to Mallepenta Bus from Agua Claientes to Cusco Hostels, pre booked. Not required Refer to separate clothing list Other This is a sacred site. There will need to be sensitivity to village life as we pass through. Will be carrying Telstra and Vodafone phones. Coverage unknown. Sacred sites, sections of track to avoid etc?

5 State of track Known track hazards Potential track hazards Review First Aid competencies in group No shorts. RISK MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS Trade route so expected to be in good order. No specific hazards. Falling rock Ice Pack animals Current first aid for most walkers. Plus one Remote Area First Aid qualification. Weather Winter. Refer to separate weather table below. Bushfire briefing Escape and alternate routes on track Snake bite Spider bite Scorpion Not applicable. The track is a linear course After Soray Pampa. There is an alternate route via Huayllabamba if necessary. Treat as for Australian snakes. Many in Peru are not venomous. But not worth taking the risk. Immobilise and pressure bandage. Unlikely. Banana Spider and other large spiders re limited to the Peruvian Amazon. Potential Mainly nocturnal Be alert and watch where you are putting your hands and feet. Same as for Australia. Take the same precautions as if for Funnel Web e.g. keep sleeping bag rolled up,

6 boots sealed, clothes in pack Insects including sandfly As for Australia. Take Bushmans or similar for the latter part of the trek. CDC Notes on Sandflies: Many areas in the Pacific valleys of the Andes and the Amazon tropical rainforest are endemic for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), a parasitic infection transmitted by bites of sand flies. There is no visceral leishmaniasis in Peru. Travelers should be counseled to be meticulous about vector precautions, as there is no vaccine or chemoprophylaxis to prevent leishmaniasis. Any person with a skin lesion persisting more than a few weeks after return from Peru should be evaluated for CL. Other animal including stock Yellow Fever Malaria Cats and dogs - be aware of the potential for rabies. Ticks As with places like Nepal, just avoid the obvious stray dogs and cats. NEVER ignore a scratch or bite from any animal. Avoid lying in grassy areas. Same prevention as for Australia Bushmans CDC: Proof of yellow fever vaccination is not required for entry into Peru. Travelers who are limiting travel to the cities of Lima, Cusco, and Machu Picchu, and the Inca Trail do not need yellow fever vaccination. CDC: In general, the risk of malaria in travelers visiting Peru is low. There are, on average, <5 cases reported in the United States each year that were acquired in Peru. Both Plasmodium vivax malaria and P. falciparum malaria are found in the Peruvian Amazon. There is no malaria risk for travelers visiting only Lima and vicinity, coastal areas south of Lima, or the popular highland tourist areas (Cusco, Machu

7 Drinking water/water purification Known medical conditions in the group Dehydration Sunburn Altitude management Picchu, and Lake Titicaca). Water needs to be Group water will purified. Bring be boiled. Own tabs your own tabs. for backup Nut allergy A major issue at altitude Major problem at altitude Refer to separate AMS paper. To be read before starting the walk. Bring water bladder for pack Bring plenty of sunscreen. Cheapest place to buy sunscreen is Australia. DIAMOX please be issued with this medicine. CDC Notes: Locals refer to AMS as soroche and will almost always offer the new arrival a cup of hot coca tea (mate de coca) when checking in to the hotel. Although many believe mate de coca can prevent and treat soroche, no data support its use in the prevention or treatment of AMS. Perhaps of concern to some who may experience random drug screening as a condition of employment, people who drink a single cup of coca tea will test positive for cocaine metabolites in standard drug toxicology screens for several days. However, sitting quietly and resting while enjoying a cup of tea is a most civilized activity and a pleasant memory. Water crossings Bridge/swing bridge safety All major river crossings are via locally made timber bridges, maintained by local community. The track is a common trading/traffic route between village communities and bridges are not expect to be an issue. Small tributary streams will be encountered especially south of La Playa. Cross as locals do. Evaluate on a case by case basis as we come to each crossing. Local guides help in each instance. Make assessment re height of handrails on swing bridges just as we do in Nepal. Local communities We will be Each village has an

8 Vehicles/vehicle security camping in local villages each night. There are no security issues expected with any community we stop with. We are not responsible for any vehicles. area set aside for travellers to pitch their tents. Our guides and cooks will no doubt provide plenty of scope for interaction and for you to practise your Español. The trip to Mollepeta from Cusco will be on a local bus. Expect a $%#box and potential safety issues. Accommodation Hostels Usual backpacker security of gear. Keep essentials such as passport, cash, credit cards with you at all times. Security of equipment Spiritual/cultural Local emergency contact details Valuable and Attractive (V&A) should be kept with you at all times. Strong syncretic mix of animist/roman Catholic faith but plenty of exposure to the West so there should be no dislocation. LADIES, DO NOT WEAR SHORTS, in the villages. Lima has a pick pocket reputation as does Cusco. I had two weeks poking around Lima and never encountered one. As with all our trips we encourage interaction with the locals, but respecting observations relating to shrines and monuments and other Tullio Cell , ,4318

9 Weather Tables Lima (July Avg.) Avg. High 19 degrees. Avg Low 16 Degrees Cusco (July Avg.) Avg. High 19 degrees. Avg Low 2 Degrees Machu Picchu (July Avg. High 19 degrees. Avg Low 0 Degrees Avg.) Agua Calientes (July Avg. High 15 degrees. Avg Low 0 Avg.) Degrees Itinerary (Trek Portion) Refer to separate itinerary covering the complete two weeks Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Cusco/Mollepata/ Sorapampa Soryapampa/ Salcantay Pass/ Challway Pick up at 0500 from Cusco hotel 3 hour bus trip to Mollepata Walk to Soraypampa 4 hour walk down from the pass Challway/La Playa Valley walk, tropical forest La Playa/Aguas Aguas Calientes Calientes and a nice bed for the night. Aguas Calientes/ Machu Picchu

10 Trek Profile Approximation Only However the early steep nature of the climb through Salcanty Pass is highlighted well.