By Caitlin
After a bus and train ride into Machu Picchu town, we were excited to stretch our legs and explore the area as Jed, my brother Dan, who came to visit us, and I set off to go see a waterfall by walking along the train tracks. Now before anyone thinks we are reckless and crazy, it must be known that the guy at our hotel told us to follow the train tracks. Maybe he didn’t mean it so literally, but as we headed off, straddling the rail, we met another threesome that further confirmed what the hotel guy told us: this was the path to the waterfall.
While chit chatting with our new friends, we pondered whether these train tracks were still in use. We figured they must be abandoned tracks, but quickly realized we were mistaken when a large train came speeding past us and we had to jump up against the rock wall face to our side to avoid being hit. It was not long after that we came to a long, dark, narrow tunnel. since a train had just passed us two minutes before the tunnel, we rationalized that surely another one would not pass so soon after. We stopped just before entering the tunnel to discuss. We could barely see the opening on the other side. It was difficult to gauge how long it was and the track curved right after the tunnel so you couldn't see past the opening. If we were going to go through, we would have to do it as quickly as possible.
While chit chatting with our new friends, we pondered whether these train tracks were still in use. We figured they must be abandoned tracks, but quickly realized we were mistaken when a large train came speeding past us and we had to jump up against the rock wall face to our side to avoid being hit. It was not long after that we came to a long, dark, narrow tunnel. since a train had just passed us two minutes before the tunnel, we rationalized that surely another one would not pass so soon after. We stopped just before entering the tunnel to discuss. We could barely see the opening on the other side. It was difficult to gauge how long it was and the track curved right after the tunnel so you couldn't see past the opening. If we were going to go through, we would have to do it as quickly as possible.
 Walking along the tracks.... |  Dan and Jed looking happy before we enter the tunnel |
Pretty quickly we began to question our decision. It was incredibly dark as we stepped inside. You couldn't even see your feet. Feeling like we had made a bad mistake, a few in our group started running through. Nervous to run into someone in the dark and knowing I would be slow, I hung back a minute with Jed to let the others get a head start. It’s not easy to run across train tracks in the dark. I felt like I could trip at any moment. As Dan and another person reached the end, they went out of sight. Then Dan reappeared. He was shouting something we couldn’t understand and motioning violently. We couldn't understand or really see what he was motioning, but we knew it couldn't be good. Cold there possibly be another train coming? Terror and adrenaline flooded my body. Jed and I were only halfway through the tunnel and had no idea how much time we had until the train came. Do we run forward and try to beat the train or run back where we came from? The few remaining people in the tunnel who were a bit ahead of us started running forward, but we decided it was best to turn around and run back towards the opening.
Any doubt about whether or not a train was coming was soon answered when I looked over my shoulder to make sure the others had all made it out and a train appeared in the tunnel blocking all light. Steam bellowing out and horn blaring, we literally ran for our lives out the other side of the tunnel. When we finally got past the opening, we scrambled to find a space where we would be out of the way. I was terrified about Dan and the others on the other end of the tunnel. I looked around for Jed and found him in a Jed-sized hole in the ground, from which he was climbing out! So much adrenaline ran through our bodies he barely even noticed he had fallen in a narrow 5 foot hole!
Any doubt about whether or not a train was coming was soon answered when I looked over my shoulder to make sure the others had all made it out and a train appeared in the tunnel blocking all light. Steam bellowing out and horn blaring, we literally ran for our lives out the other side of the tunnel. When we finally got past the opening, we scrambled to find a space where we would be out of the way. I was terrified about Dan and the others on the other end of the tunnel. I looked around for Jed and found him in a Jed-sized hole in the ground, from which he was climbing out! So much adrenaline ran through our bodies he barely even noticed he had fallen in a narrow 5 foot hole!
 Jed looking confused at this well hidden, but surprisingly deep, hole he had just climbed out of |  A train like the one that was barreling down on us |
As the train cleared the tunnel, we hastily walked back into the tunnel to make sure the others were OK. Fortunately, all the others started running back through towards us. There was a very, very close call though. Like something straight out of a movie, apparently the girl of the group was just about to clear the exit when she tripped badly right as the train was about to enter the tunnel. A hero friend of hers ran over and picked her up and pulled her out of the entrance within seconds of the train arriving.
Knowing my brother, I assumed this terrifying incident would not deter him from wanting to continue down the tracks. He told us that another tunnel, one that curved around the side of the mountain making it impossible to see the end, was not far ahead of the tunnel we had just escaped from. The whole incident had sufficiently spooked us all, so we all turned back and headed to town. Luckily, we found an alternate path that skipped this harrowing stretch of rail, and eventually found our way to the waterfall. Unfortunately, it was absolutely pouring rain on us the whole way there and back. With no umbrellas, our clothes and shoes were wet for days. Although highly memorable, the waterfall was probably not worth the terror or soak, and it left us exhausted before embarking on the real reason we were there in the first place, to see Machu Picchu.
Knowing my brother, I assumed this terrifying incident would not deter him from wanting to continue down the tracks. He told us that another tunnel, one that curved around the side of the mountain making it impossible to see the end, was not far ahead of the tunnel we had just escaped from. The whole incident had sufficiently spooked us all, so we all turned back and headed to town. Luckily, we found an alternate path that skipped this harrowing stretch of rail, and eventually found our way to the waterfall. Unfortunately, it was absolutely pouring rain on us the whole way there and back. With no umbrellas, our clothes and shoes were wet for days. Although highly memorable, the waterfall was probably not worth the terror or soak, and it left us exhausted before embarking on the real reason we were there in the first place, to see Machu Picchu.
Dan enjoying the well-earned spoils of our adventure
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