And now: a few choice excerpts from a journal of yours. From the future. (Yeah, just go with it...) It starts at the beginning of The Lares Adventure—a weeklong guided trek to Machu Picchu on the famous Inca Trail’s lesser-known little brother (aka the Lares Trail), taking reservations now. (First, see the slideshow.)

March 6, 2015

Just landed in Cusco. Need to spend a couple days acclimatizing, like they suggest. Which means: expedition into the local pisco bars.

March 8, 2015

Good pisco around here. Now that the trek has started, just accomplished two of this year’s resolutions: have a glacial-lakeside picnic and see a salt-evaporation pond. Also, decided next year’s resolution: no more walking uphill.

March 12, 2015

We’ve arrived at Huacahuasi. Still not sure how that’s pronounced. Whatever, doesn’t matter. I’m just focused on the fireplace and hot tubs in the massive lodge they’ve put us up in.

March 13, 2015

Day four. I miss Carmela already. We shared a tender moment in the field today, gazing out upon snowcapped peaks and highlands. When I left to rejoin the hike, she just stood there, bleating. Also, Carmela is an alpaca.

March 14, 2015

Finally. After six days of hiking, we’ve reached Machu Picchu. And I need to stretch.

April 4, 2048

Sorry I haven’t written in a while. Kinda hard to top that last entry.