My dream vacation hike ended in terrifying mudslides and floods – tour guides were ‘superheroes’ but we were near death
A TRAVELER'S dream vacation turned into a nightmare when harsh mudslides and floods almost killed them.
They were hiking on the Salkantay Peak on Machu Picchu in Peru and heavy rains wiped their trail away, leaving them with no way back.
The traveler, who goes by Mosh4days on Reddit, shared that the mudslide impeded their path and rocks were still tumbling around them as they navigated the way down the mountain.
"It was terrifying - we had to navigate 45 [degree] mudslide rocks that went to a 1000ft drop to the jungle below while rocks were still tumbling down around us," they wrote in response to a Reddit thread on disaster trips.
"At another part we had to cross rapid river speed water rushing across the trail which again would have swept you to your death if you slipped or lost your footing," they continued.
The Salkantay Trail is a multi-day hike and is a more difficult alternative to Macchu Picchu's Inca Trail.
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The trail is about 46 miles long and typically takes hikers 4-5 days to complete.
The traveler detailed the terrifying moment they were on the trail and the mudslide hit.
"People were crying, the tour guides were superheroes, and there was no help to be sent," they wrote.
"Never been so scared in my life."
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MUDSLIDE WARNING
Machu Picchu is one of South America's most famous tourist attractions, with elevations up to 13,780 feet.
The mountains are frequently subject to mudslides which can be dangerous for those on the Salkantay and Inca trails.
Two years ago, nearly 900 tourists had to be evacuated from the area due to heavy rains and flooding, Euro News reported at the time.
Earlier this year, two people were reported missing after a landslide at Machu Picchu railway, according to a Sky News report.
Landslides or mudslides occur when a slope becomes unstable from deforestation, over-steepening, erosion, or oversaturation from heavy rain.
When the soil finally gives, it can speed down a slope at 50 to 100 miles an hour, according to Earth Date.
People were crying, the tour guides were superheroes, and there was no help to be sent.
Machu Picchu traveler
The landslide can take anything in its path including trees and buildings, adding to their danger.
Even though getting caught in a landslide is slim, it's important to be cautious when traveling to areas that are prone to them.
TRAVEL DISASTERS
Other travelers also shared their disaster stories in the thread.
Another traveler said they were in Southern Thailand when a massive tsunami hit Phuket and Phi Phi in 2004.
They were snorkeling off a boat in rocky waters when their tour guides quickly ushered them in.
They were given no information and didn't realize the devastation that hit the country until they called their parents a few days later who had already registered them as a missing person with the US Consulate in Thailand.
"It wasn't til a week later and out of the country that we realized truly how awful the devastation was and how many people had died," they added.
"We'd dodged a bullet (had Phi Phi booked but decided to make a last minute change to the opposite coast for Koh Tao)."
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A third traveler said they were in Las Vegas, Nevada on a trip during the 2017 mass shooting.
"I saw a lot of people going to the airport the next morning who were obviously there and the look on their faces was haunting," they wrote.