Determined to raise cash for charity, grandmother Jenny Woods scaled the heights of the Inca Trail – and suffered altitude sickness and unconsciousness to realise her dream, writes Liz Rowley

THOUSANDS of adventurous travellers complete Peru's Inca Trail each year, bowled over by its stunning beauty and spiritual atmosphere.

For grandmother Jenny Wood, her feelings on reaching the incredible lost Inca city of Machu Picchu were overwhelming.

It marked the end of a gruelling four-day trek over more than 25 miles, reaching a height of 8,038 feet above sea level, which almost brought her to her knees, and her success was nothing short of a dream come true.

"I'd always wanted to see Machu Picchu," says the 58-year-old who lives at Mellor Drive, Uttoxeter, with her husband William, aged 60.

"Over the last three or four years I'd seen the charity trek advertised in the local and national papers but the time had never been right before. This year everything just fell into place so I decided to take the plunge and do it."

Jenny decided to raise money for independent national charity Action Medical Research, which plays a key role in developing a polio vaccine and ultrasound scanning in pregnancy.

While William had concerns about his wife taking on such an arduous challenge, he remained supportive, and as Jenny arrived at Heathrow on October 11, ready to fl y to Cuzco in Peru, she was relieved to meet her fellow trekkers.

"That was great for me because I was travelling alone," she explains. "I did feel apprehensive before we set off, but mainly it was thoughts of anticipation and excitement that were going through my mind.

"This was something that I'd always wanted to do, and I couldn't believe that I was actually about to do it."

Because of the demands of high altitude on the trek, travellers are advised to get fit and healthy before even attempting the historic route.

But as a keen walker this had proved no problem for Jenny.

"You don't need to be an athlete," she says, "but you need to be able to walk comfortably for long distances because you can be walking up to 12 hours a day.

"Action Medical Research gave me a training pack with information and guidance on how to get yourself fit, though I was already quite healthy.

"I did do a lot of walking in the Derbyshire Dales and Staffordshire Moorlands beforehand, as well as walking up and down the Devil's Staircase at Consall several times to get myself used to steps."

Once on the trail, the lack of oxygen at altitude soon began to take their toll. Jenny began to have breathing difficulties which led to her falling unconscious several times.

"I did have major problems with altitude and I passed out," she says.

But it was her own determination and her aim to raise £3,000 for her charity which kept Jenny going through all the difficulties. There were times, she admits, when frustration took hold, but the vision of seeing Machu Picchu with her own eyes made every tired step worthwhile.

" I don't want this to put people off," says Jenny, "because of the 48 who started the trek with me, 45 finished it, and out of those I'd say that 40 would have completed it without any trouble at all.

"And despite the fact I had trouble, there was no way that I wasn't going to finish it – even if I had to crawl on my hands and knees.

"When we reached Dead Woman's Pass I saw an American man who was making his way to the top," she continues. "He was 87 and was the oldest man to have completed the trail.

"To see this for myself, and to see how much it meant to him as tears rolled down his face, was wonderful."

And finally, the ancient city she'd dreamed of came into view at last.

"Seeing Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate was absolutely unbelievable," she says. "We had walked for three days to get there, but it was definitely worth it.

"It sits on a hill circled by massive mountains, and to look down on it and try to imagine how it was all those years ago was fantastic.

"It's one of those miracles you're never going to explain and it was one of the most spiritual experiences of my life."

For Jenny the trek is something she will remember forever.

Sadly, now safely back home, she continues to struggle with her breathing even while carrying out the most simple tasks.

She says: "I'd been out of reach for most of the trek, but I did manage to call William from the hotel afterwards to let him know I'd done it – though I didn't tell anyone about the difficulties I was having.

"It's definitely enriched me and enabled me to learn my limitations.

"Looking back now it was a demanding challenge and more challenging than I anticipated, but it was an amazing experience – a trek of self-discovery which restored my faith in human beings, and I'm so glad I decided to do it."