Sandra Harrison is a Senior Accountant for the LITS Business and Administration department.
Sandra Harrison recently spoke with Wade Moricle for LITS Online News about her trip to hike the Inca Trail with fourteen members of the Atlanta Outdoor Club. She also shared with LITS Wellness Committee member Khadijah Muhammad how she prepared for the trip and her perspective of it through the lens of health and wellness:
“Before my trip to hike the Inca Trail, I went on very long walks as part of my training. Every week day I walked five miles or more, and on the weekend, I walked ten miles or more each day. Once I watched a video of the porters on the Inca trail, I knew I needed more uphill training. I began walking up the six flights of stairs in the North Decatur Building, every hour, for three months.
Upon arriving in Peru, my group spent two days acclimating to the altitude. We toured the pre-Inca ruins for two days to acclimatize before beginning the trail because hiking at altitude is harder when compared to hiking in the north Georgia mountains. Cusco [which was the capital of the ancient Incan Empire] is over 11,000 feet above sea level, and the highest point on the trail was at 13,780 feet. The temperature was great! We were supported by a team of eighteen porters, two cooks, and two guides. The uphill, downhill, three-day, twenty-six mile trek was a tremendous challenge for my group and I. We had all spent time in Atlanta training for the trip. We all made it and felt an amazing sense of accomplishment.
As part of my health and wellness, I continue to train on the stairs in the North Decatur Building but not every hour!”
Please click through to Wade’s article to read more about Sandra’s trip and thanks to Sandra for sharing with us how this trip became a part of her wellness plan and continues to impact her today.
The information provided in this blog post reflects one person’s personal story of wellness. The views and opinions in this article are those of the authors and are not necessarily reflective of all LITS Wellness Committee members. This content is also not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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