I’ve been (knock on wood) fairly lucky to have no major accidents while traveling. Unfortunately, my body (if not my mind) are getting older, and things don’t quite work like they used to.

Which is how I found myself three days in to the Inka Trail hike with a broken ankle.

Perhaps the best thing about being stuck in the middle of nowhere with a broken bone is the inability to tell that it’s officially broken!

That and adrenaline.

And Peruvian pain medication.

Day one of the hike went well, although tougher than expected. Lots of ups and downs, lots of sun AND you’re just getting warmed up.

Day two was a beast, as it was a full day of climbing to reach Dead Woman’s Pass and start back downhill towards Machu Picchu.

Day three is pretty much all downhill, which runs a number on your already exhausted legs. So one minute I’m walking along talking with my fellow hikers, and the next I was on the ground.

I remember distinctly that my toe was still against the path, and the rest of me completely on top of it. My backpack, frankly, saved me from a lot more bruises.

Lucky for me, the next person down the trail was an Australian doctor I’d discussed plants with during the interminable climb on day 2.

She was delighted to find that I travel with a neurotically stocked first aid kit, so after a quick examination, she wrapped my ankle, got my hiking boot laced tight, and handed me off to my guide. He provided me with some pain killers, then helped me hobble along the shortcut to camp for the night.

Day four then started early, as I was now kind of a liability. One of the guides gave me some additional pain pills, we wrapped my ankle again, and we waited for the trail checkpoint to open at somewhere near dawn.

Once through the checkpoint, everyone and their granddad hiked happily past me, excited to be almost to the Sun Gate and so close to Machu Picchu! I just concentrated on putting my feet down and not twisting; I was now acutely aware of the placement of my feet, which I’m sure slowed me down even further.

As we wrapped up the Machu Picchu walking tour, I begged another painkiller from our guide. We hopped the bus to Aguas Calientes and I ate the most delicious hamburger I’ve ever had.

Several days later, I returned home and made an appointment with my doctor, where they confirmed that I had, in fact, broken my ankle and not just sprained it. I got a very nice walking boot to wear for a month or so but no additional pain killers.