Fundraising sisters plan ten day trek
in search of lost city
(Story date: Monday, July 12)

Irene Sinclair (left) and Mabel Dick in training at Yesnaby for their trek along the Inca trail.

Orkney sisters Irene Sinclair and Mabel Dick got a taste for adventure back in 2002, trekking parts of the Great Wall of China for charity.

Now they want more.

Chasing a new challenge, the duo have signed up to explore the Inca Trail in Peru this September.

Their efforts have already gathered a total of £5,400 for Diabetes UK, and they will continue to raise money between now and the end of the challenge.

Irene, 57, from Stromness explained: "I think when you've done one challenge, you really want to do another.

"You are on such a high when you come back. You just want to do more.

"They say that out of every four people who do a challenge, one will go on to do another one."

This expedition is not for the faint hearted. Run by Charity Challenge, the ten-day adventure will be spent exploring the Inca capital of Cusco, the Peruvian Andes and the lost city of Machu Picchu - the highlight, according to Irene.

She said: "The highlight will be on day seven, when we get to see the ancient civilisation. It is a physical and mental challenge - it is not a holiday.

"You have to like trekking, and it is quite hard work training and raising as much money as possible. It is something that anyone could do, but it would certainly be easier if you enjoy it."

Mabel, 58, from Sandwick said: "I'm looking forward to it. I'm a bit apprehensive - we're not as young as we used to be! I'm sure we'll manage it."

The sisters have started training already.

Irene said: "I tend to do my training on Hoy - I like hill trekking. Mabel goes to Yesnaby and normally walks every day. We will have to do a lot of serious training as the time to go away gets nearer.

"We leave London on September 3. Then we've got a day or so, because of the altitude, to acclimatise. We eventually fly back on September 12."

Irene thinks that this challenge will be harder than their 2002 task in China, walking on the unrestored parts of the Great Wall.

They raised £5,300 for the National Deaf Children's Society, as part of a group which raised an impressive £80,000 in total.

She said: "Peru will be harder because of the altitude that you're climbing at. The Great Wall was hard work, but we loved it."

Mabel agreed: "I know it will be tougher than last time. Altitude is a big thing. China was tough, but we are starting to think about it now."

The Inca trail is a truly fantastic challenge, and will take the group of explorers through the sacred valley of the Incas - a valley that provided an agricultural base for the Inca Empire.

They will visit some of the incredible Inca sites, at great heights, and take in the breathtaking scenery surrounding the mountains.

They will follow the Urubamba river, and continue to Ollantaytambo - a living Inca town, surrounded by terracing and home to a ridge-top sun temple.

Then the trekking challenge begins, as the hikers make their way to the entrance of the Machu Picchu sanctuary and the ruins of Q'ente.

Trekking alongside the Cusichaca River, the group will make their way into the mountains finally reaching Llulluchapampa, with Mount Huayanay nearby.

After crossing three, high passes, and completing a flag-stoned trail through grasslands and cloudforest, the group will see the ruins of Runkurukay and Sayacmarca.

Then the party begins the descent, approaching their final destination - Machu Picchu, lost city of the Incas, as discovered by American explorer Hiram Bingham in 1912.

Although, admitting the challenge will be a struggle, Irene and Mabel are confident that they can complete the task.

Irene said: "It can be quite hot during the day, but you have to take proper thermal sleeping bags because it can go to minus four during the night.

"You do have trained doctors with you, and the guides carry oxygen," she added.

"Because you're in a group, everyone is so supportive. It just makes it less stressful because you're all in the same boat.

"I do think you have to enjoy trekking in the first place. It would be very much harder if you didn't enjoy it."

The sisters have already held two big fundraising events, collecting a total of £3,500, plus a further £1,900 through sponsor sheets.

Irene said: "We have sponsor sheets in local shops in Kirkwall, Stromness and Dounby. We've already had two fundraising events in Stromness, in the Stromness Hotel and a race night in Stromness Golf Club.

"We're just aiming to raise as much as we can. We would never have achieved that figure without the amazing support of local businesses, and the generosity of people in general."

Diabetes is a needy charity, and an issue which needs more support, according to Irene.

"I don't think folk realise how common diabetes is," she said. "It's a problem that affects loads of people - everyone knows someone affected by diabetes, and there is a big push for fundraising at the moment."

With less than three months to go before travelling to South America, the couple must now prepare themselves for the tiring journey ahead.

Mabel said: "It's just trying to get enough training for it. It's really now, leading up to the last couple of months, that we'll be putting more hours in."

Irene added: "The last adventure was rated as 'challenging', but this one is rated as 'tough'. We're hoping we'll be able to make it."