Men's Journal

by Dacus Thompson

The toughest stretch of the 4,000-foot descent from Salkantay into Cuzco is this treacherous bend, a spur off the route used by farmers and their donkey carts. “The main thing was avoiding going off the cliff,” says Richie Schley (rear), a freeriding pioneer since the 1990s. “It was a thrilling moment.” The best time to visit is late October, when it’s low season for tourism. But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do. “Each night it was a party with loads of fireworks,” says photographer Paul Morrison. “It wasn’t even a holiday; there were just these huge celebrations.” The two, plus Robbie Bourdon (front), were part of a 10-day tour with outfitter Sacred Rides that descended a dozen mountains.

This article originally appeared in the November 2008 issue of Men’s Journal.

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