very very vertigo

i don't usually suffer a fear of heights but i don't mind telling you that when i had had my fill of the views over machu picchu from the top of huayna picchu, which is the little mountain you see in every classic machu picchu shot behind the main city, and turned around to make my descent - i was for a moment absolutely and utterly paralysed with sheer terror at the sight of the return journey, which is featured in this photo. on the climb (in many parts literally climbing) up i didn't take much notice of the lack of safety features - most likely because having trekked over 50km in the prior 3 days up and down mountains, it took every last scrap of energy (more sheer determination!) to make the final 360m vertical ascent up huayna picchu. i didn't have the energy on the way up to notice the lack of rails or ropes or anything resembling an obstacle to a near sheer drop to the mountain valley floor below. however as i went to make my way down, it was ALL i could notice. needless to say i did make a safe return down, but i'll never forget that sickening fear and imaginings of tumbling all the way down should i lose my footing or grip!