I had assumed that the offseason for alpinism had begun, but Mother Nature had different plans! A good hiking buddy came over for dinner on Diwali (Indian festival of lights) and suggested the idea of exploring Machu Picchu during the offseason. By the end of the appetizer, we decided, why not use Thanksgiving for the trip? We discussed various trail options, and thankfully, no one was drinking, or the drinks might have inspired impulsive decisions! Our friend was taken aback, wondering if we were serious since we had just bagged the John Muir Trail. We discussed the logistics of the trip well past midnight, and he insisted we should at least sleep on the idea. My spouse and I were excited and agreed to figure out our work schedules and get back to him with confirmation. The next morning, I sent a good morning text, and the three of us confirmed our plans: Machu Picchu, here we come! All within 12 hours!