On Thursday morning, we started our day by hiking up the old Inca trail from Machu Picchu to the Sungate. The Sungate was the first checkpoint for ancient pilgrims traveling on the Inca Trail, before they entered Machu Picchu. For modern trekkers, it is the first place they see Machu Picchu on the Inca Trail. As on the day before, when we started, Machu Picchu was covered with clouds, which began to dissipate when we reached the top. We could also see back to the high mountains from which we had come. There was also a small Inca temple half way up the trail. Coming down the trail, we spotted a wild orchid. We also visited a nearby bridge, built by the Inca into the side of a cliff, as a second access point, which could be blocked by removing logs.