Laura Kulm hiked the Inca trail with her father, mother and older sister in December 2013 as part of a 30th birthday present for her sister Elaine. Laura sits in Machu Picchu, the end of a 4 day hike that covered 24 miles and took the life of her father.
Joseph Kulm, age 63, died on December 20 while hiking the trail. He was about half way through the intense hike, which had been a struggle for him from the start. He had been ill with a mild cold on the first day. A combination of altitude sickness and cardiac arrest was most likely the cause.
The location of his body was in a very remote location. Porters had to carry his body around 12 miles on a stretcher to Aquas Caliente. His remains were not able to be viewed by to the family until they hiked down themselves to the town which took two days after he had passed away.
