"Curtis L. Olson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said:

> In the US, if you stub your toe on a rock, you can sue for a couple
> 100 million $$$.

Well yes, but most comparible locations are owned by state and federal
government.  You can sue.  And even get awarded $100 million.  But except for 
certain situations like accidently dropping a bomb on your house, a special
act of legislature is required to pay the award.

> The lawsuit culture isn't quite the same in Peru so
> you have much more freedom to climb around.  If Machu Picchu was
> located in the US, it would be baracaded by safety fences and glass so
> you *couldn't* hurt yourself.  You'd probably get to walk a little
> trail that runs through the corner of the site.  But here, you can
> scamper all over the place. You can even climb the Mt. in the
> background of the picture you posted.

You can climb this mountain in Maine:
http://www.northernforestalliance.org/explore/wildlands/morePOP/POPbaxter2.htm
You can't tell from this picture, but the knives edge trail (between the
people in the forground and the distant peak) is four feet wide with 2,000 ft
drops on each side (no railing:)).  It is actually not a lot different than
Machu Picchu in some ways (old volcano rim).

Unlike bigger more adventerous places, it tends to attract people who rarely
get off the couch, let alone climb a mountain.  Injuries are a daily (almost
hourly) occurance during the summer.  And occaisionally someone drops off or
gets pushed off.  AFAIK no lawsuits yet.

>  The trail runs up the left
> face.  It's not physically all that difficult, but the whole way up
> and back down my life was flashing before my eyes.  If any one has a
> lingering repressed slight fear of heights, it is likely to manifest
> itself on this trail. :-)

I can relate to this!  The previously mentioned kinves edge is one place like
that for me.

Best,

Jim

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