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tones and typically walk while allowingthe women to ride a horse.This area also has a large varietyof orchids and rare wildlife speciessuch as the spectacled bear.That night we camped in a smallvillage clinging to the mountainside.With chickens peckingaround our tents, we knew wewere in for an early awakening.After the roosters roused us thefollowing morning we continuedour journey downward from thesehigh jungles to a valley where weneeded to cross a major river at themining town of Oroya. The riverwas swollen and full of whitecapsfrom the summer snowmelt. Therewas no bridge and the current wastoo strong to wade across so wetook the cable system. Crouchingin a small metal basket we clung toour backpacks as we were zippedacross the river by hand, using apulley system. Once across theriver it was that person’s obligationto pull the next traveler over.The trek then leads into AguasCalientes, named so for its naturalthermal baths. There we optedto stay in small hotels. We haddecided ascend to Machu Picchufrom Aguas Calientes using thestone staircase carved by the Inca.The climb put us at the gates justbefore dawn. Be aware that thiscan take a few hours, and is a realworkout. We took on the gruelingclimb only to arrive in the parkinglot just after the first bus load oftourists disembarked and we hadto wait to get in. Still, the sunriseover these ancient stone walls hasno equal. Just don’t be disappointedif the high jungle fog robs you.Old PeakOne day is enough to see the entiremountain top as long as you areprepared to do some serious walking.Remember Machu Picchu wasa city, and it is fairly large. Takeplenty of water, which can be purchasedas you enter. The gate guardiansare very strict about what canenter Machu Picchu. Only “small”backpacks and bags can be takenin, and no food. We saw a Germanman get his bag taken while entering,and although you get your itemsback at the end of the visit, he wasnot happy to see it taken from him.Visitors can either take a guidedtour, or explore the ruins on theirown. We had an excellent guidewho enlightened us on the historyAdventure World Magazine May 2009 26