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Criminal Defendants Wrongly Convicted by False Evidence—– More wrongdoings by Joyce Gilchrist
The ghost of Joyce Gilchrist remains with us. Gilchrist is the forensic chemist who worked for the Oklahoma City Police Department who fudged, concocted, created and lied about evidence in order to help the prosecution wrongly convict several defendants. One of her better known victims was Jeffrey Todd Pierce. Gilchrist lied about microscopic evidence to get him convicted, and only after he had served 15 years in prison did Gilchrist's wrongdoing come to light. Gilchrist was fired, Pierce was released and received $4 million in damages from the City of Oklahoma City.
As the questions rose over the years about Gilchrist and her work, people continue to wonder: Why did then-District Attorney Bob Macy continue to use Gilchrist as a witness to convict people, even after her fabrication of evidence and unsupported testimony had been called into question? Why did Oklahoma County judges continue to allow Gilchrist to testify, even after Gilchrist's employer, the City of Oklahoma City, was trying to fire her?
Of course Gilchrist has always denied all wrongdoing and claimed the City of Oklahoma City was racially prejudiced against her when the City fired her. That accusation went nowhere in court. Gilchrist has never admitted doing anything wrong despite a tsunami of evidence against her.
The latest case of Gilchrist's malfeasance is the case of David Johns Bryson. After serving 17 years in prison, Bryson has been released. Gilchrist's evidence against Bryson was reviewed by another expert, Brian Wraxall, chief forensic serologist at the Serological Research Institute in California. Last November, he looked over Gilchrist's lab notes from the Bryson trial and found serious flaws. Gilchrist had received some of her training at the institute, and Gilchrist was as student of Wraxall.
Bryson was charged with rape. Key evidence used to convict him were hair, blood and semen samples. There was also other evidence linking Bryson to the crime, including eyewitness testimony and injuries to the attacker's penis. Gilchrist testified the hair, blood and semen were "consistent" with Bryson. Better DNA techniques later developed showed the samples were not a match to Bryson, but other scientists concluded, based on a review of Gilchrist's work done at the time, that Gilchrist should have excluded Bryson even before the 1983 trial if Gilchrist done her science correctly, regardless of DNA testing.
"Ms. Gilchrist failed to run a substrate or background control from the robe as she was taught in my laboratory, "Wraxall reported.
Gilchrist's hair analysis was already discredited. In 2001, the FBI conducted reviews of Gilchrist's work and concluded the hair evidence did not match Bryson. When asked about this finding, Gilchrist, in a deposition, said, "That happens all the time. Hair examination is very subjective and experts may or may not agree on the conclusions that are reached. So if someone else agrees or disagrees with my findings, I don't put much weight in that, "she testified. Do you think Gilchrist admitted at Bryson's jury trial that hair testified was a "subjective" finding about which experts disagree all time? More likely Gilchrist gave the jury the impression her findings carried the force of objective science, inexorable conclusions, undeniable fact. But that was her testimony to get convictions. Her later deposition was to save her own hide.
Whether Gilchrist was even qualified to conduct such tests was an issue in the lawsuit filed by Bryson. Gilchrist's college transcripts show she had some trouble performing academically in some of her courses. She was placed on academic probation plural times and academic suspension. She was questioned at her deposition about her sometimes sub-par performance at the FBI Academy as well. For instance, she misidentified some hair samples on tests. But she graduated from the Academy and from college.
Gilchrist at one point stated she regretted not expounding on her answers more in trials. She did not specifically state she regretted putting so many innocent people in prison with her false testimony.
And, despite the criticism that was becoming more public, then-District Attorney Bob Macy backed her fully and continued to use as his expert witness. She got convictions, so why quit? Even after the Oklahoma City Police Department tried to can her, Mr. Macy wrote on her behalf and wanted to continue to use to get more convictions. When he was asked about the falsification or tampering with evidence, he expressed indignation that anyone would question "law enforcement" or its motives. In other words, just take our word for it and don't ask any questions, exactly what the public did for too long.
It took the heroic act of U.S. District Judge Ralph Thompson to bring Gilchrist down. Only someone so respected as Judge Thompson, when he ruled so unequivocally and extensively about her mistakes, could call attention to her wrongdoing and stop her. No state judges had the courage or the understanding to do it; they simply rubber-stamped the prosecution to assist in sending one after another innocent man to prison.
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Cheating Prosecutors May Face Rare Penalties As Conviction is Reversed and Justice Department to be Investigated
It is not unheard of for the prosecution to cheat, hide evidence, manufacture evidence and generally manipulate the justice system to achieve injustice. But in the case of former United States Senator Ted Stevens Republican-Alaska, not only was the ill-gotten criminal conviction dismissed but the Judge has vowed to investigate the Justice Department. This is rare on both counts, especially for a Judge to pursue sanctions beyond the routine tongue-lashing.
"In nearly 25 years on the bench, I've never seen anything approaching the mishandling and misconduct that I've seen in this case," United States District Judge Emmet Sullivan said, as he spoke for 14 minutes with thinly-veiled anger. The trial of the former Alaska Senator was held in the District of Columbia, where Judge Sullivan sits. Judge Sullivan appointed a special prosecutor to investigate the Justice Department lawyers who prosecuted Senator Stevens. They repeatedly withheld evidence from Senator Stevens' lawyers during the trial. The trial resulted in Stevens' conviction last October for lying on federal disclosure forms about gifts and home renovations he received from wealthy friends. The rules of federal procedure provide for the appointment of a special prosecutor for contempt investigations, but is rarely done.
Judge Sullivan, appointed Henry F. Scheulke III of Washington, D.C., to investigate contempt and obstruction by the Justice Department lawyers. Mr. Scheulke is a former prosecutor and experienced defense attorney who oversaw a Senate Ethics Committee investigation and influence-peddling allegations in 1989 against former New York Senator Alfonse D' Amato. Scheulke will investigate six career lawyers with the Justice Department, including the William Welch, chief, and Brenda Morris, deputy chief of the Public Integrity Section, an elite unit that deals with official corruption. The other lawyers to be investigated for possible criminal charges are Joseph W. Bottini, James A. Goeke, Nicholas A. Marsh and Edward P. Sullivan (no relation to Judge Sullivan or to Brendan Sullivan, attorney for Senator Stevens).
The judge said the matter was too serious to be left to an internal investigation by the Justice Department, which had dragged its feet, he said, before looking into the misconduct. He criticized Attorney General Michael Mukasey for not responding to complaints. The said reaction of the Justice Department was "shocking but not surprising." Of course, this is the usual result of charges of misconduct by the prosecution: File 13. Nothing ever happens, the prosecutors know nothing ever happens, so what disincentive is there not to do again. It is similar to police who manipulate evidence: they only rarely suffer any penalties for their constant corruption of the justice system.
But Judge Sullivan did not let die the wrongdoing of these prosecutors. He called on Attorney General Eric Holder, who dismissed Senator Stevens' conviction on April 1st in recognition of his department's ill deeds, to retrain all prosecutors in the Justice Department.
Some observers have remarked that, notwithstanding the wrongdoing of the Justice lawyers, there was a healthy amount of evidence incriminating Senator Stevens. These observers suggest he has not been convicted, but he really doesn't look innocent of wrongdoing. Senator Stevens was defeated in his Senate reelection campaign days after the guilty jury verdict in this trial.
Regardless of the guilt or innocence of this Senator or a thousand other accused citizens, if the United States Justice Department, and its elite Public Integrity Section no less, cannot carry out its work in an ethical manner, our system of justice is corrupt.
During the five-week trial, the prosecution lawyers were repeatedly forced to admit they had not turned over materials to the defense. Judge Sullivan even said then,"How does anyone have any confidence that the Public Integrity Section has any integrity?" But the judge overruled defense objections, as always happens, and allowed the prosecution's tainted case to go the jury. Not surprisingly, the jury found the Senator guilty. However, the surprise came when Judge Sullivan then threw out the jury verdict. The still-further surprise came when the Judge gave notice that the wrong-doing prosecutors would not just go home to cheat again in their next trial. This time they might have to pay some penalty for wrongdoing—for a change and for the better. It's about time.
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Injustice for sale — Judges jail children for money
Two judges pled guilty in Pennsylvania last week to putting children in jail for money. The Judges accepted more than $2.6 million from a private youth detention center in Pennsylvania in return for giving hundreds of youths and teenagers to unnecessarily long sentences.
Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan, Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, pled guilty in federal court in Scranton, Pennsylvania, pursuant to plea bargains with the United States Attorney's office. They admitted that they had accepted payoffs from PA Childcare and Western PA Childcare between 2003 and 2006. They are each facing up to seven years in prison.
The scam worked like this: The judges sent juveniles to the detention center so the company running the facility received money from the county government to pay costs of the incarceration. Thus, as more children were sentenced to the detention center, PA Childcare and Western PA Childcare received more money from the government.
The judges sentenced the children to more severe sentences that required incarceration in order to generate more money. Teenagers who were sentenced by Judge Ciavarella in juvenile court were sentenced to detention centers for minor offenses that ordinarily would have been classified as misdemeanors, according to the Juvenile Law Center, a Philadelphia nonprofit group. One seventeen-year-old boy was sentenced to three month's detention for being in the company of another minor who was caught shoplifting. Others were given similar sentences for simple assault in which the charges stemmed form a scuffle in the school yard, and these would ordinarily merit only a warning.
Although the juveniles were guaranteed the right to a lawyer in court, many of them appeared before Ciavarella without an attorney because the probation service personnel told them that their charges were so minor that they didn't need an attorney.
The chief counsel of the Juvenile Law Center, Marsha Levick, estimated that of approximately 5,000 juveniles who appeared before Judge Ciavarella from 2003 and 2006, between 1,000 and 2,000 received excessively harsh detention sentences. She said the center intends to sue the judges, PA Childcare and Western PA Childcare to obtain money damages for their juveniles victims.
Prosecutors were quoted as saying "That judges would allow their greed to trump the rights of defendants is just obscene." That is always so, but it is especially so here where the defendants were so young and vulnerable. This is an extremely vicious crime because it strikes at the integrity of the system, but it appears even more vicious when considering how young lives may have been damaged so severely, taken from school and parents, put into a detention center where there are likely young predators waiting for someone to prey on.
The judges tried to hide their ill-gotten income from this scheme by creating false records and rouging payments through intermediaries. "Your statement that I have disgraced my judgship is true," Ciavarella wrote in a letter to the court. "My actions have destroyed everything I worked to accomplish and I have only myself to blame." Conahan had no comment to make.
Ciavarella and Conahan were removed by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court as judges when the charges were filed in federal court, and the Supreme Court appointed a judge to review all the cases involved.
Again, we have an instance where innocent people are falsely persecuted. It certainly indicates the need for a defense lawyer who can be the legal advocate in protecting the rights of the accused, even for something that seems minor, at first blush. It's very possible that many of these children sentenced did not have an attorney because it seemed their situation was such a minor offense but that just made it easier for the judges to get away with this injustice.
Consequently, it's always advisable to seek advice from a competent criminal attorney, when you or your child is charged with any kind of criminal, even petty, act. Get educated on how to choose the best lawyer and discover how to avoid common mistakes by going to my website at http://www.oklahomacriminallawoffice.com
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Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals Judge De-frocked, What Goes Around Comes Around
When a jury trial results in a conviction, or for any reason one of the parties in a criminal case wants to seek reversal of the trial judge's decision on a matter, the issue must be taken to and decided by the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. That is the highest court, the court of last resort, for criminal matters in Oklahoma. Oklahoma is one of only two states in which appellate criminal matters are decided by court dedicated to criminal matters. Texas is the other state. In all other states, all issues of last resort are heard by the same court as the court that decides civil matters, usually called the state supreme court.
The five members of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals are appointed by the governor. Every four years of their term, their names appear on the retention ballot for decision by the voters. The voters of Oklahoma have never failed to retain a judge on the retention ballot.
For all these reasons, Judge Steve Lile had a job that was secure. He was one of the five judges who sat on the Court of Criminal Appeals. He could rule against every defense lawyer who brought a legal issue to the Court of Criminal Appeals for his decision. He could overrule every motion any lawyer urged on his defendant client's behalf. He could rubber stamp practically every conviction brought to his court for review, and find no legal merit in any reason to overturn a conviction. And he did.
But then it was his turn.
Steve Lile traveled to attend project conferences, meetings of the Regimented Inmate Discipline (RID) Program offered by the Department of Corrections. He routinely applied for mileage reimbursement for that travel and was paid. But there were no meetings on those dates. Lile was filing false claims to the state so he could visit his illegitimate son, Loran Michael Wilson, in prison. Lile made almost weekly trips between June and October, 2004.
Lile had gotten caught intervening on behalf of his then-loverr, Dawn Lukasik, to get out of drug charges in Lawton. The Lawton District Attorney there dismissed the drug charges for the flimsiest of reasons, obviously as a favor to Lile, and from that incident, the travel claims came to light. Dawn Lukasik is the mother of Loran Michael Wilson, and Lile is his father, Lile later said. Lile had not known Wilson was his son until recently.
When Lile's behavior came to light a few years ago, Lile resigned rather than fight the efforts of the Attorney General to remove him. Since then, Lile has been a private lawyer, a lawyer representing people accused of crimes, the kind of lawyer for whom Lile had such contempt for so many years.
Now the matter of Lile's license to practice law has been heard by the Oklahoma Supreme Court. It was an ethical violation for Lile to file those false travel claims, even if he has paid back $1523.64 for false travel claims and paid back $1560.40 for false claims Lukasik made for her personal use under the pretense of using the purchases to remodel Lile's state judge's office.
Lile told the Supreme Court that he was regretful and remorseful for his misconduct. He was just not thinking straight, he said. Giving the limpest of possible excuses, Lile urged the Supreme Court to forgive his misconduct, that his conduct merited only a private reprimand.
The Supreme Court found no merit in Lile's excuses, denials, and minimizations. Lile had sought and accepted an office of the highest responsibility from the sovereign state of Oklahoma. He had taken an oath to follow the law. He should have known better. He betrayed all of these. He does not deserve to practice law in Oklahoma. So decided the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court listened to and considered all of Steve Lile's arguments. The Court ruled against him, but he received full consideration of his position by the Court. That is all defense lawyers wanted when they appeared before Lile when he was sitting on the bench.
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Another Corrupt District Attorney Makes Citizens Pay
Harry Connick, then the New Orleans District Attorney, wrongfully convicted a man named John Thompson in 1983. Thompson spent 18 years on death row but eventually was proved to have been wrongfully convicted. Then Thompson sought compensation in federal court for this injustice. The jury awarded Thompson $15 million, but the District Attorney's Office is now making noises about taking bankruptcy because it cannot pay the judgment.
Harry F. Connick , now deceased, was no stranger to controversy. The father of the well known jazz singer, Harry Connick, Jr. Harry F. Connick had been put on trial in 1990 himself. The then-District Attorney since 1974, was tried in federal court for racketeering by aiding an illegal gambling operation. Connick was accused of returning to the big time gambler, Walton Aucoin, gambling records that had been seized in a 1988 raid. The trial was originally prosecuted by the local U.S. Attorney, who had worked for Connick, John Voltz, who then recused after accusations of his personal bias against Connick. Besides Aucoin, six other defendants included gamblers Wilson Abraham, a New Orleans businessman and customer of Aucoin, who lent Connick $15, 000 in a political campaign and actor Paul Burke, Palms Springs, California. Connick was acquitted, although all the other defendants were convicted.
Nor is the New Orleans District Attorney's Office a stranger to controversy. In October, 2007, Eddie Jordan, the then-District Attorney resigned from office, pressed by a $3.7 million dollar race discrimination civil rights verdict against his office that threatened to shut down the office. Jordan had already faced criticism for dismissal of high-profile murder cases, mass resignations in the office, and failure to prosecute crimes n a city with the nation's highest murder rate, especially the chaos following Hurricane Katrina. The race discrimination judgment came from the 2005 federal court case in which the jury found he had, as accused, discriminated against the 43 white employees whom he fired because of their race. Only after Eddie Jordan had resigned from office did state and city officials help pay the $3.7 million judgment. Ultimately, the State of Louisiana agreed to pay $1.6 million, the city of New Orleans agreed to pay $1.1 million, and the District Attorney's Office pay $600,000 to satisfy the judgment.
Now the facts of the latest verdict against the New Orleans District Attorney's Office for the wrongful conviction of John Thompson. Thompson had had his execution postponed half a dozen times until it was discovered he did not commit the armed robbery of which he was convicted. Then it was revealed prosecutors at his trial had hidden blood tests that proved he had not committed the robbery. Put on trial again for the murder of Raymond Liuzza, Jr. Thompson at this latter jury trial used all the evidence the District Attorney had hidden from the jury in the original trial, and the jury acquitted him after only a half-hour deliberation.
Now exonerated from having committed the crime yet imprisoned for 18 years by the wrongful acts of the District Attorney's Office, Thompson filed a civil rights lawsuit in federal court. The jury decided in favor of Thompson and award him $15 million. The present District Attorney, Leon Cannizzaro, defended that lawsuit and now must come up with a way to pay for it. Cannizzaro did not do himself proud when arguing to the appellate federal court that Thompson did not deserve this $15 million in the trial court. Canizzaro argued to the appellate court that death row wasn't really all that bad, that Thompson had been allowed all that gotten to watch TV and play chess and all his medical care was taken care of as he waited for execution date after execution date to be re-set.
The appellate court remarked that the District Attorney presented a "misleading, rosy picture" of life on death row. The court knew that Thompson had spent nearly two decades of his life in the Angola prison in a six-by-nine foot cell without windows or air conditioning for 23 hours a day. The court heard evidence describing the prison with screaming out at all hours of the day and night, and with inmates who hurled human excrement and "the stench that permeated" the joint. Thompson received four visits a year from family members, but was otherwise left to himself to contemplate his impending execution. Experts testified that Thompson suffers from post-traumatic stress. No surprise there. So the District Attorney's Office followed up the railroading of John Thompson with an attempt to cover up the extent of their wrongdoing.
Caught red handed now, with no where else to hid its crimes, the New Orleans District Attorney is now asking the State of Louisiana to grant his office permission to seek Chapter 9 bankruptcy.
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Who's Protecting the Accused from Government Erasing Evidence?
The state and federal governments in their many prosecutions have been caught breaking the rules. One of their favorite rules to break is one that can win them a conviction that should not be. Prosecutors like to hide or destroy evidence that would help acquit the accused. It seems natural that would naturally be the evidence they would want to keep away from the jury, but that is one of the biggest no-nos in the criminal justice system.
The prosecution is not supposed to put innocent people in jail. More strongly, the prosecution is not supposed to knowingly put innocent, or people of questionable guilt, in jail. That is why there are rules against it. Oklahoma City chemist Joyce Gilcrest put more than a dozen innocent men on death row. Isn't that horrifying? Not to prosecutors.
Now the United States Government has done it again. In trying to trap one of the biggest possible fishes, a sitting United States Senator, the Department of Justice has gotten caught erasing evidence. In the trial of Alaska Senator Ted Stevens, the government prosecutors redacted (blacked out) information from FBI notes about an interview of witness Bill Allen. The Senator's immediately demanded dismissal of all charges based on the government's misconduct.
The trial judge, U.S. District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan, declined to dismiss, of course. The government rarely pays for its errors, and that is likely why such dirty tricks continue on both the state and federal level. The judge chastised the government severely, of course, but the government's case stayed alive. The judge also ordered the original versions of all the other witness interviews associated with the case to be sure nothing else has been redacted. The defense will need four days to go through all that material.
The redacted notes are from interviews of Bill Allen, the government's star witness against Senator Stevens. The defense had originally received only the redacted notes, and the defense says the new information, that which was redacted, directly contradicts Allen's testimony earlier, namely that Senator Stevens never paid for any of the renovations to his home.
The newly revealed notes show Bill Allen told the FBI he did not send a bill to Stevens for the improvements to Stevens' home, despite Stevens' requests for an invoice, because Allen thought Stevens would pay the bill if sent one. Allen did not want Stevens to pay. This is the heart of the government's case.
The trial judge was particularly troubled because someone for the government deliberately covered up this evidence. Referring to the section of the FBI that has investigated and brought the case to trial, Judge Sullivan asked, "How does anyone have any confidence that the Public Integrity Section has any integrity? I don't have that confidence."
Senator Stevens is accused of accepting gifts totaling $250,000, including the free improvements to his home, and failing to disclosed them on the Senator's annual Senate financial disclosure form.
"The trial is broken," Robert Cary, one of Stevens' attorneys said in asking the judge to declare a mistrial. However, in overruling the motion, the judge noted that much of the trial, including the cross examination of Bill Allen, had not yet taken place, so the defense could still use this ammunition in the trial. The defense countered that this new information changed their whole theory of the case, all the presentation of the case from the start, including opening statements.
Prosecutors are charged with the ethical duty, not only of prosecuting the guilty, but of seeking justice. This includes not prosecuting people they know or strongly suspect are innocent. The best known court decision on this point is Brady vs.Maryland , a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 1963. Most prosecutors keep that in mind and stay above board, even if it means they will lose a case. That is the professional way. But it still happens too often that prosecutors do get caught hiding or destroying evidence. It continues to happen partly because of the competitive nature of prosecution, but also because the penalties are so light when they do get caught. If the penalties were truly heavy for such conduct, if the judges really had the courage to punish such behavior, prosecutors would be less willing to cheat.
Unfortunately, this leaves the accused in the position of fighting against unfair odds, and the need for an experienced, talented lawyer is absolutely essential. For someone facing a criminal charge I've provided educational information on my site at http://www.oklahomacriminallawoffice.com to help you make critical decisions and I invite you to educate yourself to protect your rights.
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New Ethics Law Passed to Prevent Hidden Gifts to Lawmakers
Oklahoma becomes the first state to prohibit political action committees from giving money to other political action committees. This is one of the new rules enacted by the state Ethics Commission which took effect July 1st. Another new rule permits gifts to legislators and state elected officials only up to $100.
The new rules take effect because the legislature offered no objection this past legislative session to the new rules proposed by the Ethics Commission.
Under the old rules which allowed political action committees to give money to one another, the original contributor of money could become hidden as there was no end in one committee giving money to others and back again.
The rules on gifts to law makers and state elected officials had permitted gifts up to $300.00 per calendar year. That figure has been changed to $100.00. Also, law makers and state elected officials had been required to report gifts only in the value of $50 or more. One of the new rules taking effect with the other rules requires lobbyists to report spending more than $10 on a state official or aide during each six-month period.
Of the $207,764 spent last year on legislators by lobbyists, records show that 24% of that went to season tickets to Oklahoma University and Oklahoma State University football games. More than 90 legislators received O.U. season football tickets. The season ticket costs $379, with the University paying $300 last year and the legislator paying the balance of $79.00. Now, O.U. will be allowed to pay only $100 of the cost of each ticket, and the legislator or elected state official will have to pay the $279 balance.
As citizens in Oklahoma, we want our elected officials to be impartial in their decisions and not influenced by hidden gifts. So this is good for our state and for all those who are affected the elected officials decisions.
Lobbyists spent more than $200,000 for legislators in the year 2007, mostly on meals, gifts and tickets. This was a 20% increase over the previous year, according to Ethics Commission records.
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Page 428: Under New Management
Under New Management
Summary: The youngest Nayland brother gets his chance — his family and Karel join in.
Related Logs: None directly.
Tower Hall, Tordane Tower
The entrance to the tower opens into a larger common room for receiving guests. Effort has been made to bring warmth and light to the interior, as well. Rugs have been hung from the stone walls as well as placed on the floor to bring at a welcoming ambiance. There is a large table with several chairs off to the left of the door, a cooking hearth against the back wall, and a wooden staircase that leads up. An antechamber behind the stairs is where the servants live and bed down.
22 Sep 289 AL
(The following letter is sent via a courier bearing the unmistakeable colors of House Frey. A waxen seal is affixed to the edge bearing the seal of Walder Frey.)
Lord Nayland and Lord Charlton —
Effective immediately you will both cease and desist any further engagement regarding the holding of Stonebridge. The Lady Isolde and her mother, Lady Valda, will be hereby summoned to the Twins where they will remain until such time as the Lady Tordane gives birth. In their absence, Lord Tyroan Nayland will be seated as acting Steward over all of Stonebridge until such time as the situation may be re-evaluated. In return, House Charlton will withdraw their armies and relinquish their hold upon the roads to allow for passage to all.
I entrust you both to see to it the message is conveyed to your men with due haste.
By my hand, it is written, let it be done -
Lord Walder Frey
Anathema Nayland has only just arrived. She came with a small retinue of maidgirls and guards, including her youngest daughter and son. Her coal-colored gelding was taken off her hands nearly the moment she dismounted it, proving that the house retainers are still quite on-the-ball, as it were. Though this woman's blood runs nearly pure with the Flint's of the Mountains, she knows how to command a household, and does so with poise. Even as she is walking into the main hall, she is asking a household retainer to see to their things, and air the guest rooms for her children. She announces firmly she will be staying in her husband's room. Now she glances over toward Aeron, offering her youngest son a gentle smile. "Once again, our home moves."
Like hell Aeron was going to let Anathema out of his sight if she was that damned and determined to go to Stonebridge. The Northern-bred ranger is just a few steps behind his mother, kitted out in the way way he knows how to be when walking through a possible situation that'll require him to him possibly get dirty. Which is a thick hunting bow slung across his back and a pair of dueling swords affixed to each hip, the right blade just a bit shorter than the other. Even with the retiune, the younger of the sons doesn't take chances with much. In his previous years of life, not being cautious tends to get you dead. Eyes slide over to Anathema. "As if this is something any of us aren't already used to, mother."
At some point, word reached Renholdt that his family would be arriving soon - much to his mixed pleasure and chagrin. He waits in the hall dressed plainly and with his hands clasped behind his back in an easygoing posture. Anathema's oldest son does not yet move to greet her, but instead watches the intricate ballet of servants and guards maneuvering to do their duties. His gaze searches for a certain face, stopping for a moment on his younger brother. Great. With a heavy sigh, the man shoulders his way past a gaggle of maids to approach Anathema. "Mother," he greets with as much warmth as he can conjure, "I am glad you have made it here safely."
Stepping in from the outside, Ser Karel Stenhammar looks around the hall a bit quietly. Pausing as he sees all the people present, he offers them all a nod, but stays at the back for a few moments now. "Glad to see some life come back to the place here…" he remarks to nobody in particular now.
Tyroan comes down the stairs, speaking to one of the levy serjants, "…and tomorrow, I want your men clearing away the burned buildings starting tomorrow." There's a pause, and the worn knight relents, "Tomorrow afternoon. Let them get some sleep tonight." He claps the man's shoulder, sending him off, then looks down through the entry. He inclines his head to his wife there, then finishes descending the stairs, "You made good time, Ana." There's a bit of wry amusement to his words, and a little smirk on his lips, perhaps suggesting that he thinks she came a little early, but he doesn't speak that outright. He nods as well to his sons.
"We will bring life back into these halls," she reassures her son. "I will want us to see to the gardens soon." Though Anathema certainly favors one son over the other, she still loves her children all the same. As Renholdt makes himself know, the woods-witch smiles with a kind of familiar warmth. "Ren," she says softly as she sweeps toward him, arms extended to envelop her son in an embrace that is bound to make most grown men embarrassed. Her fingertips affectionately brush through her son's dark hair, though it is not quite the wild mane of her younger son. At least he has not started to bald like his father. "The Gods watched over our horses and wagons both." At her husband's words, she steps away from her older son to greet her husband with a press of her cheek to his. "Husband," she murmurs. Then out of the corner of her eye she spies the household knight, and Karel is given a nod of her head.
Speaking of the younger son, Aeron is content to stand back a bit to give Ana space with Ren, idly looking about the hall. He's back to dressing in his hunting leathers, still dyed in mourning colors. At most, he does incline his head to Ren. "Brother." he offers before his attention is then turned by the voice of Ty's enterance to the tower, another nod in greeting. Aeron was always the quiet one, that much hasn't changed.
Renholdt is only mildly discomfited by the show of affection, but he offers a pat on Anathema's back gingerly in return. Raising an eyebrow, his lips quirk upward in an awkward half-smile as she touches his hair, but before he can be put out any further by the public display, his mother has moved on to greet her husband. The knight relaxes visibly, and he offers Aeron a nod in return while tugging on his vest to ensure it is straight. "And Lady Lyna? Did she travel with you, mother?"
Karel offers a polite nod in return to the nod from the Lady, staying back for now so he won't interrupt any of the family reunion things. So at the moment, he just remains where he is, watching the proceedings with a bit of a smile.
Tyroan shakes his head at Renholdt, "You won't break your mother." He touches cheeks with that worthy, then straightens up, looking over to Karel, "You have something for me," he looks the man over, then settles on, "Ser?" Looking back to his family, he inquires of Aeron, "You didn't have any trouble on the roads? I'm sure your Mother started preparing everyone to return to Stonebridge already."
Ana turns those dark, earth-colored eyes to Renholdt, and she offers him a slightly offhanded smile. "She will be arriving with the rest of our wagons," the woods-witch offers, though there is a faint flatness to those words. She has never particularly liked her son's choice in brides, perhaps hoping he would have found a good Northern girl to bring south, not a weak-chinned Frey. She regards the household knight once more, bowing her head gently to him as her husband engages with him. She casts a glance toward Aeron, offering him one of her private smiles.
"I always expect trouble, father." Aeron replies. Then a headshake. "But no, nothing. Rather quiet on the way. I was expecting to see some of the Charlton forces making their way out but the roads were clear. As far as I could discern. Mother," he says, letting a small smirk tug at his mouth, "found the ride couldn't take long enough. She was practially, heh, giddy with the idea of getting here." There's no comment the ranger feels like making in terms of wives, so he just returns the smile to Anathema. Then back to Ty. "How did things fare here?"
To his credit, Renholdt refrains from rolling his eyes at the perceived slight in his mother's tone and dismissal of his wife. Instead, he offers her a nod of understanding and turns toward Tyroan and Karel. The latter he regards with interest, raising his eyebrows as he looks the man over briefly. "I will let father share the news with you, Aeron," he replies, turning his attention to his brother. "It is good to see you again. Thank you for escorting our mother and my family."
"Ser Karel Stenhammar, m'lord," Karel replies, bowing his head a little more now. "And there's not much to report at the moment. Things seem rather quiet for now, so I was about to get myself something to eat."
Tyroan shakes his head at Aeron's words, "The Charltons will be going back north. Ser Bruce, the Master at — " he pauses, and that thin smirk returns, "my Master at Arms, for the time being." He gestures to Karel and Renholdt briefly, "Everyone here's already heard. Lord Frey says I'm the new Steward of Stonebridge. And the Charltons are headed the fuck home." There's a pause, and the shaven-headed man smirks harder, "I bet Rickart's still getting his underthings out of a bunch." Karel's words draw a sharp nod, "Good, Ser Karel, hot food'll be key for the levies, starting tomorrow. They kicked some fucking ass here."
"Needn't worry, Renholdt, your wife will be along shortly," she says, her contralto hiding much of her disdain. At least she dotes on her grandchildren no matter how she feels about her gooddaughters. She smiles toward Karel, bowing her head softly. "Please, Ser… do not let us stop you from your meal, but you are also welcome to stay as we converse. As a man of Stonebridge, I would love to hear you word on these things." Then the woman regards her husband, fingers twining together before her pelvis. "It was only through Lord Rickart's rage that I was informed of such, Husband," Anathema says. "He broke my favorite vase."
Even as the Naylands and Stenhammar speak, the retainers brought from the Mire begin to file in, each carrying one or two cages or crates of animals. The front man carries a lone raven, one wing held against it's side awkwardly enough to exhibit it's crippled state. At the sight of Ana, the raven starts to caw softly, shuffling a bit on the perch the man carries.
"That's…" Aeron starts, before frowning. "..an interesting turn of events." he finishes. "I suppose that Lord Frey has had enough of the previous rulers of the tower, then. Was it also by his hand that stopped hostilities or were the Charltons smart enough to stop beating their heads against the wall? I suppose congratulations are in order for you, as Steward." Pausing, he takes note of the animals being brought in. "What happens now? Besides recovering our losses?"
"Never worried, my lady," Renholdt replies to Anathema, dipping a bow to the woman with a ridiculous flourish. His jocularity is shortlived, however, as the reminder of his mother's oddness is forced into the hall in the form of a menagerie. His faced becomes pinched as he fights to keep obvious distaste out of his expression. Turning, he reaches up to rub his forehead before squinting at Aeron. "Rebuilding, of course, and putting Stonebridge back in its glory."
Karel nods a little bit as he hears Tyroan's words about the levies. "Yes, m'lord. That they did. I'm sure Ser Bruce is proud of how well they handled themselves." A brief pause, and a smile, before he adds, "As am I." Nodding a little at Anathema's words as well, he offers her a polite nod and a bit of a smile, remaining where he is for now. Pausing for a few moments as the animals are brought in, looking a bit unsure about how to react to that.
"I'll take it out of him in tariffs." Tyroan responds to his wife with almost a solid deadpan, just a hint of sarcastic lilt to his words. He eyes the crates, but just shakes his head slightly before he looks back to his family and the household knight, "We proved to Lord Frey that House Nayland could fuck up anyone who wanted to take Stonebridge, but Rickart's boys show'd they couldn't hold it in peacetime." He nods sharply at Renholdt's words, "Just that, Ren. And making ties with the other houses. All those ties that got fucked up before." The old man nods sharply at Karel's words, "Best I've seen outside the Mire. And that's saying something."
Anathema tilts her ear to her right, as if listening to a ghost whisper in her ear. Her gaze flickers toward Renholdt soon after, and she offers her son a small frown. "Never fear, Ren darling, a room will be prepared for them." Just as a room in the Mire was — a room just for the Naylands to hide away Tyroan's wife's strangeness. The one back at the Mire was like stepping into another world — caged creatures, a long wooden table for her haruspicy, and other such odd things that gasp of heresy. "Master Ryce, once you have seen to Balerion, please inform the Maester I wish to speak with him promptly." She does step forward to brush her fingertips across the crippled raven's chest, feeling the softest of his feathers before she allows the man to carry off her raven and the rest of her menagrie up the stairs.
Aeron is used to his mother's strangeness and the tables and literal zoo doesn't seem to really phase him. Nodding at the explanation, more accepting of those who's judgement know more about how to rebuild a city and take care more than he does. "Good." he finally says after a moment of silence of letting all that noise and movement pass by. "I'll be looking for something to do." Not the kind ot sit around, he sure isn't.
A million responses flash through Renholdt's head, but all he offers his brother is a firm nod in understanding; perhaps now is not the time to be an asshole. Instead, he turns to Tyroan expectantly, crossing his arms over his chest. "All the ties, Father? That will take some finessing, to say the least. And the scouts are sure the Charltons have completely withdrawn from Stonebridge land?" The last question is accompanied by a curious glance toward Karel.
Karel keeps quiet for the moment, listening to what's being said for the moment. And finally managing to get hold of that meal, it would seem.
Tyroan gestures idly at Aeron, "I'm sure we can find something for you to hunt." There's a pause, and then he grunts, "Take some Terricks or Groves hunting. Charm them, that sort of thing. We'll deal with the Erenfords and Charltons ways that don't involve bows, spears, and dark areas of the woods." And then his smile goes wintry indeed, "For now." Renholdt's first question to him draws a snort of amusement, "We'll start easy. Storks and Eagles and Trees."
Anathema sighs. "I suppose that I will not get much time to relax before I am forced to travel once more." She casts a glance toward her favored son, and she offers him a smile. "Perhaps we will first pay a visit to the Terricks. They will be the hardest to make amends with," she says grimly. "If only Roslyn had married that Terrick boy instead of swooning after some Groves." There is a touch of disdain in those contralto tones. She glances toward Aeron and Ser Karel. "Once we are settled, I would like to make arrangements to head for the Roost." She looks toward her husband. "Do we still have that Groves grain threatening to rot?"
"Make nice with the neighbors." Aeron utters, nodding. "I'm sure that can be handled." An inclination of the head is registered for Anathema. "A crash course in all the miscues are relatives have made that we have to clean up. If what I've heard is any indication, that's a slightly long list."
"Trees," Renholdt echoes with obvious disgust lacing the single word. He rolls his shoulders as if shrugging away a bad thought before looking to Aeron. "'Miscues' is putting it lightly. I do not envy you that job in the least, all that travel. Speaking of which, I would like to go check on Lady Lyna. Unless you have more to discuss, father."
"There might be some work in putting some of those relations right, that's true," comes the quiet observation from Karel now, as he's found himself a seat where he can work on eating that meal of his. He goes silent again after a few moments, looking between the Naylands for now.
Tyroan waves away Anathema's concern about making nice with the Terricks, "Fuck 'em if they don't want to make nice with us." He presses his right fist against the palm of his left hand, cracking his knuckles with a loud, flat series of pops, "We've still got a lot of the grain, but not all of it." Looking over to Renholdt, he laughs, a short, sharp burst of sound, "Don't get too comfy, Ren. You're going too. All of us'll be busting our asses making people think we're the nicest fuckers around." Still, he waves his eldest son off, "Go see to your wife. Give her my best too." Anathema may not like the newest Lady Nayland, but Tyroan doesn't have too many problems with her. He nod to karel, "Your advice on where else Rickart's boys have fucked up would be welcome, Ser Karel. Later. I'll get my family settled first. Then I've some godsdamned books to look at."
"There was once two family of foxes just outside my mother's village. They feuded every Winter over the mice and scraps from the clansmen's kills. Eventually, it became so natural for the families to feud that even when one ate the rotten meats, the other had to as well," Anathema explains in her wildling way, "I will see this feud with the Terricks and Naylands done, or we will both end up eating poisoned meats." She casts a glance toward her husband. "It is Lord Rickart who despises Lord Jerold and his brood — we are attempting to prove we are not all as stubborn and thick as your brother and his issues, are we not?" She then shakes her head. Then she smiles toward Ren in a fond, motherly way. "It is good to see you, darling," she bids her eldest son farewell to see to his wife, only once he steps away does she return her gaze to Tyroan and Aeron.
Aeron lifts a shoulder at Ren idly. "I've been traveling for over a month just to get here. Used to it by this point. Don't relish the idea of sitting around doing nothing, at any rate. Speaking of which," he states, taking note of the little family meeting beginning to break up. "I'll can look after your furry friends, mother, while you settle in. I think I remember how you like things arranged when it came to that."
"Warrior grant me strength," Renholdt mutters beneath his breath after being delivered the untimely news of his own temporary stay. Still, he half-bows to Tyroan again as he departs, but he stops long enough to take up his mother's hand and kiss it gallantly. "Stonebridge will benefit from your wisdom, mother. And thank you. Lyna will be delighted to receive your best. Aeron." He nods firmly before taking his leave, striding purposefully from the hall in search of his wifeand child.
Tyroan smirks at his wife's words, "I'm no fox, and Jerold's a self-righteous prick, Ana. But I'll deal with whoever the fuck I need to though." He reaches out to clasp Renholdt's shoulder tightly for a moment, then looks to the whole group again, "This is our chance. I'm not letting it slip away." Releasing the eldest's shoulder, he claps his hands together, that tight grin spreading across his lips, "I'd rather the Crone give us all wisdom. And I don't mean your mother."
Anathema glows at the kiss to her hand from her son. "We will see, Ren, we will see." She smiles after her son, as if content for that shy moment. Then she turns her gaze toward Aeron, and she bows her raven-haired head to him. "One of the rooms in the chamber corridor has been set aside for such a purpose, I trust you will see to their comfort. It is too high for my liking, but the dungeons reek of cliche." She casts a glance toward her husband. "I will call upon the Maester soon to see that my stores are restocked." She does snort delicately at Tyroan's comment. "Have your Crone, but remember it is this Crone that keeps your bed warm," she retorts.
"Ren." Aeron says, eyes following his older brother's exit before the growing tension in his body leaves him in a exhale of air. "Well. He's in a fabulous mood." he comments dryly. A hand idly toys at the small phial of red liquid around his neck, usually a sign that he's thinking about something. Coming out of that laspe, he nods at Ana. "I'll make sure it's up to snuff for you, mother." He bows to the both of them. "Mother. Father. Enjoy your night." then he too steps away. Odd how his feet doesn't seem to make any sound on the stone floor.
Tyroan snorts a lot less delicately than his wife, nodding to Aeron and letting his younger son depart before he responds, "If I've gotta sleep with a crone, I'll sleep with 'em both." Running his hand slowly over his bald scalp, he adds, "There's too damn much to do, Ana. Life's gonna be a bit of a pain in the ass for a while. But this is our chance. Not House Nayland's. Ours."
Anathema smiles to her son. "And please, pick yourself a room and have the maidservants air it for you. We will need to be settled soon… as if we have always been here." She bows her head gently before she turns her gaze back toward her husband. She steps up toward him, gracefully sliding her arm with his. She presses her hand to his upper arm gently, and for a moment there is a soft hint of affection between the older pair. "Then we shall do wisely not to fail, Tyroan," she offers to him softly. "Will you walk with me, Husband? I would like to see our new home."
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The Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA), as amended, provides the Attorney General the authority to exempt projectiles from the restrictions applicable to "armor piercing" ammunition if he determines the projectile is "primarily intended to be used for sporting purposes." Between 1986 and 2011 the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) received few requests for such exemptions. Since 2011 ATF has received approximately 30 such exemption requests.
ATF released for public comment a framework, including legal and technical analysis, to guide its determinations on what ammunition is "primarily intended for sporting purposes." The framework is intended to uphold the requirements of the statute and its goal of law enforcement protection while respecting the interests of sportsmen and the industry. The framework is not a final determination; ATF will accept comments for 30 days, and will finalize the framework after considering those comments and making any appropriate adjustments.
It is important to note that the limitation on "armor piercing ammunition" in the GCA does not apply to projectiles manufactured exclusively from non-restricted materials such as copper and lead; it only applies to projectiles that include the specifically restricted materials, and can be used in a handgun. The framework will not apply to projectiles manufactured exclusively from non-restricted materials; licensed manufacturers will continue to be free to manufacture such projectiles without seeking an exemption.


Opel invested in growth and found itself in the largest product offensive in the history of the company: From 2016 to 2020, the brand has brought 29 new models on the market. In 2015, Opel presented a milestone of its offensive – the new Astra: it is a quantum leap in terms of efficiency, networking and innovative equipping. Furthermore, the brand has successfully filled new segments with vehicles such as the compact SUV Mokka, the lifestyle small car ADAM and the convertible Cascada.
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The brand sees itself as a pioneer in the field of digital networking, between human and car, setting standards with the personalized online and service assistants Opel OnStar with 4G/LTE WLAN-Hotspot standards in the volume segment. On the way to becoming a comprehensive mobility service provider, innovative concepts, such as the car sharing app CarUnity were brought on the market.
Opel has been involved in the research of automated and networked driving for a long period of time, starting with the European research project PROMETHEUS and continuing with various German and European research projects, such as MOTIV, INVENT, AKTIV, simTD, AI-DE, PRE-DRIVE C2X, DRIVE C2X, UR:BAN, Converge and AdaptlVe. Opel is also a partner of the Ko-HAF Project, in the field of joint highly-automated driving.
Within PEGASUS, Opel is in charge of the 2nd subproject "Implementation processes". In addition to the professional as well as organizational management, Opel provides the interfaces for the other subprojects : existing development processes will be assessed in the 2nd subproject and, depending on their modification needs with regard to the development of automated driving functions, they will be assessed, with potential modifications being elaborated.


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Machu Picchu treks & tours
$1 Deposit on now. Book for only $1 and pay the rest later. But hurry, this offer ends January 30. Book now
As the mist lifts off the mountains and over the Inca ruins, Machu Picchu evokes an otherworldly feeling.
It's one of the world's most incredible archaeological sites, with a breathtaking location to match. With all that Machu Picchu has to offer, it's easy to understand why so many are drawn to the visitor heartland of Peru. The ultimate decision is how to get there. Choose a trek or take the train? You could hike through cloud forests along the classic Inca Trail, fulfil your Andes experience on the Quarry Trail or challenge yourself on the Choquequirao trek – it's up to you. We don't need to tell you why the adventure is worth your while. Our local leaders will keep you safe, informed and inspired at every step of the way.
**Inca Trail permits for the 2020 trekking season are on sale now! Only 500 people can hike the trail per day (200 travellers, and 300 porters and guides), book now or contact our sales team to avoid disappointment.
Our Machu Picchu tours
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Focus on two of South America's heaviest hitters on this 17-day tour through both the...
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Explore Peru and Bolivia on this 25-day tour. Travel from Lima to La Paz, tackle the...
Inca Encounter
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Choquequirao Trek to Machu Picchu
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Lima to Cusco
Lima to Lima
Cusco to Cusco
Which route is right for you?
With its spectacular natural scenery and profound cultural encounters, the Inca Trail is an international beacon for trekking. Attracting thousands of hikers each year, it's a challenging yet rewarding hike that stays with you for a lifetime. Although rated moderate, the relentless uphill (and downhill) hiking is tough. Rule of thumb: the fitter you are, the more you'll enjoy it.
Inca Quarry Trail
For an impressive hike off the beaten path, consider the Inca Quarry Trail. This lesser known trek offers the same magical scenery of the Andes mountains, passing through local villages and visiting three smaller archaeological sites the other trails don't. Another bonus is that the hike doesn't require a permit – so once you book, you're set.
Choquequirao Trail
Take your boots further with a challenging eight-day hike moving through high-altitude cloud forest, over mega mountain passes and along an ancient trail leading to the well-preserved Inca city ruins of Choquequirao. Think secluded and not for the faint hearted.
Only got one day to spare?
The One Day Inca Trail is a great four-hour trekking option for those wanting to set their sights on Machu Picchu and experience a taste of trekking in Peru, without doing one of the multi-day Classic Inca, Quarry or Choquequirao trails.
Learn more about the One Day Inca Trail
Not the hiking type?
On every Intrepid trip that visits Machu Picchu, you can choose the rail journey instead of the hike – simply specify while booking that you'd prefer the train option. There is no extra cost for this, though please note fees may apply if you decide to change to the train option after your Inca Trail permit has already been purchased.
Learn more about the train to Machu Picchu
Why choose Intrepid
Trek experts
All our guides are certified local tour guides and trained in-house on Intrepid Safety Policies. Each trekking guide also receives exclusive Intrepid training, provided by mountain rescue experts in the field.
All our guides and trek leaders have been trained by medical specialists in handling altitude illness and are proficient in first aid. Our team carries oxygen cylinders on all treks for emergency use.
Our team members live and work in the Andean region, which means revenue from all our treks benefit the local economy.
Full inclusions
We take care of the details, so you can focus more on enjoying the journey. Our tours include all meals, with essential camping equipment and the option to hire additional hiking equipment if needed.
Rainforest Alliance tick of approval
We are proud to have the tick of approval from the Rainforest Alliance indicating that we meet and operate at the highest standards in environmental, social and economic sustainability
We strive to use travel as a force for good. That's why we choose to give back to the communities we visit, carbon offset all our trips and take our social and environmental responsibilities seriously. We've been officially certified as the world's largest travel B Corp, which means when you choose Intrepid Travel, you can rest assured you're travelling to improve the planet.
"The best part of my job is seeing the emotions of surprise and admiration reflected in the face of travellers when they discover my country. I love Peru for its geography, history and culture, but especially its people."
"My favorite thing about being a leader is that I can show and share my passion for Peru with travellers. The fact that we have so many things to see, try and enjoy makes me feel incredible!"
"I like working for Intrepid because their social and environmental philosophy isn't just a slogan to sell more trips, they really do care about it. I have changed my life in so many aspects due to all the learning coming from Intrepid, from recycling to accepting myself, and being proud for who I am."
What is Machu Picchu?
Machu Picchu is a magnificent reminder of the power and ingenuity of the Inca civilisation. Built in the 15th century, the ancient citadel was abandoned only 100 years later and many mysteries remain. Listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site in 1983 and announced as one of the Seven Wonders of the World in 2007, Machu Picchu makes a lasting impression.
Where is Machu Picchu?
Overlooking the Urubamba River, the site of Machu Picchu sits above the Sacred Valley – located in the Cusco region of Peru.
How can I get to Machu Picchu?
Many travellers fly into the capital of Cusco, before taking the train or choosing a hiking tour. The stepping stone to Machu Picchu is Ollantaytambo, which is about 1.5 hours away from Cusco by bus.
From Ollantaytambo the most common ways to get to Machu Picchu are:
· By train
· Hiking the Inca Trail (one way to Machu Picchu)
· Taking the equally scenic and rewarding Quarry Trail
· Trekking the challenging 8-day Choquequirao Trail
Can I still hike if I take the train?
So, you want to experience the Inca Trail but aren't quite up for the entire hike? The one-day option takes you by train part of the way where you hop off and trek the trade highway of the ancient Inca empire. You'll arrive at the Sun Gate in the afternoon to take in the views of Machu Picchu.
When is the best time to visit Machu Picchu?
The good news is Machu Picchu can be visited year-round. The most popular time, and therefore the most crowded, is in June and July. Low cloud cover during the dry season from April to October also means cold nights on hiking trails – so make sure to bring some thermals for a good night's sleep. The wet season takes place from November to March. This is when the temperature rises and the region receives heavy rainfall. The Inca Trail closes every year in February for trail maintenance.
Can you get to Machu Picchu in a day?
Technically, yes you can. Starting with an early rise in the morning, take a 1.5 hour bus ride to Ollantaytambo, then a 2.5 hour train to Aguas Calientes, followed by a 30 minute bus to Machu Picchu. You will have a couple of hours to visit Machu Picchu then return to Cusco the same way.
None of our trips visit Machu Picchu this way, as we believe it doesn't allow enough time to explore (and really enjoy) the site and the Sacred Valley area.
How high is Machu Picchu?
Machu Picchu is found deep in the cloud forest at 2440 m (7972 ft) above sea level, sitting at 1000 m (3280 ft) lower than Cusco. What does this mean for you? In terms of altitude, it means that you are unlikely to experience any altitude issues at Machu Picchu itself. But be aware, trekking to Machu Picchu involves walking up and down a number of steep stairs, ramps and terraces at various altitudes, which can be strenuous.
Will the altitude affect me?
Most people can start to feel the effects of altitude at over 2000 m (6561 ft) regardless of age, gender or fitness level. While our leaders have basic first aid training and are aware of the closest medical facilities, it is very important that you make yourself aware of the cause and effects of travelling at altitude, monitor your health and seek assistance accordingly.
It's important to take it easy, drink plenty of water and speak to your group leader at once if you feel unwell.
We recommend seeing your doctor if you have any health concerns before undertaking the trip. Particularly if you have a pre-existing medical condition or are take any medication.
What should I pack for Machu Picchu?
For a day trip exploring Machu Picchu, it is recommended to take a small backpack with the essentials: sunscreen, hat, water bottle (filled before departing for the day), a few snacks and mosquito repellent. It helps to wear breathable pants, a long shirt and to bring a waterproof jacket – since the UV index is higher in the Andes and the site is prone to receiving rainfall.
If you plan to trek before visiting Machu Picchu, be sure to read our detailed packing instructions in your Essential Trip Information.
What is Wayna Picchu?
Wayna Picchu (also known also as Huayna Pichu or Wayna Pikchu) means 'young peak' in Quechua – although the mountain appears anything but young towering behind Machu Picchu. Known as the 'stairs of death', the hair-raising climb takes about three hours return. More recently, a cap of 400 people a day has been introduced on the number of visitors allowed to climb.
Can I climb Wayna Picchu with Intrepid Travel?
We've performed risk assessments on all our optional activities and unfortunately, at this stage, we don't consider climbing Wayna Picchu a safe activity for our travellers. Reaching Wayna Picchu involves climbing steep, narrow and exposed sets of stairs and we just can't guarantee the safety of our travellers. Our leaders are specifically prohibited from assisting travellers to visit Wayna Picchu.
What are the toilet facilities like at Machu Picchu?
There are public toilets located at the main entrance of Machu Picchu and none after entering the site – so make sure you time your stop before heading off to explore. Take some coins with you as there is a small fee to use the toilet facilities.
What does the Rainforest Alliance tick of approval mean?
The Rainforest Alliance is a non-profit organisation working to build strong forests, healthy agricultural landscapes and thriving communities. The green frog seal indicates that an enterprise has been audited to meet standards that require environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Intrepid is recognised by the Rainforest Alliance as one of the top certified tourism business in Peru.
Can I visit Machu Picchu if I have a disability?
Yes, but of course it will depend on your level of disability, fitness and what support will be available to you. Travellers who are visually impaired have even completed the Inca Trail (with the right support crew of course). Contact us to discuss your particular circumstances and we can assess it from there.
Dan Berlin's Inca Trail journey
When blind athlete Dan Berlin and his three guides decided to run the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in a single day, many people told them it would be impossible. But with the assistance of Intrepid Travel, Dan Berlin made it to the Sun Gate just before the cut-off time to carry on to Machu Picchu, and finished their astonishing achievement in 13 hours. Dan Berlin became the first ever blind athlete to complete the entire 26 miles of the Inca Trail in a single day.
Find out more about Dan's journey
In Machu Picchu, we stay in locally run accommodation including guesthouses, smaller-scale hotels and homestays in an effort to support the local economies. We also visit locally-run restaurants and markets where travellers will have opportunities to support local businesses and purchase handicrafts created by local artisans.
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International Ice Hockey Federation
Frontpage, 2014 WM, Belarus Minsk
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Storylines of the women's ice hockey tournament
Published 08.02.2014 11:09 GMT+4 | Author Lucas Aykroyd
From left: Veteran Olympians Pernilla Winberg, Hayley Wickenheiser, Florence Schelling, and Hilary Knight are back in the medal hunt in Sochi. Photos: HHOF-IIHF Images
The torch has been lit and it is finally time for some Olympic hockey. Let's take a look at some of the top storylines going into the women's hockey tournament.
1) Will Canada's reign continue?
Never mind that the United States defeated Canada in four out of their six pre-Olympic exhibition games between 12 October and 30 December. Historically, Canada still holds a big edge where it counts most: at the Winter Games.
Dating back to 11 February, 2002, the Canadian women have won 15 straight games en route to gold in 2002, 2006, and 2010. Their last loss was to the U.S. in the 1998 gold medal game in Nagano – when Bill Clinton was still in the White House. The Americans have won four of the last five Women's World Championships, but they're still bitter over the Olympic drought.
2) How will Dineen do for Canada?
The 12th December resignation of Canadian head coach Dan Church due to philosophical differences with management came as a shocker less than two months before Sochi. His replacement, former NHL player and coach Kevin Dineen, brings a great hockey mind and a will to win. Ex-Hartford teammate and current TSN analyst Ray Ferraro described the 50-year-old as "an incredible person," adding: "To know Kevin is to like him."
Still, even given Dineen's background as a 1984 Olympian and two-time IIHF World Championship silver medalist (1985, 1989), he has little time to get the pulse of this tight-knit group. His hiring could pay off perfectly or backfire big-time.
3) Does Hayley still have it?
For years, Canadian forward Hayley Wickenheiser was deservedly hailed as the best female player in the world. Along with teammate Jayna Hefford, the 35-year-old is poised to play in her record-setting fifth Olympics, and no one else is even close to her all-time mark of 46 points.
Lately, though, some have suggested she's lost a step. Multiple injuries limited the Shaunavon, Saskatchewan native to three games and zero points at the 2013 Women's World Championship in Ottawa. Before the Olympic roster announcement, there was even speculation she might be excluded. Hyper-competitive, Wickenheiser will aim to prove her critics wrong.
4) Is Amanda Kessel 100 per cent?
The younger sister of Toronto Maple Leafs star Phil Kessel, this highly skilled 21-year-old forward absolutely tore up NCAA hockey last season with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. She won the Patty Kazmaier Award as MVP. Not only did she pot a nation-leading 101 points in 37 games, but at the 2013 Worlds, she also paced Team USA with seven points and scored the 3-2 winner against Canada in the final.
Amanda Kessel is essential to America's hopes of defeating Canada with youth and speed. So the fact she spent much of the fall rehabbing a lower body injury has to be a concern. She's said she's "feeling good" at this point. Coach Katey Stone will need Kessel going full steam come 8 February, when the U.S. opens versus Finland.
5) Can Russia medal at home?
For Olympians, medaling at home is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. That's why host Russia has invested heavily in its usually pedestrian women's hockey program. With ex-NHL star and three-time Olympian Alexei Yashin as general manager, the Russians achieved a bronze medal at last year's Worlds. It was just their second medal ever after 2001's bronze.
Russia could do it again in Sochi. But it'll need superlative performances from everyone from veteran snipers Yekaterina Smolentseva and Tatyana Burina to goalie Anna Prugova. There'll be stiff competition for third place. At the recent Six Nations Cup, Finland beat Russia 4-3 in group play and blanked Sweden 4-0 in the final.
6) Has the competitive gap narrowed?
When Canada hammered Slovakia 18-0 to open the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, it provoked a torrent of media questions about whether the top nations were just too good for the lower-ranked ones. Of course, in international men's hockey, Canada also used to obliterate most of its Olympic foes from 1920 to 1952.
It took time to narrow the gap, and women's hockey is no different. Still, one hopes that Switzerland will make a respectable stand against Canada in its 8th February opener, and that Japan will do likewise against Sweden the following day. It's good to see progress.
7) Who'll be the underdog goalie sensation?
Typically, Canadian and American goalies post the best numbers at the Olympics, supported by world-class defenders. But usually, a netminder from an underdog nation also leaves a powerful impression.
For instance, think of the heroics of China's Hong Guo in 1998, limiting Canada to two goals and Sweden to one. In 2006, Switzerland's Florence Schelling had a remarkable 93.9 save percentage and 2.40 GAA. And remember Kim Martin's dynamic play for Sweden in 2006, making 37 saves in the miraculous 3-2 semi-final shootout win over the Americans that led to a silver medal. In Sochi, surely somebody will face 100 shots in two games and do all right for herself.
8) How will the new format play out?
This year, the top four teams from the 2012 IIHF World Ranking (Canada, United States, Finland, Switzerland) will be in Group A, while the fifth- and sixth-ranked nations (Sweden and Russia) will be in Group B along with successful qualifiers Germany and Japan.
While the Americans and Canadians are expected to finish 1-2 in Group A and receive byes to the semi-finals under the new format, a loss by either one to the Finns is a slight possibility, and that could open the door for a quarter-final upset. You never know.
9) Which Olympic rookies will shine?
Could McGill University forward Melodie Daoust steal the show in her debut with Canada's national team after being named rookie of the year and MVP in back-to-back Canadian university seasons? Besides Amanda Kessel, there'll be other intriguing first-timers on the U.S. roster, including forward Lyndsey Fry, the first Arizona native to play Olympic hockey, and defenceman Lee Stecklein, the youngest American at age 19.
Swiss blueliner Lara Stalder has been a rookie standout with the University of Minnesota-Duluth's women's team and could continue her prowess in Sochi. Another NCAA debutant, Finnish forward Susanna Tapani of the University of North Dakota, should also be on your radar.
10) What will it mean for the game?
No matter who wins women's hockey gold in Sochi, there'll be an upsurge in girls wanting to play hockey in the victorious nation afterwards. And that's good news for anyone who loves this growing global game.
Standings & Tournament Reports
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