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Sierra Ledge Rat
Mountain climber
Old and Broken Down in Appalachia
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Things like this are always a risk, anywhere, anytime, but especially in 3rd world countries. I have been around the world (literally) and have visited over 35 countries. I have limited my travels to central and south America for this very reason.
But I should say the the worst and most violent crime I have ever suffered was in my own neighborhood, in my own town, in my own state, and in my own country, the USA.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Paranoia meets mob mentality with a dose of local henchman.
Probably no little degree of inbreeding also.
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10b4me
Boulder climber
Somewhere on 395
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Scratch Peru off my list
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Gunkie
Trad climber
East Coast US
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I guess my question is: Why didn't the US Consulate get them to the US Embassy ASAP? It would seem that their citizenship could be quickly ascertained in this day and age, even in 3rd tier towns in Peru. Once that's done, the US Embassy should have stepped in and provided assistance.
It's an unfortunate incident that always has the potential to occur when traveling to the edges. I hope everyone involved heals and recovers as fully as possible.
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michaeld
Sport climber
Sacramento
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But I should say the the worst and most violent crime I have ever suffered was in my own neighborhood, in my own town, in my own state, and in my own country, the USA.
k.
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Mtnmun
Trad climber
Top of the Mountain Mun
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Insane! May they heal quickly and return home safe.
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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Indians all over the world seem to be pissed at whitey, I wonder why?
Too bad for these poor travelers.
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Rhodo-Router
Gym climber
sawatch choss
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Wow. What a nightmare.
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
the crowd MUST BE MOCKED...Mocked I tell you.
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crowdtilt link is broken for me
and does 5 gallons of gas really cost 120 dollars in Peru?
"5 gallon gas can and 5 gallons of gas = $120"
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JLP
Social climber
The internet
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Paranoia meets mob mentality with a dose of local henchman.
Probably no little degree of inbreeding also. Reilly nails it.
Add in a little showing off something locals couldn't afford in 8 lifetimes:
http://adventureamericas.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/dsc02651.jpg
Anyone recall what is unique about the New Year? This is a time when you see a LOT of poor people along the side of the road, and tons of these road block / gringo tax collection booths.
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sharperblue
Mountain climber
oakland, california
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This is obviously really bad, but also an incredibly isolated, unique incident, however dangerous and brutal. I've spent four seasons climbing in Peru and - aside from the occasional squabbles with dishonest arrieros or petty thefts - have nothing but magnificent memories of the people of that marvelous place.
To avoid a country as huge and rich geographically as Peru based on a single such incident smacks of racism, and at the very least you're doing yourself an enormous dis-service by missing this place. How many tourists visit Peru each year and how many incidents of violence? Compared to the United states? to Italy?
The points made about 3rd world (in this case 2.5 world) travel are completely valid though; to think that you can just casually drive through a place as vast as South America and expect no trouble is mind-bogglingly naive; it's still the wild west out there - very, very much so. Add in miner's communities (mostly Japanese and Canadian owned companies, btw) who literally kill trouble makers or survivor's of Pinochet's massive massacres escaping north, and you bet you have some pissed off people. Doesn't absolve the violence of course, but it makes it understandable.
The current government of Paraguay isn't even recognized by ANY other South American state due to its being an obvious US patsy set-up (this comment coming from a self-professed patriot) Blow-back to American policies in South America? Who would have ever guessed?
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MisterE
Social climber
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Heart-wrenching.
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Reeotch
Trad climber
4 Corners Area
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Very scary. To think you were about to be stoned to death . . .
Holy crap, I don't know what I'd do.
I wonder what the prospects of getting any help from our embassy or the Peruvian government are?
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TYeary
Social climber
State of decay
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this is horrible I feel very badly for them. I have traveled to Peru many, many times to climb and explore. I have never experienced anything like this, nor have any of my friends, thankfully. My heart goes put to these folks. You're much safer in the mountains ,climbing. TY
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Anybody who expects more than a modicum of help from a US embassy is seriously
deluded, unless you are somebody. And if you're in the hinterlands - fuggetaboutit.
Of course, if you become a news item then you can expect more but by then it
will do you precious little good, more than likely.
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ß Î Ø T Ç H
Boulder climber
bouldering
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It was getting dark and we knew that driving in the dark was dangerous ... Dumbasses
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Rhodo-Router
Gym climber
sawatch choss
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I wonder what it was about this particular village. You can opine all you want about how they were dumbasses, but the fact remains that they spent hundreds of nights out there and this incident happened in one specific place. So why the Village of the Pitchfork People?
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Rhodo-Router
Gym climber
sawatch choss
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I guess. It sounds like the main mistake was driving 'away' in the wrong direction.
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