First Trip to Chapada for 2009

Sebastian rock climbing ... Me next !

Myself looking macho

Fixing my shoe on the rocky outcrop at the edge of a cliff

Swimming in Chapada near the falls

Standing on the edge of more than a 200 FT drop

Yesterday I spent the whole day in Chapada National park. This amazing place is a mix between The grand canyon and subtropical forest area. Formed by an ancient ocean. First stop we went swimming on top of some big waterfalls. I had lots of fun floating on my back letting the tide pull me faster & faster towards the falls, only to swim off to the side just before the plunge and climb onto the bank.

Next I went to where I stood on top of cliffs with hundred+ FT droops and amazing views. There we found a fossil of some sea life that called this place home millions of years ago. we hiked up and down stopping to take some pictures along the way. You can see from the pictures above that mostly we where up really high and you can see the valleys below us.

Last we went to Hells Gate. It is a large rimed cliff area shaped like a semi circle. Not much of an atraction but it was cool. there is a gard rail to prevent cars from plunging the 100FT drop. The gard rail was not always there, in fact one of the interesting things to see there is the bus,taxi,& car that went off the road before the gard rail was installed. Here is also where we stopped to have lunch and cold drinks. after eating 3 americans came along with there tour guide. the 2 guys where from San Francisco and the mom was from Alaska. they only stayed for a bit untill it was untill it was for them to leave ... or so they though. as soon as they all got back in the car it broke down. so they got out and I invited them to our table while they waited for another car to pick them up.

All in all it was an amazing day.