Belchior

On the way back from Chapadas dos Veadeiros we camped out and climbed in Belchior -a series of caves found in the middle of a private farm that is raided with climbers every weekend.

Salão Principal (the main hall) in Belchior

Have to climb through a few tight spots to get to the main hall and other areas of Belchior. At times you must climb down a level from a hole in the wall into a narrow corridor! Fun fun fun.

Julz being a bad-ass climber.

Alexandre belaying while I climb.

Thanks for the photos Julie Bogle!

Julz climbing a tough, but very fun route.

Julz belaying!

Taking a peek at one of the many entrances...who knows where you'll end up in this maze of caves!

Photo credit: Julie Bogle

Lots of fun overhangs.

Many climbers, so many routes!

The hike back out to our campsite.

I think we're heading back here this week! Too much fun.

Macacinho

"Little Monkey" waterfall.

Where monkeys...I mean Brazilians climb and jump at heights to high for me into refreshing waters below.

A monkey.

A climber's delight.

You can swim into a cave from the waterfall if you want...

Photos courtesy of Julie Bogle

One of hundreds of waterfalls in Chapada dos Veadeiros.

Chapada dos Veadeiros

The minute Alexandre and I picked up my friend Julz from the airport in Brasilia we headed to Chapada dos Veadeiros. Chapada dos Veadeiros is one of 4 chapadas (protected plateaus) in Brazil, each of which are some of the oldest geological places on the planet. All four chapadas are situated on giant plates made of quartz which, after some post-ocean weathering, have cliffs perfect for waterfalls and, consequently, climbing. Because of the presence of the quartz (including crystals everywhere), the ancientness of the area and a few UFO sitings, chapadas are home to the spiritually-enclined and the love-seeking contemporary "hippie" along with airstrips for the aliens <-truth. We had the pleasure of staying in Alto Paraiso (literally means "high paradise"), a city smack-dab in the middle of Chapados dos Veadeiros where a few of my Brazilian friends are renting a house for a year.

Weekly farmers market in Alto Paraiso held on Saturday mornings filled with handmade and homegrown EVERYTHING from chocolate and veggies to clothing and jewelry. Welcoming people with colourful clothing and lots of dreads.  (photo courtesy of Julie Bogle).

When we weren't staying in a character-filled old pimped-out house with fire-burning ovens, a sketchy loft, on-suite bathrooms with non-functional Jacuzzis and a resident toucan we were hiking for a few hours into the cerrado wilderness at night to arrive at our other accomodations: the top of a waterfall. Our tents on the flat rock ledge, we left the fly off to watch the incredible starry night sky only to wake up to a spectacular view which included a lush forest lining the river below, which of course, was sourced by the waterfall we slept On.Top.Of. This was Sertão Zen or "Zen Desert". Alexandre and a few other Brazilians climbed the quartz faces across the valley while Julz and I swam in a pool of water formed by the beginnings of the waterfall. None of this would be possible in the wet season as our campsite is replaced with tons rushing water widening the waterfall significantly -making for a spectacle from the climbing side of the valley, but inhospitable to the sleeping climber or the swimming spectator.

View on the hike and while sleeping (photo courtesy of Julie Bogle)

Alexandre and I setting up our tent on the flat rocky ledge on top of the waterfall in Sertão Zen (photo curtesy of Julie Bogle).

Red arrow pointing where we slept from the view point across the valley on the top of the climbing face. See streaming waterfall below and note the width to which the waterfall can grow during the wet season.

The swimming pool on top of the waterfall.

Lizards, snakes and scorpions were our neighbours in Sertão Zen.

Looking across the valley at the climbing wall from the "campsite".

Alexandre rapelling down the side of the climb.

On our way back from Sertão Zen we happened to find ourselves at a Brazilian BBQ full of fantastic people, cold beer and dancing. This happens often. Another charm to Alto Paraiso, if you Guelphites out there hadn~t been thinking this place reminds you of Guelph yet, are the jam sessions. Guitars, saxophones, cajons, bases, voice and harmonicas. Friends just picking up their instruments and playing their favourite Brazilian songs. What a treat.

Chapada dos Veadeiros also offers a lot of bouldering, all you have to do is climb under some barbed wire into a farm to find boulders you can see from the road.

All photos by Julz Bogle.

Next up, waterfalls, climbing in caves and a river adventure.

Brazil

It's been a while since I have posted. I didn't do any traveling between January and July of 2013, at least nothing worth talking about, therefore I did not feel compelled to write during this time. Now, I have resumed my nomadic nature and have embarked on what will be a multi-year traveling adventure. Since August 2013 I have been to the Yukon, Alaska and I am now in Brazil for a total of nearly two months. I would like to post about Brazil first, but I will describe my adventures in Yukon and Alaska because, although short trips, they are certainly well worth talking about!

I have been doing a lot of climbing, hiking, waterfall-visiting and learning Portuguese since arriving in Brazil at the end of August. I am lucky enough to have a local as a tour guide who has taken me to Pirenopolis, Chapados do Veadeiros and surrounding areas so far where nothing but magical scenery and people reside. Details to come regarding each of these places.

Classic Cerrado ecosystem Brazil is so well known for. Outside of Pirenopolis.

Chapados dos Veadeiros: One of the oldest geological sites in the world where quartz rules the landscape -both a fantastic climbing substrate as well as a reason for spiritual people to gather here from all over.

Climbing in caves in Belchior