Often times when climbing or sailing with people that don’t live here I am asked why I decided to make a permanent move from the US to Rio. The answer is always pretty obvious; Rio is just so beautiful it is hard to want to live anywhere else. The beaches, the forest, the mountains… all right in the heart of the city. I can’t think of anywhere else that has all this natural beauty so close and accessible to a major metropolitan area.
Sometimes though, when sitting in traffic or when reading the daily news I also have my doubts. Maybe Rio is too big. Maybe it is too hectic. Maybe I would be better off living somewhere else. But then its seems something crazy always seems to happen to remind me what an unique place this is and why I like it so much. Just like what happened the other day with Ducha and I.
We meet up in the morning and went to go climb an easy route up Morro dos Cabritos, an impressive rock feature that sits on the shore of the Lagoa, right in between Copacabane, Ipanema and Botafogo. The route we were going to climb is called Última Opção and its 270 meters of easy slab climbing up the west face of the mountain is only interrupted by one 5.10 move to overcome a well protected roof that runs horizontally across the rock. The view is breathtaking, as the higher you climb the more you see of the Lagoa and the beaches of Ipanema and Leblon, not to mention the dramatic backdrop of Pedra da Gavea and Dois Irmãos. You would think that would be enough to forget the hustle and bustle of the city, and it usually is, but this day we had a special treat waiting for us as we started to climb.
Ducha was roped up and just about to start leading the first pitch when he stopped in his tracks and slowly called me over to investigate something he saw in a small hole not 2 meters away from where we were standing. My eyesight isn’t the best and in the shadow of the forest canopy I found it difficult to make it out at first, but sticking out of the hole was the head of a full grown adult boa constrictor!!
My first reaction at seeing a snake head the size of my hand was to want to get out of there as quickly as possible. But once we realized was type of snake it was and it was clear to us that it was not aggressive we decided to keep going. Ducha began climbing up the route while the snake simultaneously started slowly slithering down the rock into the forest. I had to sit there and belay Ducha while keeping one eye on the snake to see what direction is was going to take.
In the end it was all good and the run in with ths snake that was nearly 2 meters long and fat from just recently having eaten was a positive one. It was exhilarating to see that scene so close up and right in the middle of the city. The climb was relaxed and fun, which made the whole day that much better. I of course want to start a movement to rename to climb to something better suited like “Rio’s Snake Dike”, but I don’t expect many people will be as excited about the idea as I am.
Either way it was one of those days that remind you just why this city is so special and why I will probably be here for a good time to come.
posted by: Andrew -- 24/10/2011