Ascent to the Auyantepui (Part 4/4)

Final part of the narration of an ascent to the Auyantepuy (part 4/4). To see the previous page, click here. . To see the beginning, click here..

Little sample of the observed flowers

Day 4: On the top of Auyantepuy

The top of the tepuy

The top of the tepuy is very odd. The floor is rocky, with some areas with ground or mud, some puddles, some springs. You can find a big variety of flowers. But there are only few bugs and birds. Now and then are large rocks and cracks to be found.

The top of auyantepuy is much more accidented as the one from Roraima, and therefore the excursions there are more complex. As we have already explained, the only point of access by foot to the auyantepuy is from the south. The Angel Fall is on the northeast. To go from where we were to the source of the Angel Fall takes about two extra days, which we didn't have, therefore we stayed there. (There is always the excuse and probability of going back there).

Very close to the camp is the bust of Simon Bolivar, placed there in an excursion of the Universidad Central de Venezuela in 1956.

Day 5 and 6: the descent from the Auyantepuy to Uruyén

After having stayed a whole day on the top, we initiated our descent. The rain, which didn't abandon us while we were on the top of the Auyantepui gave us a few trusses. Therefore our descent was nicer. Nevertheless, the floor was completely wet, what had its difficulties. What we had done in three days was now to be done in two.

The first day of descent was relatively short, because we stayed in "El Peñon" again, because it was the most appropriate place for the number of tents we had.

The second day of Descent

The second day was very long. With a traveled distance of 25 kilometers. In the morning we kept running until the Guayaraca camp, with few stops. This didn't stop us from spending a while swinging on a liana. The floor was totally wet and swamped, as the boots we show down here testify.

Swinging on a liana

Which color were the shoes?

After a quick lunch in Guayaraca, we initiated the return. This time we didn't have to get until Kavac, but until Uruyen, which was a bit closer. We came back to enjoy the places that we liked so much. We crossed the Okoine River again. But this time we had a lot more experience. The rhythm had to be rushed because the night was about to fall. We gazed at the Auyantepui, now at our left, until we could finally see houses at the end. It was Uruyen!

Auyantepuy to the left

Arriving at Uruyen

Day 7: The return

After a good sleep, we stayed up with one of the most beautiful views that can be seen. The Auyantepui cloudless. What a spectacle! We took photos and bathed in the river that was boarding the camp.

The Uruyen camp and the Auyantepuy

Photo of part of the group

Finally, a soccer game was done between the pemons and the young men that were with us (Where do they get all the energy from?). An improvised ball was done with newspaper and tape and play! All played barefooted. The score: Host 12 - 4 Guests.

Short after the plane which took us to Puerto Ordaz arrived. We could recognize some of the places which we traveled from the air. We had the hope of being able to see the Angel Falls, but it hid between the clouds. Would it be raining? Probably.