Opening the Season

The first mountain trip in 2008

In Brazil, the mountain season is open and we didn’t lose time. The first challenge was the overnight at the top of Pico Médio, Salinas Region, Rio de Janeiro. The Fall as known here how “the colourful season”, because the approaching of cold air from the south, turning the lights incredible.



We decided to climb Tres Picos Group in April 26 and bivouac at the top without tent, carrying light backpacks in the hard trail to the top. Leaving the base camp, at Paulo Mascarin’s Hut, 4 km of a very hard ascent, slippery and sometimes exposed, we spent 4 hours walking to the top, resting in good places to look the impressive views of the way.



We reached the top at 5PM, few minutes before the sunset, feeling the force of the wind from the northwest, dropping the wind-chill to below zero. There is a small place to sleep over there, between the two summits of Pico Médio, a place protected by the local vegetation.

The trail has three points of attention: The first is in the km 2,5, an exposed 3rd class, without ropes or crampons to fix it. Adherence is all in this sleeky passage. The second danger passage is in the turn of the last ascent to Pico Menor, at km 3,5 but there is a rope to help to cross this muddy ramp. Without the rope, it is almost impossible to rise. The last danger point is the passage of Menor to Médio, needing to fix a rope to go down and to return. The rock is totally slippery and sleek.
The team completes the trail with safety and we returned to the base camp at 9AM of April 27.



We were the first team in 2008 to overnight on the top of mountains in Salinas 2008. The temperature on the mountain wasn't very cold (7°C) but the wind transform the place in a real "Freezer". At night, inside the sleeping bag we didn't felt cold, but the weather was moist, tranforming the sensation unconfortable.

The vegetation in this season is incredible, with a lot of colors and effects. Flowers, bugs, mammals and birds...all of them, very happy.


The Team: Marcelo(Mountainfriend), Andre and Humberto Calfa.

Images

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