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Round Island - Ilha Redonda:
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winglessangel
Sep 22, 2007, 12:23 AM
Views: 22650
Registered: Apr 29, 2004
Posts: 459
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I had seen the island before, many times. Right there in front of Ipanema beach it is impossible to be a Carioca and never have seen it, one may not know its name or have never given it proper attention, but never seen it, I doubt.
Although I had many times thought of climbing there I never had concrete plans, it was more like a dream, a wish and the invitation was a big surprise. I was working out at the gym when F. called me on a corner and told me he was going there with a group on the holyday of September 7th. I, in fact, had other plans for this weekend, I was going to Pedra do Baú, but an opportunity like this can’t be thrown away, to Baú I can go any time, just take the car and go, but the logistic needed to visit the island is way more complicated, you don’t choose to visit it, it chooses you.
We were eight: F. the Master of the island is the one who started conquering there, who invited us and who organized everything. There was also A., the First Lady, the Master’s girlfriend who also helped organizing the trip. Four guys were invited, B., G., D., and C., the girls were M. and I.
The agreement was 6:30am at Urca’s square where we were going to get a boat to drop was on the island. I got on time, B. and G. were already there. We waited for a while, betting on which boat was the one hired, no one won the bet. When the Master and A. finally arrived we started loading, M. showed up shortly after, D. and C. showed up very late together, according to them C. was the one to blame.
We had over 30 packs, plus many ropes, and about 15 liters of water per person. With everything on board we left.
As the boat went around Urca to leave the bay, the view of Pão de Açucar (Sugar Loaf) from the sea fascinated me. I could see clearly all the routes on south and east faces I’ve climbed so many times. And more routes and memories came when Morro da Urca and Babilônia became visible too.
Rio de Janeiro is really pretty, the city appearing and then getting behind was something, Urca, Copacabana, Ipanema and Corcovado with the Christ. Looking ahead we saw first the Cagarras Islands growing in front of us, and then finally her, Ilha Redonda, or the Round Island, imposing mass of rock in the middle of the ocean. From a distance we could already see so many dihedrals and cracks waiting to be climbed.
We were getting closer but were not quite there yet, the problem was, I have motion sickness, one hour in the fishing boat and I was completely dizzy. When we arrived the Master said 5 should go to land and 3 should help form the boat. He went first to fix a rope on the coast. The island has no beaches, the approach must be done through steep and slippery rocks. I didn’t think twice, couldn’t stay another minute on that boat, I jumped in the water. A. who was also very seasick jumped too, and so did B..
Equipment transfer was done with a barrel, those in the boat would load it for those on land pull it with the rope and unload. Over 20 barrel trips were needed. Pulling the barrel requires strength the Master and B. were doing it while A. and I were taking the pack the camping area. After a few barrel trips I got a pink pack, M.’s pack, I was taking it to the camp, but the way there was very slippery, although we had a rope to help I fell. I was very fast, I had no time to think, I just felt my foot moving and then pain. My face encountered the rock. I moved my hands up and all I saw was blood, lots and lots of blood everywhere. I was in pain, the Master and B. were there, they cleaned my face, I wanted to cry, they calmed me down. They identified a cut on the top of my nose, one on my bottom and one on my upper lips. B. examined my teeth, none was broken. The master held the cut on the nose to stop the bleeding, didn’t work.
To be continued...
(This post was edited by winglessangel on Sep 22, 2007, 12:56 AM)
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