By Mike Libecki
I just got back from far out in the fantasyland of the Gran Sabana, Venezuela. This is the same place Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories of The Lost World originated, and it is no wonder why. It is one of the planet's least explored and most unique ecosystems, and it is estimated that there are still thousands of plant, animal, and insect species waiting to be discovered among the jungles and atop the unique Tepui mountains. Of course, we headed to the area because it is home to huge, overhanging, equatorial heated walls for exposed big wall climbing.
My partner Kyle Dempster and I left just after Christmas to celebrate the New Year in the dense jungle in hopes to climb the 2,000-foot ominous wall on the Acopon Tepui massif. Our goal of reaching the summit of this intensely overhanging wall came true just two weeks after our bush plane landed near the native village Yune-ken. I thought the crux of the trip would be the thin seams and large roofs, or maybe the excruciating heat - ha! Little did I know:
On two different occasions I had three ticks on my scrotum, and yes, I pulled the little f***ckers off my scrotum-stretching my sack like gum, then, pop! I almost blacked out when the blood oozed out where the ticks feasted. I also found a little sinister orange and black tick on the golden jewel itself (yes, my penis). Then came the scorpion factor. The scorpions in the area are deadly. No, we did not have any close calls while climbing the route, but I did see Kyle almost die. At the base of the wall while enjoying local hot sauce and tortillas, my partner turned on his headlamp to dab on some more Don Pedro salsa, that's when one of the little black devils came running, pinchers and stinger ready for battle on a suicide mission to duel with Kyle. Had the scorpion reached his target of Kyle's flesh - just a foot from his leg - well, lets just say it was too close for comfort. The scorpion succeeded on his suicide mission and is no longer alive. Survival of the fittest. Ahh, of course the torment was not over: up on the route as I was climbing in a sweet, shady, thin corner, a huge black, gray and orange tarantula came out to challenge my cam placement, twice. I won, but, I was freaked, and I was sure he was going to jump on my face and sink his quarter-inch fangs into my cheek to save his sacred ground.
Stay tuned: The full detailed story will be out in Mountain Hardwear's next catalog...
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Comments (6)
Hola...soy escalador de venezuela
En su articulo hablan de que escalaron una ruta que se llama Unate Arete, ya e visitado en varias ocasiones Acopan y no tengo conocieminto de esta ruta...me podrian por favor suministrar informacion de esta ruta, ubicacion, largos, distancia, croquis, grado de dificultad, aperturistas y demas.. estoy interesado en los datos de esa ruta para una repeticion.
Ademas me podrian suministrar informacion sobre la variante Libeki, croquis, recorrido, grados, etc.
Felicidades por su escalada.
Muchas gracias por su contesta...
Cheo Garcia.
Escalador venezolano.
Posted by Cheo Garcia | December 1, 2008 2:32 PM
Posted on December 1, 2008 14:32
Hi, Mike Libecki here, Cheo Garcia, I cannot read Spanish, please send an email to me directly and I can help out, English please, sorry about that.
MikeLibecki [at] aol.com
Look forward to hearing from you.
Libecki
Posted by Mike Libecki | December 2, 2008 3:08 PM
Posted on December 2, 2008 15:08
mike-
he is asking you for information on the route, including sketches, location, distances, grades, etc. he said he's visited the Acopan region many times but has never heard of the route
hook him up with some beta
Posted by david | December 3, 2008 11:10 AM
Posted on December 3, 2008 11:10
hey, i'm also looking at coming into the region and thinking about repeating the line. do you have any topo/beta of any kind for the area, wheres the best plac to look?
cheers
chris (a british climber)
Posted by chris bevins | December 17, 2008 7:57 AM
Posted on December 17, 2008 07:57
Greetings from Libecki.
I would be happy to help with beta for the route in the Acopan area.
The best way is to contact me directly:
MikeLibecki@aol.com
I hope life is sweet!
Libecki
Posted by Mike Libecki | December 17, 2008 2:50 PM
Posted on December 17, 2008 14:50
Climbing greetings, friendly… I am in contact by email, excuses was of trip of climbing in the Acopan Tepuy. They follow well.
Cheo.
Posted by Cheo | February 4, 2009 9:44 PM
Posted on February 4, 2009 21:44