Summer 2019 Recap: Brazil

Summer 2019 came and went in the blink of an eye. It was a summer of growth for alpha climbing with 16 athletes ages 11-17 joining our trips to 4 countries in 3 continents: France, Spain, Brazil, and Wyoming, U.S.A. Rather than bore you with tedious prose, here are a bunch of photos, with descriptions, of our amazing adventures this summer. Summer 2020 destinations coming soon!

Prior to July 17, alpha climbing had not offered a trip to South America. After July 17, we were wondering why we hadn’t visited sooner! Brazil welcomed us with open arms. Everything about our three week trip to Serra do Cipó was amazing. It was the ideal destination for this intrepid group of teen athletes.

“Cipó” is located about 700 km north of Rio de Janeiro. The closest major city is Belo Horizonte, which is a significant agricultural hub for the region. It’s an unlikely spot for a world class sport climbing destination. While the topography is mountainous, there isn’t much exposed rock to be seen. Somehow, the forces of nature combined to create the dreamy black limestone now home to 450 routes.

The culture shock in Brazil wasn’t too extreme. All of the basics were present: good food, a nice house with a big kitchen and enough amenities to make us feel at home, reliable internet from a few sources, and a motivated and encouraging group dynamic. Aside from warm water, there wasn’t much else we could ask for. 

The climbing was incredible. The rock offered so much variety, from steep caves to glorious sunset slabs. Fierce crimps were the norm on the harder routes, but varied movement and technical challenges kept the climbing interesting day after day. Most of the climbing community present were Brazilian, but we did meet quite a few travelling from other countries, notably Chile and Argentina. We were the only group from North America, to our knowledge. One family from Norway had made the journey. Navigating the various sectors was challenging at first, but we soon figured out the lay of that land, and the subtle differences encountered while navigating. The approaches weren’t the easiest. They often involved loose scrambling and massive thorns. Due to the shortness of days, we often found ourselves walking out in the dark.

Rest days usually involved a waterfall, a hike or run, yoga, grocery shopping, or other maintenance activities. In addition to not having warm water, we also didn’t have a clothes washer - we learned to wash our clothes by hand. On another rest day, we visited Belo Horizonte, spending most of the time in its massive indoor market. In it, we found all sorts of fun and interesting things to eat. The locals were all very friendly and welcoming.

The local climbers were even friendlier. They were so excited to show off their crag, and to let us know how welcome we were. They were very supportive, and continually encouraged us. Their friendliness was comforting and we always felt safe.

Celebrating Bella’s 15th birthday was a highlight of the trip, especially since the quinceañera is so significant through most of the Americas south of the United States. During the day, Bella completed 16 routes. We made homemade black bean burgers and a made-from-scratch chocolate cake that was pretty epic. 

At the end of the trip, we enjoyed Rio de Janeiro for a few days, mostly spent at the beach. Rio is a beautiful, magnificent city. The weather was just lovely and made for spectacular sunsets. On our final day in Brazil, we joined a few thousand other tourists to check out Brazil’s icon, Cristo Redentor. 

Until next time, Brazil!

Our last sunset in Serra do cipó.