Lucas' entry: Rappelling

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Today we went up a mountain and jumped of a cliff with a rope. The day started with a 1 hour drive to a mountain that is famous for being used for human sacrifice by the Mayans a long time ago.

When we got to the mountain the first thing we did is climb up a mountain in some pretty dense jungle. It is full of really cool bugs. For example we saw a butterfly with a 5 inch wing span as well as a few stick bugs and a really cool yellow ant that was about 1 inch long. Even though it is only about a 1 mile hike, it is at least a 65 degree angle all the way up. It was hot and humid so we felt like we were rock climbing in a sauna. Once we got up there we looked around; we had hiked up at least 800 feet. We looked around and saw acres and acres of sugar cane in one direction and cliffs covered in dense jungle in the other direction.

Then our guide set up the ropes and we rappelled down a 150 foot cliff. As soon as I got down to the bottom of the cliff it started to rain so hard with such big drops it hurt. Once I got down there I ran back up the trail into a giant cave. The cave was amazing because there was the amazing view and there was candle wax from the Mayans. This cave was the one used for sacrifice. The rest of my group and I stayed in the cave for about 2 hours hoping the rain would let up. In that time we had lunch and listened as the lightning got REALLY close. One time we even heard something sizzle.

When it finally let up just a little bit we took the ropes down and started down the mountain. About 5 minutes down the rain stopped. By that time the rain had soaked through all of our clothes (we had no rain jackets). And that is all the exiting news from Guatemala.

-Lucas

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Photos

Lucas and Grace at the base of the cliff
They then climbed up about 50 feet before leaping off...

Steve and Grace at the top
Doesn't Grace look thrilled? It could great courage, but she did go down the rope (although it was raining to hard to take a picture of her)

Hanging out in the cave
...where Mayans would make their human sacrifices. (We learned that it was considered a great honor to be picked for the sacrifice. Huh!)

Comments

[Mary Deaton]

Grace is not too happy
If this picture is any indication of how Grace now feels about rock climbing and rappelling, I think the answer is "not very fond." I am happy to see in the next picture she has a smile on. What a great adventure. And Lucas tells a good story.

[gramma alice]

wow
Rappeling has become the THE sport for jocks, with REI taking the lead in this adventure. Our new intern minister's wife is working there because of her experience. You are also becoming a great writer, so I'd say your education away from the classroom is terrific and also fun! Lucky guy.