Itajaru climb.

The next most famous mountain in the area must be Itajaru. It is actually slightly higher than Graminha and requires some more treacherous climbing. We climbed yesterday but I was too tired to post the pictures until today. Graminha is more famous to the locals but on the way down from Itajaru we met two guys from Muriae (about 75 minutes by car) who were coming to hike up Itajaru and stay for the night. One of the two had done the hike 18 times and had stayed at the top on various occasions too.The crew prior to starting the hike. Blake, Bryan, Toni, Jeh and Matthieu (back) and Marlon, Gustavo and Lucy in front. Thanks to Robin for taking the pic and Matthieu for posting it on Facebook so I could steal it:)

Some of us caught a ride out with Robin while Matthieu, Toni and Marlon chose to walk the first part and wait for us to meet and get them for the last part of the drive.

For the first part Toni (the only person in our group to have already been to the top) led the way. In this picture you see Bryan and Toni is the one in front of him.

The trail got narrow at times and in fact near where this photo was taken we were almost run off the road by a herd of half a dozen or so cattle. They came bounding through the closed in woods and when they got near those of us at the front of our group they got spooked. We had gotten out of their way in time but had to warn the others and by yelling made scared the cattle even more thus they increased their speed but fortunately no one was hurt and the men tending the cattle caught up to them and calmed them down.
Cool lichen on the side of this tree.
Our final chance to fill up on water before we began our ascent to the top of Itajaru. This clean and clear water was very refreshing. It also meant we were almost out of the forest cover that had protetected us from the beating sun.
Each time we looked up and thought we were seeing the top we realized we were not near the peak but still had another climb to do.
As you can see our hard work was rewarded with amazing scenes such as this.
Graminha is the the mountain on the left.
Graminha is in the center of this photo. I was standing near where the landslide happened on Itajaru and photographing the valley and waterways running between it and the landslide at Graminha.

Intrigue in the forest!!!! According to legend the crosses mark the grave of a "wild" boy who had some sort of a disability and grew up fending for himself in this area. From time to time food was left for him and when he died and his body he was found he was burried under this tree. Who was this boy? Why did he live on his own? What made his family leave him in the woods?

One lovely example of forest flora:) I saw better flowers but wasn't able to photograph them.

Lucy tired but happy after our hike:)

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