Go back to Brazil.
Go back to Pao de Acucar.
Corcovado summit.
Another punctual morning pick up and another quick drive over to the other iconic formation of Rio: Corcovado, home to Jesus The Redeemer statue and a classic climbing route called K2. The route is indeed about 5.8 (per mountainproject.com) if you overlook the starting moves on the opening pitch and a handful of delicate face climbing moves on the finishing pitch. The stuff in between is pure fun: varied climbing with more spectacular views of Rio. We topped out under Jesus’s outstretched arm, jumped over the barrier and joined the hordes of photo-snapping tourists. In addition to a chapel, there is also a bar serving beer near the summit. With the two warm up climbs under our belts, we asked the guys if we could start getting to the main climbing dishes before our energy levels started to diminish. Itinerary was tweaked and plans were made for a 4am pick up the following morning.
Photos
Corcovado seen across the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas (May 2019).
On the morning approach to K2 on Corcovado (May 2019).
Some road hiking followed by a climbers’ trail through the jungle (May 2019).
Almost there (May 2019).
Starting the lead of K2; this is right at the crux of the route and I’m about to slide off (May 2019).
Shirley starting up K2. The guys gave us plenty of space before starting up behind us (May 2019).
Shirley styling the crux of the route (May 2019).
Views of Rio from low on the route. The morning marine layer is burning off (May 2019).
Shirley enjoying the crack climbing higher on pitch 1 (May 2019).
Starting the traverse on pitch 2 (May 2019).
Looking back at Shirley from the lead of the pitch 2 traverse (May 2019).
Otherworldly views of Rio below (May 2019).
Shirley on the pitch 2 slab traverse (May 2019).
Into the Lance do Crucifixo moves of pitch 2. When each pitch has a name, you know you’re climbing a classic route (May 2019).
Almost there (May 2019).
Shirley arriving at the belay atop pitch 2 of K2 (May 2019).
Leading pitch 3 (May 2019).
Looking back towards Shirley from the lead of pitch 3 of K2 (May 2019).
Starting up pitch 4 – kind of tricky with the wet rock (May 2019).
Looking up at the fifth and last pitch of K2 as well as the reinforced concrete piers that keep the summit slab of Corcovado (along with Big J.) from sliding down into the city below (a second coming; May 2019).
Views from higher on the route (May 2019).
On the fifth and last pitch of K2, just above the crux (May 2019).
Looking back from the lead of the last pitch of K2 (May 2019).
Shirley following the fifth and last pitch of K2 (May 2019).
Arriving on the summit of Corcovado. Click photo for a quick video (May 2019).
Shirley, Jesus the Redeemer, and some guy snapping a selfie with Big J. (May 2019).
Waiting for our friends in the Jesus’s shadow (May 2019).
Joining the hoards on the summit terrace (May 2019).
Swimming through the crowd (May 2019).
The views are nice though. Click photo for a quick video (May 2019).
Sugarloaf from the summit of Corcovado (May 2019).
Touristas (May 2019).
Right to Left: Adilio, Duda, Didi. Big J overseeing it all. Not bad selfie-wise (May 2019).
One more shot (May 2019).
OK enough – let’s go get a beer (May 2019).
Enjoying some Bohemias in the summit bar on Corcovado (May 2019).
Go to Dedo de Deus.
Go back to Brazil.