Extreme Adventure!

So, about an hour outside of Queretaro, there's this huge rock formation called Bernal. (<-- click the link to see a picture) There's a cute town below it, and really really really yummy gorditas to eat. And, you can climb up the rock as well. You can go about 2/3 of the way up not even being an athlete or anything. You can go a little further up if you're not terribly afraid of height and have good balance, and to get to the tip top by rapelling. (I've only been to the second level...) It's a nice hike, and not really dangerous. We took some of the students from the Horizonte Church young adults' group up there last saturday... Anyhow, I know that doesn't exactly sound like anything EXTREME... But it IS if you're taking a paralyzed young man up with you!! Rafa is a 25 year old who'd been completely paralyzed from mid-torso down for the past 8 years. He was very active and adventurous before he was paralyzed, so it's been a rough 8 years. Rafa has very limited use of his arms and hands as well, but actually paints quite well, and does computer graphics stuff. Anyhow, he said a while back that he'd never climbed Bernal. So, we said we'd take him (to the base of the rock!), and Juan said he's CARRY HIM UP!!!

So we planned the trip. The guys talked for a few weeks about what would be the best way to get Rafa up there. (Although very thin, Rafa is about 6'2 tall (190cm) and probably weighs about 165 or 170lb, 75kg!!) They figured out the best way to get him up was simply to strap him onto Juan's back. I had serious doubts that Juan could carry so much weight (remember, Rafa can't cling on with arms and legs). But we went.

It took a long time to get Rafa strapped into a rapelling harness that we rented, and get that strapped onto Juan, and get everyone comfortable. I STILL had doubts about the safety and wisdom of this venture...

But we went for it! There were a couple times when we almost quit, but didn't. Everyone helped out - walking alongside Juan to catch Rafa if anything happened, carrying pillows for Rafa and Juan to rest on every 200 feet or so...

And we ALL made it up to the first level (2/3 of the way up the rock)!! AND made it back down safely!!

It was really an excellent day! We are thankful for the opportunity to have been able to get Rafa up Bernal, and get a feel for an adventure again!

For more pictures, see my Facebook page.