Upon sceaming ¨bicho, bicho, bicho¨ was I informed that the scarab would not sting, bite, or spit venom in my eyes; he thus became my friend and remained on my pack for the remainder of the hike in.
Toschi posing for the camera while my butt blocks most of the water from entering into the next pool.
Sucked over the edge swiftly.
And this awaits on the other side of that edge. What an amazing feeling having this immense pressure of water pouring over you. It´s a rather cleansing experience.
Bagre awaiting the rest of us.
Bagre and Suco.
I just wanted to stay right there.
Suco filming.
Break for cafecito.
Me and Mostro.
The hue of green is unbelievable.
Bagre.
More repelling.
Me and Mostro.
Popin behind the reel.
Suco shooting my face first slip and slide.
And climbing back up to do it again.
And again.
Mi rabo and Bagre.
Getting ready in the am.
Bicho buddy, again.
The hike in.
The smells, sights, and sounds were amazing.
In the thick of it.
Suco shooting.
The long way down.
Suco, again, preparing to shoot.
The first slide. It was SO cold, but SO refreshing.
Getting into our suits.
Lewis hiking in.
The gang on our way in.
A sweet dog we came across, they are everywhere here, who seemed quite scared of our presence.
The bulk of yesterday was spent with my body inside a wetsuit, with a harness and carabiners stop that wetsuit, and that wetsuit and body within the Rio Amarillo, which takes its powerful journey through the thick ¨jungle¨ on the outskirts of Ceunca. Bagre, Mostro, Suco, Popin, Pedro, Lewis (another gringo from Maine), Toschi, and I (just so I can remember the names) made our way through some of the most beautiful earth formations by means of sliding and jumping down waterfalls, or, for the bigger ones, repelling over an edifice that dumped water at an unbelievable rate. The scent of fresh water and green growing greener, the sight of towering rock formations, with sunlight streaming into steps of pooling water, the sensation of letting yourself go over a rushing precipice without second thought and into the depths of rock and water below, the laughter of individuals dissolving into wet rock and moss: the experience was like none other. I hope to be able to see the footage soon, as Suco and Popin own an outdoors film company called Afuera (outdside) and they joined us in order to film for one of their upcoming projects.
Pedro´s dog, Hascho. 
Caballo on the way up to the entrance into Parque Nacional Cajas. 2.5 hours of beautiful climbing just to the first gate.
This is the first gate, and also the point of return for today. It costs 10 bucks to get into Parque Nacional Cajas, even on a bike. There is a plan in the works, which includes staple foods, more water, and perhaps a friend or two, to pay the ten bones and make a day of it. 
A sweet 45 plus minute descent back from Cajas into Cuenca
All three of these horses stood up as I passed; I could not pass up the opportunity to capture their presence.
