A Retroactive on GOGO Field Trip #1

Nada Pode Parar Você

GoGo Co-Founder Elisa Oliveira looks back at our first field trip in the Espinhaço, a 28-day crossing in October 2021 that confirmed we were on the right path.

Out There, Near Angu Duru.

Foreword (by Eddie)

Prior to October 2021, most of Elisa & my research in Brazil’s Serra do Espinhaço had been done by vehicle (via the region’s labyrinth of backroads), long day hikes, and the occasional overnight backpacking trip. We’d spent roughly 6 months in the region since 2018 (my first trip was in July of 2018; hers in November 2019) and had become increasingly familiar with the compelling, expansive tapestry of local communities. Now, it was the spaces in between those communities that began to captivate our imaginations.

It seemed impossible to us that these tiny settlements had grown in isolation, when the cultural, historical, and natural environments shared so much in common, yet it was also obvious that whatever had tied them together previously (spiritually and/or logistically) no longer existed. Where was the connective tissue?

Neither of us had never done anything remotely like our first 28-day trek in the region. In fact, no one had—a fact later conveyed to us by local conservation unit directors, governments, and residents.

Thus, Field Trip #1 was born; planned on a whim, pencil-on-napkin-style, over coffee with a spirited young geographer & aspiring guide named Júlio Brabo.

It was September, and the spring thunderstorms (which we’d learn all about during the trip) were coming. Elisa had never trekked before. The trail conditions would be crazy, in a spectacular way.

A person hiking in a dry, grassy landscape under a partly cloudy sky, with mountains in the background.

First “HardEst Day Ever!” (Day 2)

Two hikers resting on rocky terrain in a lush forest, both with backpacks and outdoor gear.

Júlio & I in Rio Preto State Park

A person smiling and posing with outstretched arms in a landscape with large white stone blocks scattered on light ground, mountains in the background, and a partly cloudy sky.

Huge Quartzite BLocks, Near Mendes

Close-up of a pink flower with ruffled petals and a yellow center, against a blurred natural background.

The Cerrado in bloom

The most special waterfall I’ve ever been to

Past & PResent

Travel has always held my heart and been my touchstone to other cultures, but my previous career (as the owner of a small architectural firm in Belo Horizonte) prevented me from engaging it.

It brings me profound joy that my job now is to welcome & connect with people from other cultures, and to tell them the tales of the amazing places where we go.

Crazy Water Crossing

An Important Test

Eddie & I had a feeling that we wanted to make our first trip at Gift of Go a trek, and (since I had never trekked before) we needed to figure out whether I would be physically & psychologically able to participate in these kinds of trips, or whether I’d need to stay on the sideline as more of a coordinator.

Now, I can’t even imagine not going into the field. It’s the best part of this job: being able to immerse yourself in every part of the culture, nature, and adventure.

A person wearing a hat and casual clothes walking up a rugged, sloped terrain with large rocks, under a cloudy sky.

My first summit! Serra Lisa

Close-up of a person's leg with a makeshift bandage wrapped around their knee, with dirt and debris on it, standing on a rocky outdoor surface.

Yikes! Red Ticks

Person hiking on a dusty trail, bent over and touching their leg, with a backpack and neck pillow, in a dry, wooded area.

SUper tired on the Linha Verde

Person hiking through tall grass under dark, stormy sky with trees in distance.

Running from lightning!

Most Intense moment of the trip

Growth as a choice

I’d spent 6 months in Italy as part of an exchange program during college. I chose to go alone, and I didn’t know the language well, so it was a really challenging experience for me.

When you put yourself in those kinds of foreign situations, lots of things can go wrong, but one thing is certain: you will grow if you allow yourself to.

A muddy river flowing through a rural landscape with trees on both sides and cloudy sky overhead.
A woman lying on a bed with a floral mattress cover and pillow, holding a phone, in a room with a plain wall, a nightstand nearby with a bag and snacks, and a power outlet visible.
Close-up of a person's leg with a beige cloth bandage wrapped around the knee, placed outdoors on a rocky ground.
A person in hiking gear, including a backpack and trekking shoes, is sitting on a steep rocky slope surrounded by grass and plants under a blue sky with some clouds.

Finding my Rhythm

Nada Pode Parar Você

Throughout our trip, I felt great physically. The biggest challenge is your own mind; getting trapped by the unknown. If you firmly believe you can do it, there’s nothing there to stop you.

Look at my “Gear”!

48 hours, 87 km

On Day 11 or 12, we decided to combine two days of trekking into one and ended up walking 44 km.

When we reached the 40-km mark, I was devastated. Not physically, but mentally. We had to walk all night long. I was sure we were lost and were not going to make it.

It was a pivotal day for me because after I’d accomplished that, I knew I could overcome anything. And I did the next day, when we (got lost and) walked 43 more km!

Dona Maria & I at her beautiful house

The Kindness of Strangers

On Day 18, after an exhausting 21-km trek, we reached a community of 6 people, and the house where we’d planned to stay wasn’t available to receive us anymore (since we hadn’t been able to communicate with them during the expedition due to the lack of signal).

Eddie & Júlio knocked on some doors, and another local family offered to share their dinner with us. To this day, I promise it was the best meal of my life.

It’s so humbling to encounter people who are so willing to give, even when they have so little compared to others.

Rediscovering my love for horses

Practical Findings

Some of the small, practical things I discovered about trekking during the trip: I strongly prefer cold days (nothing is worse than hot & humid!); having high quality gear isn’t everything, but if you can get it, it’s worth it (especially when it comes to footwear & rain jackets); water is life, and it’s amazing to have so much fresh, mountain water near us at all times (for drinking & bathing) on the trail; if horses are an option, I’ll take one. Ah, and having a soft pillow can make a huge difference during tent nights!

A woman in outdoor clothing and a pink hat crossing over a small water stream on a fallen log in a green, wooded area

Pindaiba (Day 11)

A woman stands outside a small tent in a wooded area surrounded by trees and fallen leaves.

Rio Preto SP (Day 8)

A woman with dark hair and a nose piercing looking to the side in a room with rough walls and a mirror in the background.

Quarteis (Day 23)

A woman with a backpack and hat walking down a covered walkway between orange buildings with desert plants and trees.

Fancy Resort! (Day 14)

We did it!!! Final night of the trip

An Emotional Ending

As the trip was coming to an end, I experienced an intense mix of emotions. On the one hand, I was happy that I’d been able to complete the trip without any injuries. On the other hand, I was sad because I didn't know when we would be able to go back into the field again.

It was honestly exhilarating to see how much I had changed in such a short amount of time. I gained a new perspective about the culture of my own country, and about my limits. It was such a privilege to be able to do everything that we did.

A woman inside a camping tent set up indoors on a concrete floor, with various belongings around her and a wall in the background.

Mozart’s House! Day 5

A woman riding a horse on a mountain trail, holding a banana and smiling, with a landscape of mountains and a cloudy sky in the background.

Chapada do couto, Day 5

Woman hiking on a grassy trail in an open field with a small hill in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Morro de Alecrim, Day 6

A woman standing on a sandy beach with her arms raised, surrounded by trees and hills in the background, under a sky with clouds and sun rays.

Quarteis, Day 24