Field Trip #2
The Secret Serra
In July 2022, during our 2nd multi-week crossing of Brazil’s majestic Serra do Espinhaço, we were joined on the trail by Brazilian explorer & travel journalist Márcio Bortolusso. Here are photographs & musings from that 31-day expedition, including Márcio’s 14 days with us on the trail.
To read a more comprehensive retrospective about Márcio’s journey with us, click here.
Márcio, taking in the sunrise from the oldest toll “road” in Brazil: a thin bridge separating the two sides of Mendanha (pop. 150).
“I’ve been all over the Americas as an explorer, a journalist, and a traveler, from Patagonia to Alaska. This place (the Serra do Espinhaço) doesn’t lose a single thing to those big names. It’s that incredible.”
- Márcio Bortolusso, Explorer
Jequitinhonha Sunrise. Day 8
Itambé Skyline. Day 1
pre-climb breakfast. day 2
Pico do Raio. Day 4.
“Outside of a handful of specific communities [none of which we visited during this expedition], I’d never heard any mention of this region. Now that we’ve done what we’ve just done, I sincerely can’t understand how that’s possible. This place deserves to be known by adventurers from every part of the world. It has that much to offer.”
- Márcio Bortolusso
Chasing light at the Waterfall of Lost Time
Casa do Mozart. Day 8
We don’t always start with Itambé, but when we do, it’s usually a challenging day. Márcio lost 6 toenails (5 on one foot!) after our summit on Day 2. Not only did he joke about it nightly over the course of the next 12 days, he seemed to recover quicker each day on the trail—despite resorting to socks & flip-flops at times. It was an awe-inspiring performance.
Final Steps of our Approach of Pico do Raio. Day 3
Crooked House. Day 1
Lapa do Cabrito. Day 6
Taping up the drone in a Rock shelter frequented by Local Flower pickers. Day 2
A note from Márcio!
“It’s been 18 months since our trip, and I still think about the Espinhaço, Eddie & Elisa, and our expedition all the time. Next time, I want to bring [partner & fellow explorer] Fernanda & our daughter, and stay for a whole season. I’m sure they’re going to love it. All of us will.”
