SURVIVAL IN A DESERT.adventure

After a small trip in kayak on the coasts of the Araya Peninsula, Venezuela, Sucre state. We decided to explore the natural labyrinths in this inhospitable region, amazed by its beauty we walked without realizing the time or exactly where we were going, we did not make marks and worse still we had little water reserve in a very dry place and with temperatures that oscillate between 35 °- 46 ° or more... these labyrinths formed by ancient earthquakes are very complicated and famous for having many lost people in their do, it is a place where the saline wind dries the sweat of your body avoiding the natural cooling of our organism... well as many people we lost in the labyrinths, without any fear we decided to climb a mountain to see the panorama from above... the sea disappeared and we are not located in space, we walked in the direction of the sun looking for the coast with negative results our body already showed signs of dehydration, without further water we went to the only place where you could see a 100% vegetation Xerófila plant s very low, there we lay on the ground looking for some relief in the little shade that gave us the thorny bushes ... we were still calm and without fear ... the afternoon began to fall and the sunset painted the sky of that beautiful color and intense that characterizes this land ... night falls and we sleep outdoors, the cold wind envelops us and calms the heat of sunstroke, at dawn we walk in the direction of some seabirds that was in the sky... we walked approximately three hours without finding the coast, we were walking without strength in a hard terrain and the thirst already demanded a sip of water... in the distance a greenery guided us to a well, around it the plants were higher, just looking at the sediments and the crystallization of minerals on the shore and stones I knew that this water was not safe to drink because of the amount of nitrates, calcite sediments and minerals dissolved in it... it is a hard water that can paralyze your kidneys and die in a short time, we got into the well up to the neck for a long time to somehow hydrate, we went to the Melocactus bellavistensis to get water and we even ate their very unpleasant pulp that kept us distracted by peeling them with a small naja removing their thorns, we only dared to eat this type of Cactus since in the area there are truly hallucinogenic Cactus and that would be fatal in the conditions we were in, a group of Zamuros (Coragyps atratus) followed us everywhere presaging an announced death, they they gave strength to keep going; the afternoon falls again ... another night in this inhospitable desert blankets us with its cold air .. One more night and uncomfortable our bodies trembled with the effects of dehydration and cold, fear was already beginning to appear in our minds and silence extreme seize us only by emitting words sporadically, the sun is already starting to come out and we continue our way for some disoriented hours and with much fear, we feel the smell of the sea and the noise of an engine motivates us... with such a big surprise we started to see the sea, the horizon I appreciate as a hope filling our minds with joy until we reach a cliff of some 15 or 20 meters high our joy was with the sea breeze and I did not want to be more in that land and with my mind outside of if I throw myself by the cliff of loose earth going around and hitting me with some rocks and protecting my camera, I wanted to go out there to the sea... I did not want to be a victim of my pro pios errors... I came to the beach very beaten and the silhouette of my friend contrasted with the blue sky, I watched from above taking the same decision to go down hard by the cliff I only saw dust until I reach the sea and we got in the walking and swimming until we reach a small beach that we could identify, two days ago we passed by in our kayak and followed the coast to our boat and navigate to our campsite where some residents were waiting for us, they gave us water , food and a sermon that took us to the bone, from that moment my mind changed, my body spent a lot of time recovering lost salts and minerals, an adventure that went very wrong and I am still alive to tell you this true story.

Here began this extreme adventure, without planning.

Already entered deep into this inhospitable land our goal was a simple exploration of the place.

Along the way beautiful fossils and all kinds of crystallized minerals appear ... a beautiful journey that hypnotizes and leads you to make very serious mistakes ... remember to leave nature as you found it leaves what she shows you on the site the fossils they are part of that landscape and must be preserved in the place where they belong.

A beautiful flora full of Cactus and Xerófilas plants fill my view of unique shapes and colors... Cactus that can save your life due to its high water content or kill you in an instant by the alkaloids inside.

The only human trace that I found in Kilometers traveled ... an old can left by an explorer, death everywhere you see animal bones everywhere and the absence of water depresses ... you only look at a land that wants to devour you.

Water the element of life in a desperate situation can also kill you, waters contaminated with excess nitrates, minerals and aggressive batteries is extremely careful ... the knowledge of your environment is crucial someone who can not read everything he has before his gaze can lead to a fatal outcome ... many times it is better to avoid drinking any water and move on with life.

© Carlos Adolfo Chacón Rosales.

When I took this picture I thought it would be the last picture of my life ... but the one who perseveres overcomes all the obstacles that life puts before your path, survival is a way of life that you have to nurture yourself ... investigate, never improvise in land you do not know, plan carefully your explorations and be free in this world full of images and trips that reinforce your spirit.