Expedition Roraima: Group aims to scale peak in May By Samantha Alleyne Stabroek News January 26, 2001 A group of adventurous Guyanese have decided to climb Guyana's side of the 9,094 ft-Mountain Roraima, which also has faces in Brazil and Venezuela. This mountain has been climbed before but from the Venezuelan side which is said to be relatively easy to ascend. The group, which is well aware that it is taking on quite a daunting project, is being led by Rafael Downes, who is originally from Georgetown but now lives in Kopinang Village. His team includes Lawrence Fredricks and Vananuis Pio both of Kopinang Village, Frank Singh and Bruce Roberts both of Georgetown, Damian Chambers and Ronald Smith who hail from Kamarang and Roy Melville, a city boy who now resides in Kopinang. This is the core group which would actually be climbing and they will be assisted by two boat captains, six porters and four line cutters all from the Upper Mazaruni, a photographer, botanist/scientist, members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), one medex, Len Corsbie of Guyenterprise and two cooks. The group launched its project at the Guyenterprise building yesterday with Downes briefing the media on the plans. The last time the mountain was climbed from the Guyana side was in 1971 when two Britishers, assisted by Guyanese, climbed to a certain section of the mountain. They did not reach the top. The men, according to the group, ran out of food at that point and had to abandon the climb. Another group attempted to climb the mountain some time later but was confronted with nests of tarantulas (a hairy spider) and was also forced to abandon the climb. The estimated cost for the group's expedition is some $5 million and it is looking towards the business sector for sponsorship. The project is expected to begin on May 1 and end on the last day of that month. The actual climbing of the mountain, if all goes well, will be done in one week. The group will fly into Kamarang then travel by boat along the Kako River into the Waruma River which will carry them to the foot of the mountain. According to the group it is easier to access the mountain by water. Corsbie said that the idea arose out of various discussions. It was not a "rash" decision, he said, as the group had done research. At yesterday's briefing the group had various maps depicting the route they would take and also showed footage of the mountain through the kind compliments of Richard Humphrey. They plan, with the use of sharp cutlasses, to cut a series of trails on the northern ridge of the mountain. Should there be a mishap on the expedition, there will be a boat available to evacuate that person(s) from the mountain area. They would arm themselves with jackets for the cold weather, water, snakebite anti-venom, helmets, goggles, gloves and small oxygen tanks in case of breathing problems. Downes said that the prospective climbers were not "green" to the jungle and some of them had even done some mountain climbing. He said they had skilled persons on board to make sure that unnecessary risks were not taken. He also said that he had been a porkknocker for ten years and as such knew the ways of the interior. According to Corsbie, in addition to the main camp, where part of the group would be stationed, the core group would also be building small camps at strategic points. "We are trying to open permanent routes where people can take tourists in a relatively safe" environment, he said. The group's plan is to give its mountain-climbing gear to the University of Guyana field students to use after the expedition. Downes will be speaking to students after the climb. Before the expedition begins they will fly over the mountain for more footage and photos. In addition, each member would have a special assignment; some of them would be identifying species of plants and animals found on the mountain. Companies that sponsor the expedition, Downes said, would be fed with information during the climb through the use of a high-powered phone. They also plan to give the media frequent updates on the climb. A sponsoring company could also send an observer on the expedition and interested persons who would like to join the group could do so by contacting Guyenterprise. Alluding to Guyana's border controversy with Venezuela, Downes said: "I think it would be to our benefit to present ourselves from time to time on the mountain to show our neighbours we are interested." The group has already applied to 60 companies for assistance, six of whom have responded but only one has expressed a willingness to help. Follow the goings-on in Guyana in Guyana Today