Trip Report
A trip down memory lane, Autana.....The Eye of the Gods.
Wednesday November 11, 2015 10:11am
In 1981 Bev Johnson, Mike Graber, Rick Ridgeway, Mike Hoover, Peter Pilafian and I travelled to the Orinoco River Basin to climb and film a remote Tepui (Autana) for the television show "The American Sportsman."

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An aerial recon finds Autana looming above the surrounding jungle.
An aerial recon finds Autana looming above the surrounding jungle.
Credit: donini
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Dugout canoes transported us up this tributary of the Orinoco to basec...
Dugout canoes transported us up this tributary of the Orinoco to basecamp.
Credit: donini
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Piranhas, caymen, anacondas....you gotta be kidding!
Piranhas, caymen, anacondas....you gotta be kidding!
Credit: donini
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Well, if he can do it....yo, hold my beer.
Well, if he can do it....yo, hold my beer.
Credit: donini
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There must be something down here to film.
There must be something down here to film.
Credit: donini
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Not so easy to the base...Rick Ridgeway on machete patrol.
Not so easy to the base...Rick Ridgeway on machete patrol.
Credit: donini
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The route needs a little cleaning, did anybody bring a toothbrush?
The route needs a little cleaning, did anybody bring a toothbrush?
Credit: donini
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Get up Bev! It's more fun than you think.
Get up Bev! It's more fun than you think.
Credit: donini
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Ummmm.....good rock.
Ummmm.....good rock.
Credit: donini
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See any snakes Mike?
See any snakes Mike?
Credit: donini
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So you say that the sun shining thru this cave is why the Indians call...
So you say that the sun shining thru this cave is why the Indians call it the Eye of the Gods.
Credit: donini
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The room with a view.
The room with a view.
Credit: donini
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Well it is in a rainforest.
Well it is in a rainforest.
Credit: donini
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Okay, it's time to go down the Indians are serving up monkey osso buco...
Okay, it's time to go down the Indians are serving up monkey osso buco for dinner.....with a nice pinot noir of course!
Credit: donini
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  Trip Report Views: 2,031
donini
About the Author
donini is a trad climber from Ouray, Colorado.

Comments
FRUMY

Trad climber
Bishop,CA
  Nov 11, 2015 - 10:29am PT
TFPU
micronut

Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
  Nov 11, 2015 - 10:30am PT
Back when adventure was served raw. With a side of unknown and a danger garnish.

Thanks for sharing. That cave shot begs a story around a campfire for sure.

Scott
JEleazarian

Trad climber
Fresno CA
  Nov 11, 2015 - 10:53am PT
Wow! Thanks for doing - and posting - such adventurous work so far off the beaten path.

John
nopantsben

climber
europe
  Nov 11, 2015 - 11:01am PT
Awesome, Jim. Thanks!
NutAgain!

Trad climber
https://nutagain.org
  Nov 11, 2015 - 11:04am PT
That is a seriously badass looking adventure. That first pick of the tower is giving me a boner.
Vitaliy M.

Mountain climber
San Francisco
  Nov 11, 2015 - 12:25pm PT
Cool post!
steveA

Trad climber
Wolfeboro, NH
  Nov 11, 2015 - 12:32pm PT
Jim,

I had no idea you ventured down there. You definitely have been on some wild trips! TFPU
jeff constine

Trad climber
Ao Namao
  Nov 11, 2015 - 12:33pm PT
1991 At the Devils Punchbowl Bev Johnson.
Toker Villain

Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
  Nov 11, 2015 - 02:40pm PT
Never mind the piranhas and the reptiles, they have those microfish with spines that swim up your urethra and have to be cut out.

Was the climb any good?
Sierra Ledge Rat

Mountain climber
Old and Broken Down in Appalachia
  Nov 11, 2015 - 02:55pm PT
MORE
Ezra Ellis

Trad climber
North wet, and Da souf
  Nov 14, 2015 - 03:01am PT
Thanks Jim, looks like an adventure!
kaholatingtong

Trad climber
The fake McCoy from nevernever land.
  Nov 14, 2015 - 09:26am PT
Nice pictures, thanks for sharing these.
RyanD

climber
  Nov 15, 2015 - 05:34am PT
Nice
BASE104

Social climber
An Oil Field
  Nov 16, 2015 - 09:05am PT
Cool. Mike Graber came and worked with me on the second unit of Twister for a while. I was a horrible smoker, and one night in the bar, he asked me for a Marlboro.

It freaked me out. He was just telling me that he came THIS close to doing Everest without oxygen, and giving him a smoke just seemed wrong.

Super nice guy. Very solid at his work.

You guys certainly sampled well at the table of life.
Jim Clipper

climber
  Nov 16, 2015 - 10:10am PT
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