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From: CMP.WERNER@R20.UTEXAS.EDU (Werner Uhrig)
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Subject: Re: Skydive into the Rain Forest
Message-ID: <12189678307.14.CMP.WERNER@R20.UTEXAS.EDU>
Date: Mon, 10-Mar-86 17:22:49 EST
Article-I.D.: R20.12189678307.14.CMP.WERNER
Posted: Mon Mar 10 17:22:49 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 12-Mar-86 05:47:19 EST
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> Don't forget to watch "Skydive into the Rain Forest"
> Tues March 4th on PBS "Nova".
>
> It documents an expedition of 12 skydivers who parachuted
> onto a remote plateau in the southern Venezuelan state of
> Amazonas.
>
	I only saw the first 5 minutes, but asked a friend to videotape it
	for me.  So if someone out there is really sad to have missed it,
	ask me for it.

> This reminds me of a piece "Believe it or stuff it" (sic.) did a few
> months ago about a group of skydivers who parachuted off of Angel
> falls (sic.) in South America some place, supposedly the tallest waterfall


        I used to live in Venezuela where the Angel Falls are located
        in the remote south-east near a "motel in the jungle" called
        CANAIMA, only reachable by plane, a primitive resort originally 
        developed by PANAM, who did lots of interesting stuff in South-America.
        Should any of you ever visit Venezuela, you should not miss an
        excursion there.

        The Angel-Falls, called "Churun-Meru" by the Indians, are named after
        it's 'modern-day' discoverer (in 1933), American jungle-pilot Jimmy
        Angel, who later crashed and disappeared in the jungle.
        They are 972 meters high (~3000 feet), falling off a table top mountain
        creek-bed, turning into mist and clouds before reaching the rain-forest
        bottom, at least during the "less rainy" season (dry seasons don't
        really exist there).

        When visiting Canaima, the pilot usually tries to make a detour by the
        falls, weather permitting, as you can't see them from Canaima at all.
        However, there are dozens of small falls, rivers, and lakes around
        Canaima.  I never investigated under what conditions a private plane
        might get permission to land there, but I would assume that it could be
        arranged if the right "connections" could be made.

        To visit the Angel Falls by canu from Canaima takes, at least, a week,
        and should best be done with the guidance of "Jungle Rudy", a Swiss
        "resident" tour-guide of many decades.  Yes, reservations are possible,
        but he is not cheap.

        Questions, comments?  Anyone interested in touring the Caribbean by
        small plane?  Anyone with experience in doing such a tour?
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