Pedra da Mina: Where the Rain Reigns and the Wind Whispers (or Yells).
At 2,798 meters (9,180 feet), Pedra da Mina reigns as Brazil’s fourth-highest peak and the Mantiqueira Mountains’ tallest summit, straddling the Minas Gerais–São Paulo border. Standing atop São Paulo’s highest point—a crown jewel of Brazilian peaks—I marveled at the achievement. Seemed perfect—until Mother Nature laughed and unleashed her plans. The Sunset That Wasn’t I had dreams of a breathtaking sunset at the highest point in São Paulo. Spoiler alert: it didn’t happen. Instead, the sky decided to open up right at dinner time, drenching us and forcing an early bedtime. Each of us retreated to our own tents, where we were greeted by a thick fog that rolled in like an uninvited guest. The wind howled like it was auditioning for a horror movie, and the cold? Let’s just say I’ve been warmer in a freezer. I spent half the night convinced the wind was going to pick up my tent and drop me off in another state. The Morning After The Sunrise That Wasn't We woke up early, because apparently, the mountain wasn’t done with us yet. Breakfast was a quick affair—no leisurely coffee sipping here. By 8:00 AM, we made the executive decision to start our descent before the rain decided to upgrade from “annoying” to “torrential.” The hike down was a wet, slippery adventure, but hey, at least it kept things interesting. We finally made it back to the parking lot at 5:00 PM, soaked to the bone but victorious. Our main concern? Surviving the rain. Mission accomplished. ___ Technical Details (Because I Like to Brag): *Physical Difficulty: Hard/Advanced (aka “Why did I think this was a good idea?”) *Technical Difficulty: Moderate (aka “I’m basically a mountain goat now.”) *Total Distance: 13km / 8,07 miles (aka "Feels like 130km / 80,77m") each way *Total Elevation Gain: 1,300m (aka “My legs hate me.”) ___ Final Thoughts: Pedra da Mina, you’re a beauty, but you’ve got a wicked sense of humor. No sunset and sunrise, relentless rain, and winds that could knock over a small car—yet somehow, I still can’t wait to come back. Maybe next time, you’ll cut me some slack. Until then, I’ll be drying off and nursing my bruised ego.