Press Release: July 20, 2012

64-Year-Old Cancer Survivor Treks Across South America 
An Inspiring Journey Of Hope For Cancer Patients

Attention reporters: Mickey Grosman is available for interviews live from the jungle. High-resolution images from the expedition are also available.

  

ORLANDO, Florida- Amazon 5000, www.facebook.com/amazon5000, announced today that 64-year-old, special forces veteran and cancer survivor, Mickey Grosman, is trekking across the widest part of South America on the Amazon 5000 Expedition. 

While most people are preparing for retirement, Mickey Grosman is in the midst of a 5,000 mile, extreme expedition that has taken him from the shores of Pedernales, Ecuador, over the brutal terrain of the Andes mountain chain and will now lead him through the heart of the mighty Amazon jungle. Mickey will cross Ecuador, Peru, Columbia and Brazil by foot on a route never completed by anyone before. Through dangerous terrain and never explored regions, Mickey is on a daring, year long journey and he's doing it all for a cause that strikes close to home.

Mickey is trekking to reignite the fight against cancer and raise funds for cancer research. Mickey has conquered his own battle with Cancer and knows from first-hand experience what a devastating moment a diagnosis is. Diagnosed with Melanoma Cancer in 2010, he has walked the halls of the oncology unit of a hospital and seen the pain and suffering this terrible disease produces.  It is in the midst of his own battle, when he vowed to make a difference in the war against cancer.

"Seeing the young faces of children fighting this disease was heartbreaking. If I passed on, I had lived my years, but these children, they had barely lived and they were already in the fight for their life" said Mickey Grosman.

It was these young faces that became the drive for Mickey. Through his expedition he wanted to become a beacon of hope for these kids, to inspire them during their battle. As Mickey overcomes many obstacles on his year-long journey it is his hope to inspire these children to get through their toughest days and Never Give Up!

His mantra for the journey is The Impossible, Possible! And it is this concept he wants the cancer community to embrace. Together we can make the impossible, Possible!

 Through state of the art technology sponsored by Satellite Phone Store and Delorme, Mickey is able to share updates, blogs and picture live from the jungle and communicate with his fans at home and the little warriors battling cancer at Florida Hospital (www.floridahospitalforchildren.com) and with the children at BASE Camp Children's Cancer Foundation(www.basecamp.org) . They are partner organizations with Amazon 5000-for the Cure (www.facebook.com/Amazon5000) and the Amazon 5000-Kids Adventure Club (www.facebook.com/groups/TrekkerInspector).

Journalists and fans can track Mickey on The Impossible, Possible Journey by following us on facebook:http://www.facebook.com/Amazon5000.
 
About Amazon 5000
Amazon 5000- For the Cure was founded to inspire those who are battling cancer, promote awareness to the fight against cancer and to provide endorsement  to research foundations and local organizations supporting Cancer patients through their journey. For more information visit: www.amazon5000.com .

An Emotional Moment: A Milestone in the Amazon 5000 Expedition

 

Mickey speaking at BASE Camp

As Mickey progresses on his Amazon 5000 journey he wishes to highlight and remind everyone of the reason he has taken on this incredibly challenging and extreme 5,000 mile expedition. It is the small faces he met in the hospital, at Ronald McDonald House, at BASE Camp who are in the fight for their lives. It is the smiles of friends and family that are in the midst of battling this horrendous disease. It is for his supporters and fans back home but most of all it is to make a difference in the war against cancer.

It is Mickey's mission to inspire and encourage these brave warriors to continue their fight strong. Mickey's motto is to Never Give Up and he embodies this as he faces extreme challenges and obstacles along his 5,000 mile endeavour and forges through despite all circumstances. 

Facing cancer himself over a year ago, Mickey knows first hand the devastating moment of a diagnosis, the fear that is followed by flood of emotions and hopelessness. He understand the need to give loved ones something to lean on, something they can be inspired by for the long battle ahead of them. 

 
When the tough days of treatment come, he hopes by sharing his Amazon 5000 journey story and setting an example of courage and willpower he can be an inspiration for cancer warriors everywhere to continue to fight and overcome the worst situations despite obstacles in their way. 

Mickey honored loved ones currently in their battle by placing a Dedication Scroll in a Time Capsule  where names of cancer fighters and heroes lined the page. This scroll was placed in a handmade capsule designed by co-founder, Noga Grosman and Rachel Perez and brought to Mickey by a team member to bring with him on his legendary Leg 5 of the Amazon 5000 Expedition.

Hand Designed Time Capsule

 The Honor Scroll lists the names shared with us by loving families and friends, and reads:

"Stay strong in your fight friends, Never Give Up. Together we can make the Impossible, Possible!"

- Mickey Grosman

Mickey launched his first Dedication Ceremony in late June in the never explored jungle of the Sumaco region in Ecuador where he opened a trail for future cancer research. At 12,000 feet elevation in the dense cloud forest of the Eastern Andes, fighting the harsh elements and cutting through the dense vegetation by machete Mickey found his desired location where he would place the Amazon 5000 Time capsule. It was a very emotional moment for Mickey, knowing from experience how tough the cancer journey is and thinking of all of those who are currently in the battle, their families and supporting friends, of which he came all this way to inspire.


"The high elevation mountains have basically blocked us", wrote Mickey in a Satellite transmission he sent just couple of weeks ago: "The deep gorges surrounded us, rapid rivers beneath us, winds and downpours above us, and the life threatening situation has become obvious! All of us feel that this Cloud-forest jungle wants to kills us and keep us here. Everything is holding us back and trying to keep us from moving forward. I feel like this place wants to keep me here forever! But Mickey and his expedition team has moved forward, leaving a trail for hope!

Mickey is the first person ever to see this view of the Sumaco Volcano in Ecuador from its North-West angle

Opening a trail for research, it is Mickey's hope researchers will follow his footprint and a cure is found in these unexplored locations. Being that 70% of vegetation with anti-cancer properties are found in the rainforest, the cure may very well lie here in the unexplored jungles of the Amazon region. 

Mickey carved a tree to mark the spot the dedication scroll was placed. Years to come when a cure is found another expedition will be launched to visit the same location where Mickey made his imprint and the timecapsule then retrieved.Having the names of real people, who are fighting and surviving cancer as we write these words being kept in this time capsule and is truly meaningful and symbolic of the war that is waged and will hopefully in the near future be finally put to an end.

                                                  The Dedication Scroll Ceremony

Through courage, inspiration and determination Mickey hopes to lead the fight against cancer by example and make his imprint on the road to finding a cure.

And for those who lost their battle we have not forgotten. A special Memorial scroll was created and added to the time capsule to commemorate the brave warriors who moved on in their journey.

Visit here to learn more about the Dedication Scroll Program: 

http://www.stayclassy.org/events/amazon-5000-dedication-scroll/e16778

YOUR Voice Makes a Difference!

Greetings from the Amazon and Happy Summer!

     

As the temperature is rising, so is our excitement. Thanks to your generous support, our program has developed significantly to a blooming campaign that has been nominated for a StayClassy Award for Best New Charity.

Mickey is now over a month into the inspiring Amazon 5000 Expedition and is trekking through Leg 5. This leg is a monumental moment in the year long adventure, as Mickey is attempting to make history by forging a route where Francisco De Orellana's famous 1541 El-Dorado voyage was forced to turn back due to the impassable terrain and harsh conditions.

Mickey has sent word to us back home about his experiences so far on Leg 5 across the Eastern Andes, he speaks of terrible conditions: nonstop rain, 40 mph freezing cold wind gusts at 12,000 feet altitude, huge canyons, deep gorges, dense jungle, unnegotiable terrainand no open sky for satellite signal. He writes "we only did 1 mile in 9 hours today, conditions are rough and all the indigenous want to quit". Despite the obstacles, Mickey and his team endure and forge on as they learn first hand what the legend of this historic route is all about.

As Mickey is making big strides on his journey we are looking to make big strides at home, uniting our large community behind the flag Mickey has raised. We wish to remind everyone of Mickey's mission and his drive behind the Amazon 5000 Expedition. To do so and make a big impact at home we cannot think of better ambassador to the 'Amazon 5000 - for the Cure' program, than YOU! 

We want to turn our voice into a mighty roar, uniting our cry for a call to take action in finding a cure for cancer. We can make a big impact at home with the Amazon 5000 - for the Cure program, but we need YOU, to become our ambassador and spread the word to your community!

Help us spread Mickey's message to unite against cancer by sharing the Amazon 5000 program with your network of friends. Here is how YOU can help:

Create Your Own Fundraising Page  

Step 1: Visit: http://www.stayclassy.org/events/amazon-5000-for-cure/e8764

Step 2: Simply click the "Create Your Own Fundraising Page" on the right hand side

**We will guide you through the creation of your page and can assist you by phone,  

skype and/or email. If needed, we can even create your page for you!  

For help email Rachel Perez, Campaign Manager at rperez@amazon5000.com.

Step 3: Personalize your page with your own text or by adding your own "Call to Action" video.

Tell them what ignited your fire and brought you to support the Amazon 5000 - for the Cure cause.

 Get The Word Out!

Post your StayClassy Page on your social networks pages, in the signature of your emails and/or via text to your friends and do it often! Add to your posting and email Mickey's video so your friends can get a first hand glimpse of what the excitement is about. 

Make a flyer post it at your gym and places you frequent. Call your friends and urge them to join you. People will answer your call if you make your voice heard. 

Sample Text: 
Anacondas, Jaguars and the Amazon River, OH MY! Cancer survivor Mickey Grosman is trekking 5,000 miles across the Amazon Jungle to raise awareness for a great cause. Visit my page  to read all about it and check it out here ! 

Make your voice heard in the fight to cure cancer! Get some good karma this week and make a donation today here .  

These are just a few ways to gain your campaign momentum, look out for more updates and tips to help get your fundraising campaign soaring. In the meantime, don't forget to track Mickey and watch him make the impassable, passable on our facebook page: www.facebook.com/Amazon5000

For more helpful tips (or a great cheerleader) feel free to email Rachel Perez, Campaign Manager at rperez@amazon5000.com. 

Happy FUNdraising,

Amazon 5000 Team

AN IDIOT ABOARD - A tale from AMAZON 5000 expedition

 You know Amazon 5000 expedition is not a picnic, right? we all see Mickey Grosman and his team on pictures they transmits via satellite communication devices that they carry on their backs. We see how all physical challenges appear obvious on their faces, buddies and actions. They are with no doubts facing great forces of nature and do their bests to survive the elements and to prevail! What we can't see in the pictures is how the Amazon 5000 expedition team SURVIVE MICKEY - the expedition leader and the spirit behind it - a tough special forces veteran dude who brings to the journey a great deal of powerful demeanor and disciplinary sets of rules, military style, he expect all to adapt. All! Who are these All?  Five Amazonian indigenous that lived till now only by the rules of the jungle (means; NO RULES), and one young fellow 'merican who volunteered to join Mickey aboard Amazon 5000 expedition all fascinated by the opportunity to go on such adventure on locations others don't dare to go. Did he know what's ahead of him? Probably not. Can he prevail? But he is still there, dragging his feet all along behind the team, most of the time in a zombie stage of mind, but he keeps going and we salute him for that. His motivation to keep going pushes him a day at a time. Every evening he spends time with Mickey who recaps the events of the day, documenting the journey, stories that Mickey highlights and the "Kid" write down, stories that are sent our way via satellite transmission directly from the expedition ground and in real time***.

Trying to help the "Kid" gain focus Mickey has asked him to log his own experience daily in short sentences.

This is what Matt Saxman - the "Kid" has to say in his own words:

July, 7, 2012

"Hi Noga, Mickey has asked me to start a list of things I am learning here and his rules. I just started a few days ago (7/5), so there is much more to come. He wanted me to send you some of what I have so far... I still have much more to learn and will be making the list much larger as we continue".

AN IDIOT ABOARD: 

"The transformation of matt saxman during 5000 miles with mickey grosman"

• 1. I am an Idiot, everything I thought I knew was wrong. Everything I am learning is right.
• 2. All the camera men on the survival shows on T.V. are pansies and get to ride in cars and other easy stuff. This is an expedition with no breaks! Everyone works equally as hard and I must work even harder.
• 3. Everyone can sit in the bar and say how tough they are, this is bullshit! Only the real men go out and do it.
• 4. Open your pace, the bigger the steps you take the faster you move. 
• 5. When you set up a tarp make sure it is tight, and high so there are no leaks.
• 6. Always shake out your boots and clothes before wearing.
• 7. Do not talk too much, or you will be assigned a task to shut you up.
• 8. If you complain about the weight of your backpack more will be added.
• 9. keep everything you can as dry as possible. Especially your tent.
• 10. Do what Mickey says right away, because he will ask something else soon and you will forget the first thing.

• 11. Never ask if you can do something tomorrow or later.
• 12. Download all pictures and video every night.
• 13. When food is scarce it is important to share and be polite. It doesn't count when everything is ok.
• 14. Always put vaseline on your feet in the morning, and iodine at night.
• 15. When it is cold out, wear layers.
• 16. You do not always need to ask permission, it is better to do something until you get told not to.
• 17. Use your sense and dont ask stupid questions!
• 18. Do not use your knife close to your body, especially any of your arteries.
• 19. Don't argue or question any commands.
• 20. Always check the battery and memory card conditions every night. 

• 21.  Do not walk with bear mace in your pocket.
• 22.  Do not say please and thank you to Mickey.
• 23.  Do not trust the indigenous with the candy or sweet crackers.
• 24.  My mom does not know everything!
• 25.  When repelling put the rope around the tree and use both ends so you can retrieve it. 
• 26.  Always treat the water you drink from rivers with iodine.
• 27.  If someone doesn't ask something, there is no reason to tell them.
• 28.  You don't get if you don't ask.
• 29.  Put Vaseline on your knife so it doesn't rust.
• 30.  Look before you grab a tree or vine to see if its spiny.

• 31.  Don’t touch Mickey's stuff unless he tells you to.
• 32.  When Mickey says to clean something, he wants it to look brand new.
• 33.  Just because Mickey asks you to carry something doesn’t mean you can use it.
• 34.  Always boil milk from strange cows.
• 35.  Put leaves on the ground before your bottom tarp, to provide an air cushion and a little more warmth.
• 36.  Always stay hydrated during dehydration drink Hammer gel.
• 37.  Take Hammer electrolytes every morning.
• 38.  Never buy cheap boots for an expedition.
• 39.  Never ask mickey to help you treat a wound, he will do it.  But it will be painful.
• 40.  A little lie that causes high morale is better than a truth that causes a bad situation to get worse.

• 41.  You must have dry tinder to start a fire in the jungle.  A candle is very helpful as well.
• 42.  Never get caught just sitting around, there is always work to be done.
• 43.  Don't think, do what your told when your told.
• 44.  If you fall behind you will be left behind!
• 45.  Don't bullshit Mickey he is not your momma.
• 46.  Always turn off the camera before you put it away in dry bag or you are a piece of idiot!
• 47.  Do not stick up for yourself even if you know you are right.  Mickey is right no matter what! Only agree, back talking makes it worse!  And you will have to write it down here....
• 48.  Do not throw cotton away!  It is useful for fire and many may other things. 
• 49.  Control your hunger, food should not be your first priority!
• 50.  Vaseline is helpful for making fire. 

July, 11, 2012

• 51.  I am here only as long as I do my job, if I become useless I will head home. 
• 52.  If Mickey says tomorrow we have the day off to relax, this means he will sleep in.  You still must be up early to prepare his breakfast, coffe, and go film wild life!  If you ever sleep in when you have a day off you will suffer for it severely for the rest of the day!
• 53.  Be proactive!  If Mickey must tell you to do something it is too late!  You must always be one step ahead to avoid being yelled at!
• 54.  Always check the leaves for ants before you use them for toilet paper!
• 55.  Only Mickey can fart in the tent, if you do you will sleep outside.
• 56.  If Mickey sees you using something he wants he will take it! 
• 57.  Mickey is like a drug dog for baby wipes, there is no hiding them!  If you have them he will find them.
• 58.  If you call Mickey a name he will insult your mother for the rest of the night.
• 59.  Always share your tooth paste or Mickey will give it away.
• 60.  Mickey has good aim, especially with a camera at your face!

• 61.  Do not waste time and money, always make sure your video is perfect.
• 62.  Always triple and double check the camera audio to make sure it is working.
• 63.  In the jungle, the jungle camera lense will fog, monitor it before every shot.
• 64.  Always camp at least 200 ft away from the river!  More if you have recently seen the river flood over twenty feet!  Also more especially if there is recent signs of flooding 10 ft above your head!
• 65.  Sleep with your watch on, your Delorme and your knife in your pocket!  If the river floods and you loose everything you are dead!
• 66.  Always have a knife on you!  Whether you are eating, sleeping, or shitting!  It is the most valuable survival tool!
• 67.  When shit hits the fan do not worry about your gear, electronics, or personal safety!  Keep recording and run after Mickey and the others no matter where they go!
• 68.  When rushing down a rapid river on a jungle built balsa raft at 0600 in the morning, you must be aware of riverside trees!  If you approach one you must lie down and hold on tight or you will be swept off the raft!
• 69.  In an emergency put your boots on first or you will loose them in the flash flood and be stuck wearing pink crocs (Noga's) until you find a replacement.

*** we couldn't bring over to you the expedition stories in real time without the support of the good people at SPS Sarasota, FL http://www.facebook.com/satellitephonestore, who stands STRONG behind Mickey while sponsoring Amazon 5000 - for the Cure with Internet Satellite communication devices and services. Thank you guys! 

Press Release: July 11, 2012

Orlando Cancer Survivor Forges Through the Impenetrable To Open a Trail for Cancer Research on the Amazon 5000 Expedition

 

PRESS RELEASE
Orlando, Florida
July 11, 2012

ORLANDO, Florida– The Amazon 5000 - For the Cure foundation, www.amazon5000.com, announced today that special forces veteran and cancer survivor, Mickey Grosman, is making history on the Amazon 5000 Expedition. He has already covered hundreds of miles on his mission to  reignite the fight against cancer and to inspire children currently battling cancer.   

Expedition Team 

Mickey Grosman is currently on Leg 5 out of 12 on his year long, 5,000 mile expedition across the South American continent. This leg is monumental as Mickey will be making history by forging a route where Francisco De Orellana’s famous 1541 El-Dorado voyage was forced to turn back due to the impassable terrain and harsh conditions.

Mickey is leading a courageous team of 6 through the virtually impenetrable terrain of the Eastern Andes through the Sumaco National Park in Ecuador, creating a path through the unexplored region never crossed by man before. This area is notorious for its unrelenting rain, earthquakes and extreme terrain.

By creating this path Mickey will be opening a opportunity for future researchers to study the plant life of this region. 70% of the plants with anti-cancer properties are native to tropical rainforests just like the Sumaco region. It is Mickey’s hope researchers will find in this never before seen vegetation, a cure to cancer.

Mickey crosses river rapids with
Dedication Scroll in hand.

After opening this trail Mickey is descending the brutal Eastern Andes to the tropical rainforest and will continue on the Amazon 5000 expedition, making his way along the Mighty Amazon River and  through the dense jungles of Ecuador, Peru, Columbia and Brazil.

 Along the way he is commemorating those who lost their battle with cancer and honoring current cancer warriors in a dedication ceremony, where he will post their names in a time capsule in the jungle that will not be opened until a cure for cancer is found. 

Through state of the art technology sponsored by Satellite Phone Store, Mickey is able to do live broadcasts from the jungle and communicate with his fans at home and the little warriors battling cancer at Florida Hospital (www.floridahospitalforchildren.com) and with the BASE Camp Children’s Cancer Foundation (www.basecamp.org) . They are partner organizations with Amazon 5000-for the Cure (www.facebook.com/Amazon5000) and the Amazon 5000-Kids Adventure Club (www.facebook.com/groups/TrekkerInspector/).Journalists and fans can track Mickey on The Impossible, Possible Journey by following us on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Amazon5000.

To interview Mickey live from the jungle please contact Rachel Perez, Campaign Manager at rperez@amazon5000.com.

Amazon 5000 Expedition Blog: 7-9-12 - 7-10-12

7-9-2012:   Constant rain out poured all night and the river we camped next to rose almost 20 ft.  If it would have risen up another 10 ft we would have all been washed away along with our gear.  We trekked a little down river until we came to a vast forest of balsa trees.  I decided this would be a good location for us to construct our raft to help us get through this vast swampy terrain.  

Balsa wood is some of the lightest wood on the planet. It is also the faster growing tree in the jungle. In Spanish, balsa literally means raft.  We started by chopping down six of the biggest balsa trees we could find.  This took some time; we started this whole process at about 09:00.  After we cut down all the trees we needed we sectioned off its branches so we would have just the straightest part of the trunks.  We then remove the bark from the trunks; this makes the balsa logs more than 30% lighter. This in turn adds to their buoyancy.  

While we were stripping the bark, I found a huge snail!  It was much larger than my hand!  The indigenous explained to me how this is really good for eating and how great of a find it is.  The snail has a big green shell and large orange slimy body.  It was very interesting and a neat discovery here in the jungle.  

After we stripped all of the logs of their bark, we used the bark as a slide to help us get the logs to the river. We flattened out the bark and rolled the logs over it, one by one.  The inside of the bark is very slippery and made the job much easier.  Once we had all the logs in the river, we floated them all together and organized them to begin our building process.  We started by cutting out harder tree that grows near by the shoreline, sharpening it onto wood nails and pegging 4 wood nails in a crisscross method on each balsa log over a center pole for stability.  Repeating these nails installation on both ends of the raft, we wrapped it around in several layers using our climbing rope for additional stability. We do not know what kind of rapids or obstacles may turn up down the river. We lashed everything together very tightly as it must be as strong as possible since it must carry six people and our gear, weighing over 1000 pounds!  

With the raft now completed we loaded all the backpacks and did a quick float test. It seemed stable, however I decided we should add another two balsa logs on the outside for stability. At this time it was 15:00, it took us a total of six hours to build this monster raft! Everyone hopped in the raft and we were off down the river. The raft was very stable and held up nicely as we cruised through calm water for the first few minutes steering her with a bamboo poles we all cut in advance. Very soon we came up to our first rapid. We cruised through it quickly as I yelled directions at the guys while they navigated the raft with much reliability. 

Born and raised in the tropics of the Amazon by river banks my indigenous support team was now in their comfort zone. Finally! They know the river and they love it! I was very impressed with the raft and knew it was not going to have any problems. 

We rode the balsa raft down the river for another few miles before I decided it was time to stop and camp for the night.  We pulled over to the side of the river and unloaded.  We quickly set up our camp and ate a nice dinner.  It is about 19:00 now and we are all getting ready for bed.

  
7-10-2012:  Wake up, wake up! Move faster, rapido! Shouting orders quickly I tried to save the day. Wow! We got a nice surprise this morning at exactly 05:00!  But it all started with us setting up camp last evening and parking our shiny new balsa raft at the river bank using two braided strands of 550 paracord to anchor it down to a tree base. The raft has been anchored strong! I recall seeing my indigenous support team as they began prepare camp less than 5 ft away from the river and only at elevation of 3 ft above it.  I knew this was a bad idea and was breaking my number one rule right there, right then.  However the indigenous swore up and down that this was the dry season and since it did not rain much during the day we did not have to worry about the river flooding. Wishing to put a trust in them as they are the indigenous River people of the Amazon region I went against my better judgment and we set up the camp in their original position. 

 
It started pouring buckets of rain at 20:00 last night!  I woke up again at midnight to checked the river to make sure it was not rising since it was still raining very hard, it had risen maybe six inches.  This was completely normal and nothing alarming.  I talked with the indigenous and they said it was okay and that we were high enough above the water and did not need to pack and prepare to move.  I knew this was a bad idea but for some reason I made the mistake of listening to them and went back to sleep.  I woke up again at 03:00 to check the river, it was still raining fairly hard, but less than it was before. It was pitch dark by the river and the river was humming. Aimed with my Princeton tech head lamp I glazed into the water. It has now risen a foot.  I knew in my head, and I cannot believe I did not listen to my guts, that we needed to prepare to move.  I just had the feeling that things will go wrong from this point.  I talked to Delfin again, he said he could not sleep and was going to stay up and keep watch.  I thought okay, he’s going to watch, he says "the river act normal and all is okay", so I went back to sleep.  

I still had the bad feeling, my guts tried telling me something…. and I ignored it like an “Ahabal” (idiot). I fell asleep shortly and the next thing I knew was waking up by the screams of Augusto!  He was yelling frantically. I didn’t have much time to think as as soon as my eyes opened a wave of water rushed over my tent rapidly.  I was immediately wide awake and sprung into action grabbing all the electronics stored nightly in my tent and hanging them in the trees.  It was still pouring rain at this time so everything around was soaked.  There was no high ground to be seen so we had no other choice but to pack everything into anything and get on the balsa raft to escape with our lives!  

This thought process took place over a 60 second period.  During this time I realized Matt Saxman was nowhere to be seen, I thought what the heck!? Where could he be at a time like this!? Was he swept into the water? I yelled his name and heard a strange mumble coming from inside his bevy tent which was submerged in about six inches of water.  I was absolutely shocked!  I could not believe it!  Everyone was up and frantically trying to save all the gear and especially our lives and this guy was sound asleep, in the water, probably feeling like rocking in his mommy’s womb.  I screamed at him to get up quickly and moving and shouted his way that we were in a flash flood. 

Disconnected from reality Matt slowly got out of his tent and then it hit him. He finally realized what was going on and he hopped into action, but not too fast. It was obvious he is confuse and not made out of first responders’ material.  He grabbed some electronics hung them in a tree and stood there. I urged him to quickly get into filming. "Capture the moment!" I yelled. The other camera men were collecting our gear and hanging it up on the trees and salvaging everything possible. Matt was the only one who did not initiate any rescue. “Aim the video cam and shoot” I yelled. It was not time for babysitting this grownup. “I was sure you all were playing a prank on me” Matt said later. “That’s why I acted slow…” Endless excuses this guy has. I am not impressed any more with his excuses and white lies. It might work at the classroom facing his teacher, but not here, not in an emergency situation. When it’s time for action no excuse can excuse you!    
 
I continued to grab anything and everything I could find, all of my thousands of dollars of gear were floating by me headed off down the river!  The other guys were scattered around grabbing everything as well!  Delfin went to try and get the raft.  We needed to move it closer to us since the river was so high.  He was not able to move it since we tied it down so well with braided strands of 550 paracord. We had to walk in raging current up to our necks, but were still too far away from the raft, we had no other option but to swim for it.  We all had our adrenaline rush which helped at that point.  We all loaded up our gear and ourselves on the raft and just as we were up it started to sink due to the strong current and our anchor line pulling it down.  We had to cut the line quickly or lose the raft. Bartelo, one of my guys was still in the water a little away from the raft, the second we cut the line the raft popped up wildly from its submersion and began breaking the trees holding it back from rolling down the raging river.  These trees gave Bartelo the extra seconds he needed to get on the raft or he would have been stranded!  Once on the raft the situation got even more dangerous!  

We were now in fast moving rapid water in pitch black darkness with giant trees raging down the river alongside with us threatening to crash into our raft.  This was no place to be on a jungle built balsa raft! The rapids, fueled by rains and by steep descents of the Andes, were intense, and the raft propelled over tumbled tree trunks and around giant rocks with grinding roar aiming to drown us as we all hollered to hold on. We navigated around river bank trees, giant Bamboo logs, and the massive waves of the rolling river. It was not the right time for whitewater rafting but we were trapped stranded on a makeshift balsa raft and needed to survive this ordeal.  The trees along the river bank were very dangerous!  Each one we went through tried to sweep us off the raft like dust on a door mat.  The river waves reached two feet high and were rolling over us and the gear.  We even had to navigate around other broken boats.  We ran into and rolled over several busted up dugout canoes.  I was amazed and very impressed to see that the balsa raft could stand up to these extreme and unforgiving conditions!  

We continued down the rushing river at dawn, and I noticed all of the insects were taking refuge with us as well.  We were all covered in ants, caterpillars, beetles, crickets, and most of all SPIDERS!  We were all covered in spiders of all kinds and sizes!  They were crawling on our faces, in our clothes, everywhere!  Luckily no one was bitten.  We continued downstream until we reached the Payamino Bridge about 5 hours later.  It continued to rain this whole time and kept the river flowing amazingly fast!  We were cruising at about 6 mph most of the day.  Once we reached the bridge we finally spotted a place we could park the raft without running it into a bunch of trees or rocks.  We paddled it into a small cove and tied it off on a tree.  We began to unload and did a gear inventory to see what we had lost.  I was amazed to find out we did not lose anything other than 2 machetes, Matt's boots, and worst of all one of my favorite hats.  It continued to rain for the rest of the day, it is 22:00 now and it is still raining, the river has risen even higher and is moving even faster.  However today I listened to my guts and made sure we camped high enough above the water to avoid a dilemma like today!