| Uxmal's Pyramid of the Magician |
| The Yucatan, Mexico |
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| I climbed six pyramids on this trip, and the Pyramid of the Magician was the most intimidating. In full profile, the edifice is quite striking, which you can see on my highlights page by clicking Here . Part of it is the sheer mass. Four earlier, smaller temples are covered by this version, the Mayan form of redevelopment. |
| Uxmal's Pyramid of the Magician looks extremely steep when first confronting its stairway. |
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| No other pyramid came with a warning sign, but I could have easily broken my neck on any of them. This trip was all about climbing the pyramids. Danger is my business here. |
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| As usual the climb up was no challenge, and I took my pictures from the top, which appear both in the video and on the previous page. Getting down was definitely going to be tricky. Hanging closely onto the chain, the safest method, as demonstrated in this picture, worked for me. |
| Back on the ground I filmed the descent of other climbers. It's quite a scary angle, but the chain is a security blanket, no matter how awkward a position is necessary for clinging to that low chain. |
| The first two people move slowly downward crouching with one hand on the chain. The trailing man uses both his hands and feet to avoid falling. |
| There is literally no room for error making it all the way down from the Pyramid of the Magician. I never saw anyone fall. |
| If you have a high speed internet connection, watch the Intrepid Berkeley Explorer's free video of this trip to Central America and Mexico, "Mayavision", by clicking on AdventurePics.com . |
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