Pico Bolivar
We got back to Merida from Lake Maracaibo at midday. The one thing that I wanted to see in Merida was the cable car. It was the longest and highest cable car when it was built. It held the record for a long time but now the longest cable car system is the Ba Na Hills cable car near Danang in Vietnam at 5,801 metres that opened in 2013.
The Merida cable car was originally opened in 1960. After many years of operation, it closed in 2008 to be reconstructed. After several delays, its new format was opened in 2016, It starts at 1,577 metres and rises to Pico Espejo at 4,765 metres.
On my first visit to the city, I baulked at the cost for foreigners at nearly USD50 (when Venezuelan citizens pay a tenth of the price). When I decided that it was worth the price and I was going to pay that much, the cable car was closed due to high winds. It also only opens on certain days so the opening day and weather conditions must coincide with your planned time in the city. The last trip up during the day is at 1pm or 2pm (depending on the day of the week). The last trip down is at 6pm.
On my return from Lake Maracaibo, the weather forecast for the next day was 86% chance of rain, so you might see nothing due to rain and low clouds plus high winds, so there was a high probability that it would be closed. The weather that afternoon was clear blue skies. I had to change my plans and go straight away. I grabbed thermals, gloves, buff and fleece.
Running parallel to the main cable car is an auxcillary cable car system that is used for maintenance.
Another view of the maintenance system with the base of one of the towers of the main cable car to the left. Looking down, there is a well maintained path that roughly follows the path of the cable car. It zig zags across the mountain slopes, sometimes at a gradient, sometimes gaining height with steps cut into the rock. I didn't see anyone on it.
The sister cable car coming down as I ascended. It is painted in the national colours of the flag of red, blue and orange.
A view of the mountains.
One of the towers before the next station.
My plan was simple. To get to the top first, then work my way back to the base station.
The approach to the second station, with a large grassed area, plus cafes and seating in the sun.
I was well above the tree line. Below were glacial features such as these twin tarns...
...and another tarn.
A view of one of the cable cars on the parallel maintenance cable system.
A view as we approached the top station. The cable car had ascended over three kilometres and although there were clear blue skies and bright sunshine, it was cold with a biting wind. I had already put on my thermals, buff, gloves and thick fleece, all brought on a three month trip for just this one day when I knew it would be bitterly cold.
A statue of Santa Maria at the top of Pico Espejo. This is at 4,765 metres, or it may be 4,880 as there are many differing heights suggested from different sources but when you are nearly five kilometres above sea level in thin, cold air, perhaps gasping for breath if you have not acclimatised, a hundred metres will make no difference.
To the north is the Pico Bolivar, a ragged outcrop of bare rock. It is the highest point in Venezuela at 4,978 metres. It was just a half an hour walk away but walkers need a permit and their are staff on hand to make sure people don't walk along the path without the required permit and guide. It was so close yet so far.
A view across the mountain in the opposite direction. It was cold and windy at the top station, whether you were inside or outside. In the sun, it was pleasant but in the shade or when a cloud passed over, it was cold. Even the baristas and souvenir sellers were wrapped up warm with hats, gloves and balaclavas.
I didn't stay long and took the next cable down to pose at the Estacion Loma Redonda at 4,045 metres.
Further down the cable car system, I stopped at the third station. This is a mecca for adrenaline sport enthusiaists. It has a climbing wall and some zip wires where people can zip between towers supporting the cable cars.