NEWEST RESIDENT – A THREE-TOED SLOTH

Monte Azul is very pleased to announce the arrival of another three-toed sloth to the property. Our friends at Cloud Bridge Reserve were called upon to rescue a sloth from a house in Rivas last week. The sloth appeared in a residential area with no forest in the immediate vicinity for the sloth to call home.

Cloud Bridge Reserve is located up the Chirripo Valley (http://cloudbridgereserve.wordpress.com/) at a much higher elevation than Monte Azul. Since three-toed sloths do not thrive in these higher elevations, the folks at Cloud Bridge brought him/her to Monte Azul. He /she was released into the primary rain forest just above Café Blue. We are very pleased to have another sloth on our property.

This new sloth will join the previous three-toed sloth rescued by Carlos in June 2010. This sloth was found near San Isidro. The neighbors had noticed that the sloth was crossing a very busy road once per week. Because a sloth’s metabolism is so slow, they only defecate once per week. They climb down to the ground, “do their business” and then climb back into the tree tops. This particular sloth had recently decided that the best place to defecate was on the other side of this dangerous road. The neighbors were very worried that this sloth would be hit by a car and were looking for a safe home for him/her. So Carlos brought him home and we released him/her in the primary rain forest near the studio.

I know that ther is also one other sloth on the property. In May 2008, our gardener spotted a sloth in the trees on the southern edge of the property. This was the first such sighting in the area in 10 years. Everyone at Monte Azul and the area was very excited. The forest regeneration work that the area was doing was bringing back and supporting the native sloths.

I have attached a few photos of these welcomed residents. If we spot them again, I will be sure and let you know.

RACE TO CHIRRIPO

On February 26, 2011, the 23^rd International Cross Country Race to Chirripo was held. Chirripo is the highest peak in Costa Rica and it is a once in a life time event for most people who climb this mountain. From the park entrance, at approximately 4,400 feet above sea level, it is an 8-9 hour hike to the base camp at 11,000+ feet followed by another 3-4 hour hike to reach the summit at 12,350 feet above sea level. Most hikers spend the night at base camp and reach the summit the following morning.

For the competitors in the Carerra Chirripo it is a bit different. These runners come from all over the world to challenge themselves and other competitors in this grueling race, and grueling it is. It is a total of 34 km (23 miles). The 17 km uphill is all about your lung capacity and conditioning as the air gets thinner and thinner. The 17 km downhill is all about the punishment on your knees and ankles. The winner of the race makes this brutal journey in approximately 3 hours, 15 minutes. Incredible! Even more incredible is that there has never been winner of this event from outside of Costa Rica.

This year there were 225 participants. This included Monte Azul’s Andy Cardenas. Andy is the head cook at Café Blue. In his spare time, he is also a porter for hikers to Chirripo. Andy will run the visitor’s possessions to the base camp in the morning and then return to Café Blue to cook lunch and dinner for hotel guests that same day.

Monte Azul is very proud to have sponsored Andy this year and are pleased to announce that Andy finished 33^rd with a time of 4 hours, 15 minutes.

For more information about this race go to www.carrerachirripo.com. Or if you want to attempt the climb on your own, Monte Azul can arrange a luxury package for you including porter service.