Day three was all about walking along the floor of the cloud covered jungle.

“The trek continues down the Rio Coscapa valley where forests are more developed. The vegetation will be showing more vegetation with lovely larger canopies adorned by bromeliads, mosses and orchids. Bird life is more abundant. After another 6-7 hour walk you will finally reach Chairu at 4,592 ft. (1,400 m). Transfer by car to Coroico. Trip back to La Paz.”

This photo was taken hours after our 5:00 a.m. wake-up call. We departed from camp in the rain and in pitch blackness, and walked for more than an hour along a narrow path right on the edge of a very precipitous fall–definitely not a place for a slip up!

A slightly-blurry photo of me (it was still quite dark!) standing in front of one of the many waterfalls that we would pass on the third day of the trek.

The final suspension bridge of our three-day mountain to jungle trek. Over the course of the three days we descended more than 4,000 meters.

The sun was starting to come out, but way down here below all the clouds it was hard to tell the time of day.

The final uphill section of the entire journey!

Walking in the clouds…

Ferns, ferns, ferns…

…and even more ferns!

The hiking trail quickly disappears into the heavy vegetation. I couldn’t even count the times my head/face got slapped with vines or (wet!) tree branches.

Nearing mid-day, and parts of the trail continued to get even darker!!!

I was told that there is normally quite the view behind these plants.

Humid but cool.

Finally, towards the end of our trek, the clouds started to dissipate.

All of the surrounding hills were once again visible…

…as well as our final destination: a little sleepy jungle town on the crest of a hill. (Center of photo.)

Celebrating victory as I crossed the “finish line!”

This trek was not only a celebration of my recent return to good health, it was also a celebration of the hope that resides in each and every person who lives with inflammatory arthritis, and of the will to keep moving.

Please join me in these celebrations by making a donation to Show Us Your Hands! a nonprofit charity organization that serves to unite and inspire people who live with inflammatory arthritis. 100% of all funds donated will go directly towards community programs, including the Inflammatory Arthritis Community Collage, the Our Hands Can! Photo Book, and community posters.

For more information, please visit trekforhope.causevox.com.

Stay tuned…for the next adventure of Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy!