THE STORY

It was a big operation, and many said it was a foolhardy one; like the summit of Roraima, the top of Devil Mountain is rocky, and divided by deep canyons. Jimmie persuaded two friends, Gustavo Heny and Felix Cardona, to make an expedition in advance, on foot, to examine a break in Auyantepui's cliffs to see if it might serve as an escape route from the rocky plateau, just in case anything should happen to the plane. Heny and Cardona were successful, and made the first ascent of Auyantepui in 1937.

Jimmie Angel and his wife Marie

Weeks later, Jimmie Angel, accompanied by his wife Marie, Heny, and Miguel Delgado, set up camp on a high area of savannah close to the cliffs and the escape route. Cardona was also there, but would remain in camp as a radio contact. It was from here that they took off to attempt a landing on the summit to look for gold. Jimmie made searched several areas on the 150 square mile summit to look for a possible landing area, and finally found what he was looking for: a more or less level grassy area not far from his famous waterfall. Angel and his companions prepared for a landing.

After circling to prepare carefully for his approach, he cut the engine to reduce the risk of damaging the propeller. The final approach was good and on touching down the wheels rolled on the grassy surface, but, as the aircraft slowed, the wheels sank into some soft mud and the plane turned on its nose. Luckily, no one was hurt.

Jimmie's Crashed landing on Auyantepui

Jimmie's Crashed landing on Auyantepui

Angel's party spent two days trying to salvage the plane, but it was clear that they would have to make their escape on foot. Their dreams of finding gold were redirected towards their own survival. Since attempts at radio communication to Cardona had failed, they left a simple message in large letters on one of the wings, pointing in the intended direction of their walk. It must have been a daunting prospect to traverse the unexplored surface of Auyantepui since the summit plateau is so huge; its labyrinth of rocks and ravines forcing an arduous zigzag route over even the shortest distance. It took eleven gruelling days for Jimmie and his companions to escape from Auyantepui.