"Mexico's Agua Azul is an amazing, bizarre place. The bright sun, the jungle setting, the brilliant flow from big fall to big fall, the travertine deposits that turn the water a milky blue...there's just nothing like it. Here, I'm about to plunge 35 feet to finish the second of five waterfalls. For me, going over is more about just deciding to do it."

Bob McDougall, 50
A veteran expedition paddler and rock climber, McDougall makes a living challenging gravity. During his team's 1991 expedition in Chiapas, Mexico, they made the first descent of an underground section of the Shumulja River and fueled a trend in big-waterfall running. The result was the popular National Geographic Explorer episode "Jungle Kayakers." Now a Hollywood stunt rigger based in Durango, Colorado, McDougall's film credits include Cliffhanger and the Matrix sequels.

To contribute to Your Turn, send your photographs via e-mail to adventure@ngs.orsert  

Photographs by Markus Schmid




Pick up the April 2006 issue to read more about a historic escape from the Andes, discover secrets of adventure in California, check out the newest in travelwear from the equator, and plan your week in Morocco .

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