Venezuelan adventure: British team make first ascent of Amazon peak – in pictures

Cerro Autana is a spectacular quartzite-sandstone tepuy (table-top mountain) in western Venezuela. The local Piaroa Indians revere it as the stump of the tree of life, from which all life grew. The starting point for the expedition was the frontier town of Puerto Ayacucho, reached from Caracas by car or plane. From there, the team made their way to the Piaroa community of Ceguera via an eight-hour boat ride up the Rio Orinoco and tributary Rio Autana
Photograph: Alastair Lee/Berghaus

After seeking a blessing from the local shaman and participating in a memorable yopo ceremony (snorting a hallucinogenic powder), they began a four-day trek through virgin jungle to establish a trail and base camp below the rarely visited east face of Autana
Photograph: Alastair Lee/Berghaus

The initial climb involved as much vegetation as rock face, but as the rock quality improved the team climbed above the jungle canopy and into the Cuevo Autana, the highest elevated cave system in the world where they camped
Photograph: Alastair Lee/Berghaus

Above the cave system, the wall became incredibly steep
Photograph: Alastair Lee/Berghaus

The largest cave was 'cathedral like' and provided fresh running water, plenty of flat ground and truly awesome views over uninterrupted jungle
Photograph: Alastair Lee/Berghaus

Sean 'Stanley' Leary 'hanging out' en route up the mountain
Photograph: Alastair Lee/Berghaus

100% humidity, 35 degree heat and torrential downpours combined with mosquitoes, flies and a dozen different species of ants, made for an irritating backdrop against the more serious menace of tarantulas, scorpions and deadly snakes. Photographer Alastair Lee, pictured, said he was only able to 'enjoy' the experience in retrospect
Photograph: Alastair Lee/Berghaus