Climbing in Rio's Favelas - Asa Firestone

Rio de Janeiro's favelas are slums that are surrounded by some of the most breathtaking natural landscape found in a city. Penned in by beaches on one side and steep granite cliffs on the other, drug cartels ran the neighborhoods until just this year, when the government cracked down in anticipation of the World Cup soccer tournament. When Asa Firestone realized those granite cliffs might be open for climbing, he didn't hesitate to attempt to revive Rio's climbing culture that has been dormant since the 1970's. His company, Beyond Gear, makes climbing gear and helps teach favela youths to climb, in hopes that it could lead to a career as a guide on the city's cliffs.