The UMASS weather station and snowpack analysis team (Doug Hardy, Mathias Vuille and Carsten Braun) left the heat and humidity of western Massachusetts on June 10. Many thanks to Anne Waple for again taking us to the airport in Boston. After an uneventful flight and an expensive experience with the Bolivian Customs we arrived in La Paz, where we met the UMASS lake coring and biomarker analysis team (Leslie Anderson, Emily Cobabe and Mark Abbott). This year our aclimatisation period included a trip to the Chacaltaya Glacier (probably the world's highest ski resort) and watching a soccer game (Bolivia vs. Peru, as part of the Copa America).
On June 19 we left for Nevado Sajama (thanks to Bernard Pouyoud, ORSTOM, for giving us a lift). Climbing Sajama was a lot more enjoyable compared to last year, less difficult talus and scree and more snow and ice. Similar to last year we again spend one day at Campo Alto (5600 m) in order to get used to the altitude. On the summit, we joined scientist from the Byrd Polar Research Center, The Ohio State University, Penn State and ORSTOM in their continous effort to conduct research despite very inhospitable weather conditions. After 8 days, 16 m (vertical !) digging in snow and moving the weather station ~ 50 m (thanks to all the people who helped with this effort !) we were more than ready to leave. On the way down, Mathias Vuille did the first descent of a steep new route on Sajama's N-face (Swiss Glacier Express, WI2, X) in record time.
Doug Hardy left to return to the U.S. after returning to La Paz and Mathias Vuille and Carsten Braun, after relaxing and recovering for a week, left for Illimani on July 14 to install the world's second highest satellite-linked weather station. Illimani is a beautiful mountain and offers exciting climbing in a spectecular setting (highly recommended !). After spending two nights at 6265 m the installation of the weather station was finished and now we are receiving data every three hours from both Sajama and Illimani.
In addition to our sponsors we would like to sincerely thank:
