Lower La Paz, looking ESE from the Hotel Plaza penthouse (CB effort!). The mountain in the background is Illimani, on which the second weather station will be installed in July.
N.B. Thanks for all the e-mail messages! We will respond as soon as possible, but please realize that power consumption limits our connect frequency.
15 June Update from La Paz
There are currently two expedition groups progressing toward the summit of Sajama: the primary team led by Lonnie Thompson is now ascending the mountain, and the weather station/snowpack analysis team is in La Paz -- from whom this update originates.
The ice core drilling expedition departed from La Paz on 10 and 11 June, thanks in part to support from ORSTOM and the Bolivian team members (Jaime Argollo, et al.). Among the group are twenty porters and two guides from the Agency Colibri. In Sajama village, a ceremony involving local residents was held on 13 June (Friday), to promote a safe and successful expedition. Here in La Paz we have not been in communication with the main team, but we expect that the ascent of the mountain began yesterday (Saturday)!
The weather station/snowpack analysis team (Doug Hardy, Mathias Vuille, and Carsten Braun) arrived at sunrise in La Paz on 11 June. The early morning temperature of -5 degrees C rose quickly thanks to a clear sky. Clearing customs with our 11 pieces of baggage went relatively smoothly. As last year, the three of us are cramped into one room of the Hotel Eldorado, elevation 3700m. Wednesday through Friday were spent adjusting to the altitude (being tourists), organizing equipment, and rounding up supplies (shopping). Yesterday (Saturday) we did a spectacular walk up a nearby mountain called Chacaltaya (5380m); the great view included Illimani, Huayna Potosi, Lake Titicaca and even Sajama. Today we plan to watch an American Cup soccer match between Bolivia and Peru.
We are tentatively planning to depart for Sajama on Wednesday or Thursday (18 or 19 June), along with Bernard Pouyaud of ORSTOM. Our next update on the expedition will occur from base camp, shortly after we arrive, and subsequently become more frequent.
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Document maintained by Doug Hardy (dhardy@geo.umass.edu)
Last updated: 8 October 1998
http://www.geo.umass.edu/climate/bolivia/june15.html