About Us

Expedition Altiplano 2012 is a medical research venture led by the Swansea University Wilderness Medicine Society (SWMS) in collaboration with world renowned high altitude physiologist Professor Damian Bailey of the University of Glamorgan. It follows a very successful SWMS expedition to Mount Elbrus, Russia in 2008, which had its research published in Stroke Dec 2011. This latest expedition is led by Naomi Dodds, President of SWMS, and leader of multiple expeditions with Dorset Expeditionary Society.

Expedition Dates: 27th July - 17th August 2012.


AIM
To carry out research at high altitude and to summit some of the Andes highest peaks.

OBJECTIVES
  • To conduct publishable research on the effect of hypoxia at high altitudeon the human body.
  • To summit various acclimatisation peaks near Putre and Parinacota.
  • To climb Sajama (6542m), Bolivia’s highest peak.

TRIP DESCRIPTION
Expedition Altiplano 2012 will begin in the port of Arica, Chile on the edge of the Pacific Ocean. The team will then start the journey Eastwards across the Atacama Desert, climbing to Putre (3500m). Putre offers a fantastic base for acclimatisation with plenty of scope for mountaineering, bouldering and exploring the local culture. From here we will move to the remote village of Parinacota (4393m), the base in which the bulk of research will take place. Here the opportunity will arise to climb some magnificent peaks as well as relaxing in nearby natural thermal springs. Our main effort will be directed to summiting the stunning 6542m peak of Sajama, Bolivia’s highest peak, conducting all the necessary research on its slopes.

The trip is designed to maximise the time that the group will have in the peaks and plains of this incredible wilderness, with the exact routes and summiting party being finalised by the expedition leadership team.

Prior to the expedition departure to South America baseline testing will be conducting in the high altitude chamber (4600m) at the University of Glamorgan. We will be looking at factors predisposing individuals to Acute Mountain Sickness and the diagnostic features of this condition.


STATUS
This venture is being led by Swansea Wilderness Medicine Society, with approval from the Dorset Expedition Society and funding from the Mount Everest Foundation. We will be submitting our research proposals through the University of Glamorgan. 


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