Day 8 – On to Parinacota by Cath Pendleton

Our last day in Putre and we all enjoyed a lay-in as breakfast was not until 9am. Everyone enjoyed a delicious breakfast of scrambled egg, yoghurt, cheese and cereal. Then it was time to load up the bus for our journey onto Parinacota. The journey was mainly uneventful other than some flying food from the bus racks on a few corners. Arrived in the village of Parinacota (4392m) at 1pm – unloaded and bagsied beds to avoid a top bunk!! Some of the group enjoyed a walk around the village and a picnic lunch. It was time to start testing, which was not particularly pleasant as the hostel was freezing cold. Others relaxed and watched the Olympics in the warm dining room and a few spent the afternoon relaxing watching the alpacas and other wildlife. Finally it was dinner time and we were treated to a delicious big bowl of hearty soup (quinoa + veg with some alpaca pieces) followed by a main meal of alpaca steak and rice. It was then surprise time for ‘Julien’ we had not forgotten his birthday and we all burst into song ‘Happy Birthday to you!’ with some balloons bouncing around and he was given a hand-crafted card & chocolate.

Day 7 – Tarapaca by Aisling O’Brien

With the sounding of Cath’s robot alarm @ 4:20am, also known as stupid o’clock our day adventure to Tarapaca (5800m) began. A quick shower and dressing we were ready to board our 3 minibuses in the pitch dark @ 5am. While my hour long journey was filled with sleepy silence, one of the other buses was filled with shenanigans of forgotten boots and an experience to remember with a fire extinguisher and an expedition member’s close call to breaking the window behind him at the site of smoke in the bus. We were deposited @ 4700m and began to add as many layers as possible to stave off the biting -15C temperate; this included the addition of gaiters aided by 4 people and an ice axe. The aim for the day was acclimatising as much as possible and practising ice axe and crampon skills. Once everyone was ready we set off up the shale and scree slope. Many expedition members resembled sure-footed mountain goats and made easy work of the slope and gain in altitude while others took a slow and steady pace up the mountain. A few hundred meters up the scree slope, we divided into smaller groups; some heading to the summit, others 5000m+ and others to practice snow skills at a slightly lower altitude. With the groups divided, everyone carried on at their own pace and soon the summit crew were lost from view. The 5000m+ group followed suite and disappeared from view soon too. The slow and steady group, to which I belonged, plodded away up the scree slope. After several hours uphill walk, we made the group decision to turn around and descend as members were beginning to feel rough! Descending the shale and scree slope was much easier and much more enjoyable than going up it! What took us several hours uphill took us minutes to descend. At the base of the mountain where we made our base camp, we practised our snow skills, although some with O2 sats of 63% decided to sit that one out and relax instead. Although basking in the sun was fun, myself, Rhodri & John K went in search of mobile coverage to organise the earlier return of minibuses. We managed to flag down a passing police car and with wild gesturing and my poorly broken Spanish we managed to get our message across and they would make the call when they got coverage. Much to our relief the bus arrived about an hour later, just in time to collect the slow and steady group and the 5000m+ group (who had grown closer through a certain shared experience). A small group of 5 decided they hadn’t had enough walking / exercise for the day and walked home. The summit team made a valiant attempt but turned back just short of 5400m due to increasing AMS and knee high penitents. Once all returned to our hotel base, we rested for the afternoon, then descended upon the little restaurant with the open fire for our final 3 course meal. After we had all had our fill of fried fish (mine still had it’s eyes) we, with heavy hearts & many hearts said goodbye to two Swansea medics and wished them well on their homeward bound journey. After our goodbyes, we headed to bed for a well deserved sleep!

Update 15/8/12

Team Altiplano are back at sea level after adventures at high altitude. Final celebrations and goodbyes shall be held this evening before the team depart for home or travels tomorrow. The daily blog and photos shall follow shortly.

Day 6: Results Day by Nick Cochand

The sun was barely kissing the top of Taapaca (5800m)as a gaggle of down jacketed students braved the pre-dawn chill to check exam results. Relief for some disappointment for others and sadly two of the exped will be heading home early. Breakfast was followed by our second day walk. This time to hot springs to at 4000m! What luxury, although on pool proved to be so hot that after jumping in one member of the expedition jumped straight out causing our first minor-ish injury of the trip. The trip home led us through a cactus minefield with small spikey balls leaping to attack at every opportunity. A number of the team were spiked, one somehow managed to get spikes in his tongue - first outing for the expedition emergency dental kit which serendipously accompanied us to the springs. As the day wore on altitude was begining to take its toll on more of the team. Back st the hotel we basked in the sun. Some trying to coax a flame from the hypoxic MSR stove for a cup of coffee while a small outdoor theatre was set up for the suturing. The off to another cracking dinner and early bed before our 4.30am start for our ascent of Taapaca the next day. Lessons learnt: Dont lick cacti Lowest sats: 63% on air No of sutures: 6

Day 5: Dog Tired by Anna Woodman

On awakening at altitude our O2 sats and AMS (acute mountain sickness) scores were taken and found to be showing effects of 3500m. Breakfast was a luxury of bread, cereal, yoghurt, cheese & cocoa tea which was enjoyed by all. At 9am we set out on a gentle walk down the valley from Putre, where we were joined by a new team member - Steve, the dog. With sand under foot and the sun beaming down, we admired the scenary, without a single cloud in the sky. After approximately 6km we found shade beside rock paintings, but unfortunately had to turn back due to a landslide, despite no recorded rainfall in the desert. The walk back up the valley was accompanied by Steve who chased the local livestock and rounded up the team. We were met by a stampeed of cows and hopped over a wall before returning back to the town. The afternoon's events included resting for many however other activities included the fight to fit Yeti gaiters to boots, a lesson in rugby and ongoing research testing. Dinner was once again a delicious three course meal, next to the open fire. With full bellies and glowing cheeks, we headed to bed before 9pm. Good night & good luck to those who get their exam results in the morning.

Update 2/8/12

After a good day's acclimatisation trekking to the thermal springs we are preparing this evening, ready to climb Terapaka tomorrow. The team diary is being written & we shall upload day 5 & 6 on here as soon as time & technology allows.

Day 4: Ascent to Putre by John Murphy

The day began with a few final step tests and early morning runs for the more adventurous. Breakfast was met with a combination of excitement and surprise - bread rolls! Still, this wasn't with gusto as we fuelled up for the day of travel ahead. After fitting most of our kit back into our bags, we loaded up the bus for the journey to Putre. It was noted at this point that our poor overladen coach may be too great for the vehicle weight limit upon leaving Arica. Fortunately a van was procured by victor, our tour rep, to help transport some of the bags across the checkpoint. With that sorted we then continued into the desert, going higher and higher into the altiplano and more and more amazing scenery. Although only a few hours the journey had many highlights, including a visit to the first church in the highlands,seeing our first snowy peak, and, best of all; arriving with all luggage intact. After arriving slightly breathless we settled into the hotel and had some r and r for the afternoon. There was an opportunity to have a wander round the town of Putre which was small but more pleasant than Arica with a few tasty looking restaurants. Later brought a great game of cricket and a few lost balls before dinner at a restaurant down the road. Everyone was impressed by a delicious 3 courses including alpaca which was actually very good - far better than previous reports may have suggested! Everyone then headed to bed with reminders that the first nights sleep at altitude may not be the best.... John Murphy