June 10, 2001
Inca Pampa


We are all off the mountain now and are based at Quilapituni. Several of us fell into the torrent whilst crossing the footbridge but thanks to the safety procedures that were in place the only thing damaged was our pride.

One last look at the mountain

The weather here is wetter than usual and the tracks are ankle deep in thick ochre coloured mud. The pack animals are badly affected by vampire bat bites on their necks. In the last few days we located a new site west of Inca Pampa - probably Inca.

We are all well but wet, muddy and a little weary. The campsite is like the Somme battlefield or Flanders. Below us huge crowds gather to see the reed boats now moored on the river.

Community Projects

At Guanay the community projects have been continuing while we were up on the mountain. Besides handing over the equipment provided by GlaxoSmithkline to the hospital, the team has also been involved in redecorating parts of the hospital. Graham Catchpole has also been busy carrying out his dental work. He's set up a mobile dental clinic and has been to Quilpituni and Mapiri. Dr. Sam Allen was also at Mapiri carrying out medical checks.