October 11, 2003
10:20 AM
Brian Grigsby
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The Beginning...
 Audio Diary Over the past year, the members of the expedition have been analyzing data, writing papers, and planning the logistics of this year's expedition. Last year's expedition yielded some amazing data:
(1) On November 3, 2002, we reached the summit of Licancabur, at 6014m (just under 20,000 feet). Dr. Edmond Grin now holds the record for the oldest person to climb Licancabur!
(2) After our descent, we visited 2 Antofagasta schools and presented our experiences first had to more than 200 students.
(3) Scientifically, the characteristics of the summit lake show some amazing diversity among organisms... further analysis is being conducted to understand this complex system.
(4) There is some heat being generated through the volcano at the summit, showing that the volcano is not extinct!
(5) From the scientific studies of the lower lagunas (Laguna Blanca and Laguna Verde), there are complex biological systems here as well, that will be studied further.
(6) Studies of the life in the lagunas is revealing very interesting aspects of life in extreme environments, and more studies are planned this year.
As we prepare for this year's expedition, we are mindful of what our expedition was like last year. Not a day goes by that I haven't thought about my time in Bolivia, and I am excited about returning this year. New and exciting experiments are being planned, and part of the team will be monitored to gather data about the affects of high altitude on the human body. I will be an actual lab rat!
We have already done high altitude climbing at the beautiful Mt. Lassen (3200 meters =10,500 feet), and have done numerous free dives at high altitude lakes in the Sierras (2400 meters = 8000 feet). We feel comfortable, not only physically, but mentally as we begin our countdown to the 2003 Licancabur expedition.
Continued...
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