Post-Conference Excursion 29 November – 04 December 2008 (optional)

The Atacama field trip will take place from 29 November – 04 December 2008 (maximum time span) and is guided by Prof. Dr. Michael Richter and Prof. Dr. Achim Bräuning.

If you intend to participate please contact the LOC rgarreau@dgf.uchile.cl with cc to Peter Fabian fabian@wzw.tum.de until 20 July 2008.

After the flight arrival at Calama, the first part of the tour will be managed by the participants themselves by self-driving of rented 4WD-cars. Instead of pre-booked overnights, excursion participants can look for hotel stays on their own, which allows them to decide personally on their preferred type of accommodation. There are many hotels available at San Pedro de Atacama since the field trip takes place during the low season. Nevertheless, the most low-budget accommodation might be the "1000 Star Hotel", which requires a sleeping pad and sleeping bag (night temperatures not below freezing; Michael knows fine outdoor places,…). After returning to Calama, further transport to Juan Lopez is planed by public transport.

Note: Participants of the excursion should dispose of a good health state and of appropriate physical conditions!

The prepaid costs of US$ 500 will cover the flights Santiago – Calama and Antofagasta – Santiago as well as the car rentals. Supplementary expenses depend on personal demands for meal and overnight comfort.

Trip Program

Last flight Santiago – Calama 28 November 2008 or earliest flight 29 November 2008.

29 November 2008 (Day 1): Car rental Calama, drive to San Pedro de Atacama, hiking the nearby badlands of Catarpe, visiting the Cordillera del Sal and the Museo Arqueológico (facultative), remarks on the population and land use development of the oasis of San Pedro and its surroundings.

30 November 2008 (Day 2): Circuit San Pedro – Salar de Atacama – Socaire – Laguna Miscanti – El Laco – Laguna Lejia – San Pedro.
Topics: Plant geography and vegetation belts, water availability and exploitation, climate features and circulation systems, geology and volcanology (help by participating experts is welcomed!), landforms, paleoclimate.

01 December 2008 (Day 3, long tour): San Pedro – Puritama – Sairecabur – El Tatio – Calama.
Topics: Disturbance ecology, geomorphological processes, climate gradients, hiking up the Sairecabur (starting point 5700 m a.s.l., top 5850 m or 5970 m = facultative), geysirs of El Tatio, development of tourism, land use at Caspana, open air overnight there or late arrival at Calama.

02 December 2008 (Day 4): Calama – Antofagasta – Juan Lopez.
Topics: Geomorpholgical and geological features, mining and water supply, urban geography Antofagasta, impact of extreme weather events, coastal geomorphology.

03 December 2008 (Day 5): Juan Lopez – hiking up Cerro Moreno (950 m a.s.l.) – Juan Lopez (Airport, latest flight to Santiago).
Topics: Plant geography of the loma vegetation, hints of recent climate change, geomorphological and climate features (weathering), marine ecosystems.

04 December 2008 (Day 6): earliest return flight to Santiago in case of lack of evening flights on day 5 (otherwise a short trip to one of the interesting surroundings of Santiago could be managed by Michael, e.g. Cerro Campana or upper Maipo Valley).

More pictures can you be found here.