By C. Tambley

On the Mars Underwater expedition 2004, the logistics in the field is one of the most complicated non-science tasks. Correct coordination of logistics in the field allows the scientists to do their work with all the instruments, time, and facilities they need. For the main ascent this year, we moved the equipment--including instruments, mountain equipment, and food--needed for 3-4 days working at nearly 6,000 meters. All of this was accomplished with the help of 12 porters working over 5 days and a magnificent guide, Macario, leading them.

Sunday, 7 November:
The porter rotations start: In advance of the team ascent we started the preparation of the camps and the transportation of the first mountain equipment. The distribution of tents at Camp 1 for the first night, at the Summit Camp and in the crater, some basics like sleeping pads and more delicate things like power generators. At the same time, the team was training on Juriques Volcano for the main ascent.

Monday and Tuesday, 8-9 November:
The moving continues. With the time for departure getting closer, we needed to send more and more equipment up Licancabur. We sent stoves, fuel, food enough for 13 people over 4 days, diving suits, diving WEIGHTS (almost 150 lbs!!!), sampling equipment, imaging and communication devices...all this to the summit camp.
On the afternoon of the 9th, we learned that 4 of our porters needed to leave for their homes and families. After calling by radio to the towns "nearby" (about 200 km!) the refuge, we found our last chance of help for the next day: the Bolivian Army. Our teammate from SERGEOTECMIN, Mayel, and our guide, Macario, asked the commander of a small camp near the border with Chile for their help. He accepted, and our group was increased with the addition of 5 more young soldiers.
We were ready for the main quest of the expedition.

Wednesday, 10 November:
First part of the ascent: All of the team, 10 people, 3 journalists, Macario and 12 porters (half of them soldiers) started the journey.
The ascent to the first camp at 5450 m was made at a safe pace; the porters were carrying the most delicate instruments and a very important thing: the water for all of us. Transporting the water every day from the refuge to our camps allowed us to have enough liquid water all the time (hopefully it wouldn't freeze).
We set up all the tents just in time to hide from the cold and wind as the sun set behind the peak of the volcano. After a small bit of tea and dinner, we were sleeping and looking forward to the next part of the ascent to the summit camp.

Thursday, 11 November:
First day and night at the summit camp: The team woke up by 7:00 a.m. to be ready by 8:00 a.m. The porters and Macario arrived with water and bread, and ready to help us in moving the entire camp to the summit.
We arrived at Summit Camp by 1:00 p.m. to set up. By 2 p.m., Greg, Scott and Bruce moved into the crater to be up very early the following day near the lake so they could start work on bathymetry with the remote controlled boat. The strong winds and cold shadow of Licancabur during afternoon put the team in tents early for warmth and rest.

Friday, 12 November:
Science at the summit - 1st day: The set up of the meteorological station, bathymetry with the RC boat, sedimentary sampling, biological sampling, and photo panorama of the crater was made without problems.
The porters were keeping on the task of transporting fresh water to the summit camp from the refuge.

Saturday, 13 November:
Science at the summit - 2nd day - and the quick descent:
On the second science day (the 4th on the mountain) we performed diving in the summit lake: Nathalie, Scott, Greg, Rob and Andy dived. Victor stayed at the summit camp to take care of the teardown and preparation of all packages to go down the mountain.
As soon as the dives were finished, the porters and Macario, who were laying on the shore looking the diving of the crazy scientifics, moved the crater camp including the safety tent, diving suits (weights...again!), cameras and the remaining equipment. The medical tent was left with some equipment to be shipped down the next day.
At the summit camp there was a re-distribution of the priority items to be sent down like sleeping bags and the photo/video/communication equipment. 8 porters helped us with the task, while 3 others helped the ARD journalists carry the TV equipment. All were safe, tired, but happy by 4:30 p.m. at the vehicles on the base of the mountain. It took us just 2 hours and 15 minutes to go down from the summit to the base of Licancabur.

Sunday, 14 November:
The wet remainders: At 4:00 a.m., the science team was resting while the porters were getting prepared to climb again to get all the things that remained in the summit. To my surprise, I found that we had two new soldiers with the group, a guard who carried his rifle all the way up and down the mountain, and the Sargeant of the group wanted to see the summit and help, too.
By 11:00, we heard from Macario by radio that the medical tent and some other things had been blown in to the crater lake. They rescued everything by wearing rubber sampling boots and were bringing nearly every piece of equipment back from the summit. Only a few blankets remained at the camp outside the crater. The main work here had been done, and the soldiers returned to their camp.

Monday, 15 November: Last rotation: Macario left the refuge with the last 3 porters to bring down the very last things left there. By noon, we had everything back at the refuge. Every porter and science team member was happy and safe. It was incredible how these guys could still laugh and joke after several days of climbs, hard work, and descents.