Carnegie Museum of Natural History

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Discoverers Expedition Vilcabamba: Pichari

February 23, 2016

We are back in the town of Pichari. During the last week we opened a track along a zigzagging ridge and reached 2850 m. We moved from Camp 2 to Camp 4, stopping for a couple of nights at the small and muddy Camp 3. We spent our last days surveying a hyper-humid forest above 2500 m, before starting our descent on the morning of Feb 19th. We reached Pichari last Saturday, February 20th, at night. We were exhausted, but very happy for what we had accomplished.

During three weeks we have surveyed in detail all forested environments of the area: humid montane forests, cloud and elfin forests, and the bushy vegetation that grows on the upper part of upper ridges–known as “ceja de montaña” (mountain eyebrow). We have found many new and known species of amphibians and reptiles unique to each of these environments and made observations on their natural history. We also photographed and recorded them–for most species this is the first time they have been observed, photographed, or recorded in video or audio.

But the expedition is not over yet. Today we got into a ‘Mil M-17’ helicopter and flew from Pichari toward a point at 3800 m on the central and highest part of Vilcabamba, within Otishi National Park. Unfortunately, dense clouds prevented us from landing at our destination. Strong winds, heavy clouds, and electric storms are almost a constant on the upper part of Vilcabamba–During the three weeks we’ve been living on a ridge that leads to the upper part of Vilcabamba, only one evening was the sky open enough for us to have a clear view of the highest part of Vilcabamba.

In a few hours, at dawn, we will be at the headquarters of VRAEM’s Special Commando, waiting for our friendly military crew and for the right climatic conditions for us to fly again. A clear or even a partly clear sky is all we hope for as we are ready to go to bed after preparing our equipment.

I would like to take the opportunity to express our most sincere thanks to the authorities of the Peruvian organizations CODEVRAEM and SERNANP for supporting the Discoverers Expedition to Vilcabamba, and to the personnel of CEVRAEM military base for providing a crew, flying time, and an helicopter.

The Ridge

For three weeks, the team has been opening a track along a ridge from 1,200 (4,000 ft.) m elevation to 2,850 m (9,300 ft.), and surveying all the forested environments found along this altitudinal gradient.

One more example of the great diversity of forms, shapes, and colors of the many species of orchids found along the ridge. (Photo Santiago Castroviejo).
One more example of the great diversity of forms, shapes, and colors of the many species of orchids found along the ridge. (Photo Santiago
Castroviejo).
Our first view of the highest peaks of Vilcabamba at dusk from the ridge at 2,850 m near Camp 4. The highest peaks, still unnamed, project themselves beyond 4,100 m in elevation (ca. 13,400 ft). (Photo Jose Padial).
Our first view of the highest peaks of Vilcabamba at dusk from the ridge at 2,850 m near Camp 4. The highest peaks, still unnamed, project themselves beyond 4,100 m in elevation (ca. 13,400 ft). (Photo Jose Padial).
The cloudy, zigzagging ridge followed by our trail near Camp 4 at 2,850 m (ca. 9,300 ft). (Photo Jose Padial).
The cloudy, zigzagging ridge followed by our trail near Camp 4 at 2,850 m (ca. 9,300 ft). (Photo Jose Padial).
Lichens, mosses, and bromeliads, and orchids, cover every tiny bit of tree branches of the elfin forest along the ridge. (Photo Jose Padial).
Lichens, mosses, and bromeliads, and orchids, cover every tiny bit of
tree branches of the elfin forest along the ridge. (Photo Jose Padial).
José Padial amongst the rich and bushy vegetation of the “ceja de montaña” (mountain eyebrow). (Photo Maira Duarte).
José Padial amongst the rich and bushy vegetation of the “ceja de montaña” (mountain eyebrow). (Photo Maira Duarte).
Transparent orchids, jewels in the forest. (Photo Maira Duarte).
Transparent orchids, jewels in the forest. (Photo Maira Duarte).

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Blue Fleece Jacket

Hikers in the forest
by Patrick McShea

Call it simple digital entertainment.

While checking the Tumblr blog of Carnegie Museum of Natural History for pictures and progress reports from the remote mountains of Peru, (Discoverers Expedition Vilcabamba 2016), I’ve been paying close attention to the garments worn by the field crew.

Weeks ago, when José Padial let fellow museum employees know about his team’s need for clothing that could provide insulation under ponchos, Amy Henrici and I assembled a bag of various fleece and wool items.

Today, in one of Maira Duarte’s beautiful photos, I spotted an old friend. The aqua blue fleece jacket that had once kept me warm on many miles of cross-country skiing in the Laurel Highlands was providing a similar benefit to an expedition member in very different terrain on another continent.

Patrick McShea works in the Education and Visitor Experience department of Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Museum employees are encouraged to blog about their unique experiences of working at the museum.