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October 2009

October 1, 2009 - First Session of the Annual Business Meeting
 

Charles Carmona - 27 Months in the Peruvian Amazon
The Building of the North Peruvian Pipeline

Charles Carmona (#1136) was the Chief of Survey on the Oleoducto Nor-Peruano from December 1974 to February 1978, a project which included 850 km. of oil pipeline and 7 pumping stations. Starting in the center of the Amazon basin, the line went westerly into the foothills of the Andes, crossed at Porculla Pass (2145 m.) and ended at Puerto Bayovar on the Pacific Ocean. In the roadless virgin jungles of the Amazon, his daily commutes were by raft, dugout canoe, motorized skiff, homemade wooden river boat, crew boat, helicopter (100's of hours) and turboprop seaplane. Underwater at least 4 months of the year, the flora and fauna of this unpopulated part of the world experienced its first encounters with homo sapiens in the persons of Charles and his crews. The $2 billion project (in 1970 dollars) was second only in size to the Alyeska pipeline on the North Slope of Alaska, and has served to supply Peru's domestic needs since its initial operation began in 1978.

October 8, 2009 - LADIES' NIGHT - Jeff Blumenfeld - You Want to Go Where?

FIND ADVENTURE. SEE THE WORLD AND GET SOMEONE ELSE TO PAY FOR IT. Jeff Blumenfeld is the author of the book, "YOU WANT TO GO WHERE? How to Get Someone to Pay for the Trip of Your Dreams." Jeff Blumenfeld will share stories and explain how with the right idea and proper advance preparation, it is possible to raise thousands of dollars in cash and outdoor gear and apparel for worthy expeditions. There are thousands of dollars available in grants from sponsors such as W.L. Gore & Associates, Land Rover, National Geographic, Polartec, and Rolex.

Jeff Blumenfeld's book not only takes you behind-the-scenes of some of the most historic and modern-day adventures, but also provides advice on how individuals can fund and arrange their own trips. Advice for budding adventurers and explorers, even armchair explorers with a dream trip in mind, includes:

  • Developing a newsworthy project—such as finding Amelia Earhart; locating the lost Kodak camera left by Everest climbers in the 1920s; or digging up the remains of an entire community destroyed by volcano in Iceland.
  • How to identify likely corporate sponsors and impress them once they respond to your e-mails or telephone calls.
  • The latest technology that allows instant communications with sponsors, media, family, and friends no matter where you are on earth.
  • What happens when the project doesn’t go exactly as planned?

Blumenfeld's book examines real-life situations where sled dogs have died; a freediver drowned; and an extended sea voyage almost ended prematurely when a crew member became pregnant.

Blumenfeld’s book turns to experts to explain how to negotiate sponsorships, provides advice from a professional photographer about how to take photos that will thrill sponsors and encourage them to participate in the next adventure, and lists guide services ready to help aspiring adventurers obtain the outdoor skills they’ll need to convince sponsors they have what it takes. After reading this, the only remaining question will be: “where do you want to go?”

JEFF BLUMENFELD is editor and publisher of Expedition News, an insider’s guide to the business of adventure marketing. A member of The Explorers Club and American Alpine Club, he is also a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society in London where he has presented on the subject of expedition sponsorship. He runs Blumenfeld and Associates, Inc., a successful public relations firm in Darien, Connecticut that specializes in travel and outdoor-related clients. For more information, please visit www.blumenfeldpr.com.
 

Jeff Blumenfeld
Jeff Blumenfeld
You Want to Go Where? How to Get Someone ot Pay for the Trip of Your Dreams - Book Cover
Book Cover Photo

October 15, 2009 - Shane Berry - Overland from Lake Titicaca to Rio

Presented by Shane Berry member #1093. One of Shane Berry’s favorite books is “What a Fortune-Teller Told me” by Tiziano Terzani. The author is warned by a Hong Kong fortune-teller not to risk flying for a whole year. Terzani took the challenge and it turned out to be one of the most extraordinary years he ever spent by traveling by foot, boat, bus, car, train, etc. In many ways he was getting off the “beaten path”. Except for a short 20 minute flight over the Andes, Shane reunited with his boyhood buddy Jim Kirk for 33 days last April/May and went by surface transportation from Lake Titicaca to Rio (or as seasoned travelers know it as “Copacabana to Copacabana”). Shane and Jim took their first road trip together 46 years ago when they took a road trip to Western Canada and Colorado.

The adventure began with trekking the Isla de Sol at Lake Titicaca which is the home of the Inca followed by a mountain bike ride down the “World’s Most Dangerous Road ”. The road from La Paz to Corioco starts at 15,400 ft. then drops 11,800 ft. for 26 miles.

Several days are spent exploring the amazing Salar de Uyuni and Chile ’s Atacama Desert by four-wheel desert. At elevations of 16,400 ft, this area has unusual landscape of mountains, active volcanoes, geysers and salt flats found nowhere on earth. Potosi is the highest city of its size on earth. The infamous silver mines in Potosi propped up the Spanish empire for 300 years but killed eight million souls. Striking Potosi miners were blocking the main roads and demonstrating with dynamite around Potosi . Several hours were spent exploring in the mines.

Bolivia has amazing hiking, the largest dinosaur foot prints in the world and the infamous “Death Train” to the Brazilian border. In many ways, Shane was following in the footsteps of the famous English Explore, Colonel Percy Fawcett. Unfortunately, the political situation is ready to explode with many Bolivians expecting more bloodshed. Americans have been hassled at the border; however, we crossed with no problem.

Brazil has the Pantatal which is the greatest wetlands in the world. The Pantatal is the place in Brazil to see the animals like rare hyacinth macaws, toucans, capybara, caiman, etc. Discovered by cave divers, Bonito offers snorkeling and diving in the crystal clear waters. Time was spent exploring Iguazu Falls .

After a 26 hour bus ride, Shane and Jim arrived at the UNESCO colonial city of Paraty and Ilhe Grande Island on the Atlantic Ocean . Their adventure ends in Rio with time for a football match at Maracana Football Stadium and visit to the Favela’s (slums).

Hiking the Isla de Sol - Lake Titicaca
Hiking the Isla de Sol - Lake Titicaca

Laguna Verde Bolivia
Laguna Verde Bolivia

Bolivia Four Wheeling
Bolivia Four Wheeling

Shane Berry in Mine
Shane Berry in Mine

Igussa Falls from Brazil side
Igussa Falls from Brazil side

October 22, 2009 - Allan Smith - The Lost 49er' Expedition

In 1849 a group of over 100 wagons met just outside Cedar City, Utah. One man claimed he had a short cut to the gold fields of California and cognitive of the ill-fated Donner Party, this group followed the guide’s advice and took the shortcut, unbeknown to them, into hell.

Circa, 21st century group of explorers came together with an idea to retrace the route of these pioneers. A feat never before attempted and told by many could not be done. They said that you will die or need to be evaced out of the trail. Problem is, the explorers agree to do this expedition with no radio, phone or other communication with the outside world. The plan, to carry all camera gear and supplies on their back for over 30 days and 300 miles and to hopefully meet up with their check point man approximately every 7 days. The team left Enterprise, Utah with gear from notable sponsors and the watchful eye of the media and arrived into Death Valley on Christmas Eve with a story that made the Worlds mouth drop.

Allan Smith is the Current President of the Adventurers’ Club. He is an award winning film producer that has traveled around the world filming in remote and extreme environments. A former United States Marine and decorated firefighter/Paramedic, Allan specializes in solo survival trips into the Panamint Mountain range, Death Valley and the Sierra’s. He has received the highest accommodations for heroism from the State of California, the Governor & the California Highway Patrol.

Website: www.lost49ersexpedition.com

Allan Smith
Allan Smith

Wagon Wheel found along the route. Believed from the 49er's
Wagon Wheel found along the route. Believed from the 49er's

At another Camp reading from Manley's journal
At another Camp reading from Manley's journal

Just another obstacle
Just another obstacle

Dinner at camp
Dinner at camp

Crossing Rachel, Nevada
Crossing Rachel, Nevada

The 'Infamous Trunk'
The "Infamous Trunk"

October 29, 2009 - Pierre Odier - Adventurers on the Silk Road

Pierre Odier
Pierre Odier

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