Day 1

Quesimpuco is located 11hrs by Jeep from La Paz.  Half of the drive is on rutted, dirt roads that are barely wide enough for one car.  After the stress of passing vehicles on endless switchbacks, we had a pleasant night's sleep at the bunkhouse.  The first morning we were there, we attended a community hosted welcome ceremony.  It included indigenous dances and endless performances of "The Ants Go Marching On" by the high school band.  There were many speeches given and it concluded with every person present shaking hands.  Above is a picture of the Auburn team wearing flower wreaths that inspired the Bolivian flag's color choices.

Shortly after the opening ceremony.

During the rainy season this valley is completely filled with storm water.

This view is from the bunkhouse.  Directly above the house is a grey spot.  The grey spot is the tank we came to work on.  Each morning we hiked about 3 miles to the tank with all of our gear to begin work.

On the first time visiting the fields to be watered (view from tank).

Finding our bearings some more.

You can see terraces that are used only during the rainy season.

The irrigation team shortly after finishing the hike to site... it is an exhausting walk.

Our adviser Dr. Duke is second from right.  Green shirt is CasiMiro, the leader of the farmer cooperative that we work closely with.  He is always smiling and was very helpful.  Huber is on the far left; he works with the NGO that hosts us while we are in Bolivia.  He occasionally acted as a translator, although once he was convinced my Spanish was better than his English, he became monolingual.

Getting measurements.

Using rope to measure a typical terrace (75' x 30')

The three amigos contemplating how much work they have. Carson, Miguel, and Jake collected survey data for every terrace on the mountainside we focus on... took 4 8h days.

A meal at the bunkhouse we stay in. It has three bedrooms filled with beds, as well as a kitchen and bathroom facilities.  The generator would kick on for a couple hours each night so we would have light to cook and eat by.