As many of you know, my next trip will out from Alaska, will be to the "Tibet of South America", the country of Bolivia, with a quick excursion into Peru, to see Macchu Picchu and Cuzco, from 10/06 to 10/27, preceded by a week's visit to see my father and stepmother in Jupiter, Florida (and a beautiful place for scuba diving).
I chose Bolivia as my primary destination for many reasons. This relatively small, landlocked country is full of stunning natural wonders, but is also the poorest in South America. Because it has the highest percentage of indigenous people on the continent, descendents of the Inca culture, as well as other groups, such as the Aymara. The new government of Bolivia, which came in to power in 2005, led by Evo Morales, an Aymara man, is the first in this poor country's history that has attempted to work to alleviate poverty for their indigenous majority. So, I want to see the amazing natural features of Bolivia, as well as learn about their interesting indigenous culture, and see for myself the political changes that are transforming the region. That may finally end the 500 year domination by the European-descended minority of the original inhabitants of the region. It is also my personal belief that the only way humanity as a whole will be able to continue civilization, as we know it, with some form of technology, in the face of the coming challenges of global warming and overpopulation/resource depletion/environmental collapse, will be to incorporate indigenous viewpoints in the currently prevailing culture. Concerning the inter-relatedness and sacredness of all forms of life and the Earth, as well as more collective approaches to economic and social policies. This seems to be taking hold throughout South America, as more "left-leaning" (not my favorite term, as it is too polemical) governments have come to power in the last decade or so. But nowhere more strikingly as in Bolivia, since the president, Mr. Morales, and most of the members of his party, MAS (Movimiento as Socialisem, Movement Toward Socialism) are actually indigenous. Their new government is not what our corporate media would like to portray, on the Cuban model. They are not against private ownership of basic resources and business, but want to use resources that the country as a whole generates, revenues from oil and natural gas, to ease poverty. I want to talk to people there and see what they think of the changes occurring, and how hopeful they are for the future there.
I chose Bolivia as my primary destination for many reasons. This relatively small, landlocked country is full of stunning natural wonders, but is also the poorest in South America. Because it has the highest percentage of indigenous people on the continent, descendents of the Inca culture, as well as other groups, such as the Aymara. The new government of Bolivia, which came in to power in 2005, led by Evo Morales, an Aymara man, is the first in this poor country's history that has attempted to work to alleviate poverty for their indigenous majority. So, I want to see the amazing natural features of Bolivia, as well as learn about their interesting indigenous culture, and see for myself the political changes that are transforming the region. That may finally end the 500 year domination by the European-descended minority of the original inhabitants of the region. It is also my personal belief that the only way humanity as a whole will be able to continue civilization, as we know it, with some form of technology, in the face of the coming challenges of global warming and overpopulation/resource depletion/environmental collapse, will be to incorporate indigenous viewpoints in the currently prevailing culture. Concerning the inter-relatedness and sacredness of all forms of life and the Earth, as well as more collective approaches to economic and social policies. This seems to be taking hold throughout South America, as more "left-leaning" (not my favorite term, as it is too polemical) governments have come to power in the last decade or so. But nowhere more strikingly as in Bolivia, since the president, Mr. Morales, and most of the members of his party, MAS (Movimiento as Socialisem, Movement Toward Socialism) are actually indigenous. Their new government is not what our corporate media would like to portray, on the Cuban model. They are not against private ownership of basic resources and business, but want to use resources that the country as a whole generates, revenues from oil and natural gas, to ease poverty. I want to talk to people there and see what they think of the changes occurring, and how hopeful they are for the future there.
What are some things I'll be doing?
This is a picture of La Paz, where I will enter on 10/06 and depart on 10/27. The highest large city on Earth, at 13,500 feet (where the atmospheric pressure is only 65% that of sea level). I'll be touring the city for a few days first, while I acclimate to the altitude. There are some ancient ruins called Tihuanaco, on the edge of the city to visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiwanaku .
In the background is 21,230 foot Volcan Illimani. I will be on a guided ascent of this from 10/17 to 10/21. The pressure at the top there is only 45% of sea level! But, 
we'll only be up there for an hour or two, the night before, we'll camp at 18,000 feet. Right is part of the Salar de Uyuni, the Uyuni Salt Flats. I'll take a 3 or 4 day tour around there, and also to the old mining town of Potosi, where much of the silver that financed colonial Spain's domination of the New World was mined from.
we'll only be up there for an hour or two, the night before, we'll camp at 18,000 feet. Right is part of the Salar de Uyuni, the Uyuni Salt Flats. I'll take a 3 or 4 day tour around there, and also to the old mining town of Potosi, where much of the silver that financed colonial Spain's domination of the New World was mined from. 
And of course, no trip to South America would be complete without seeing the most majestic of the Inca ruins, Macchu Picchu.
I'll have many pictures and stories of my own, once I get back on 10/27, to post here. I just wanted to provide a little tease of coming attractions. If I'm able to get a few pictures and stories on while I'm actually there, I'll do that too.
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Yesterday was the running of my 8th annual Equinox marathon here in Fairbanks. As you can see, the course winds around from the base of the University of Alaska, through trails and streets, then up 2364' Ester Dome (the starting elevation is about 400'), then back down to the start at UAF.
Yesterday was the running of my 8th annual Equinox marathon here in Fairbanks. As you can see, the course winds around from the base of the University of Alaska, through trails and streets, then up 2364' Ester Dome (the starting elevation is about 400'), then back down to the start at UAF.
The weather was typical for mid/late Sept. Cool and misty, about 40 degrees at the start. A cold front had just moved through, so at the top of Ester Dome, between miles 12 and 17, it was downright cold, 20 mph wind, mist, and about 35 degrees. It was a big race, many hundreds of people. It turned out to be my worst Equinox, time-wise, 4:25 (not counting last year when I had to drop out at mile 22 due to hip pain). But, I was just happy to finish. My feet were still quite sore from last week's outing on the Stampede Trail, heading to the Bus. About mile 13 or so, they really let me know what a bad idea it was to do a long run. As a result, I had to go very slow, or even hobble, on what are usually my fastest parts of the course, the downhill trail sections from miles 13 to 20. I actually felt better on the pavement sections, because of the more level footing, and lack of rocks/roots that I couldn't see, due to the leaves covering them. When I hit a pointy rock at mile 25 right on the sorest part of my left foot, I had to stop briefly. All in all though, I was just happy to finish. My energy level was good, and I felt fairly well, other than those poor tender feets. In fact, were it not for those, I might have had a crack at breaking my best time, 3:50, which was also my first, in 2002. That was a near-tragic affair, and would have been better, but for a little incident.
One interesting thing too this year, was that several people not far behind me were stung by yellowjackets as a nest somehow got disturbed. One friend of mine was actually stung three times in quick succession. It was very fortunate she was not allergic. We hadn't had a hard freeze yet in the valley or the hills, which usually occurs one or two weeks before this, so I think that was a factor. Definitely not one of the hazards I usually associate with this race.
This is between miles 10 and 11, when most people are still fairly fresh, and heading up the big hill on Ester Dome.
Well, there's always next year. For now, I'll be soaking those poor tender feets in epsom salts and cold water, until I leave for Florida and S. America on the 28th.
