That's a fantastic adventure and excellent trip report, Greg, thanks! The possible main mass in the hole was enough to make me gasp, and I especially liked the fella playing the guitar. Good job guys! I'm glad your trip was a success, welcome home.
Sincerely, Larry Atkins IMCA # 1941 Ebay alienrockfarm -----Original Message----- From: Greg Hupe via Meteorite-list <meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com> To: meteorite-list <meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com> Sent: Tue, Dec 13, 2016 9:51 pm Subject: [meteorite-list] Bolivia Meteorite Adventure Bolivia Meteorite AdventureBy Gregory M. HupeOn November 20, 2016 a massive meteorite event took place over Aiquile, Bolivia at approximately 5:00 p.m. local time. While still daylight, Quechua Indian eyewitnesses saw ‘corkscrew’ smoke trails and heard ‘whooshing’ noises followed by sonic booms and then stones literally falling at their feet!Michael Farmer and I went to Aiquile to hunt for meteorites and attempt to acquire stones from the inhabitants. Things didn’t quite work out that way…Welcome to Aiquile Bolivia.http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia1.jpgPossibly the main mass, an approximately 35-kilogram impactor.http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia2.jpgTown Square in center of Aiquile.http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia3.jpgCharango guitar with caballero and bull sculpture in the town square.http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia4.jpgIt would take us over two weeks after the fall to fly to Bolivia due to Mike’s yearly show commitment in Japan. Just 24 hours at home after returning from the show, Michael flew to Florida to meet me. On December 8th we began our journey to South America from Miami. Our travels would take us by air to Aiquile by way of La Paz and then on to Cochabamba and then by private hire to Aiquile. With no sleep for over 30 hours of travel from home to the dusty town near the strewnfield, we were exhausted but too excited to rest. We went right to work meeting with fellow meteorite hunter, Dario Ruiz, who had been there for two weeks. He introduced us to individuals about hunting for meteorites or buying some, but our hopes were quickly dampened by the news of the town’s government putting up road blocks to deny access to the strewnfield. It turns out that the officials were confiscating stones from the Quechua finders which put them in a panic and afraid to talk to outsiders. Things quickly became complicated.Dario, Michael and Greg in Aiquile.http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia5.jpgView looking up the Aiquile strewnfield from the Quechua trail.http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia6.jpgCactus are a common beauty in the strewnfield.http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia7.jpgWe realized we were not going to be able to hunt for stones ourselves without the threat of arrest, or far worse, physical harm from protective villagers we were told may use force to stop outsiders from hunting. Knowing this, we immediately went to ‘Plan B’ and were granted secret meetings with owners of pieces from the fall. To our thrill and amazement, we were able to see several stones ranging from small broken fragments to large kilo-sized pieces. Throughout the 48-hours we were on site we were told of several large pieces included a 50-kilo ‘Puzzle Stone’ which we believe to be just rumor as is consistent with most falls.Reflecting upon a fresh meteorite.http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia8.jpg100-plus gram fragment.http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia9.jpgSame 100-gram fragment displaying ‘Slickensides’.http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia10.jpgInterior indicating a shocked high metal H Chondrite.http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia11.jpgOn our second day we had an early start with a scheduled meeting to see some stones, but being on ‘Bolivia time’ we sat for several hours waiting, waiting and waiting some more. To keep us from leaving and going to other contacts, our new friend entertained us with some guitar play dressed in his caballero ranch clothing made of javelina, lama and other durable animal skins. Aiquile is known as the ‘Capitol of Charango’ (guitar) where the guitar is manufactured. It was nice to enjoy this flavor of music high in the mountain village.Local Quechua playing a Charango guitar.http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia12.jpgVideo of the music of Bolivian friendship:http://www.naturesvault.net/Videos/AiquileBoliviaVideo1.mp4Newly fallen meteorite with Charango guitar.http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia13.jpgNoon was soon upon us with nobody bearing stones for us to consider so we walked down the street for lunch and chose one of a few street vendors offering potatoes and sausage. We ventured to the local market and town square for a little tourism while we were there. The meal was very tasty and the sightseeing was nice but we were eager to get back to work.Quechua offering an assortment of foods.http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia14.jpgAiquile market stocked with fresh fruits.http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia15.jpgCoca leaves, a staple of high altitude living.http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia16.jpgGrandmother and granddaughter enjoying an afternoon in town square.http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia17.jpgApproaching our meeting place to see the stones we noticed two out-of-place characters on brand new mountain bikes looking our way and pointing a cell phone towards our direction and acting like tourists. We knew immediately they must be government officials with their shiny bikes, mirror sunglasses and new clothing. And we thought WE stood out in the crowd! Most Quechua don’t own bicycles in this town, and if they did they would be very old and worn out. Entering the hotel meeting place we were led to a wall where we were informed that a notice was hastily taped on the wall in the darkness of night. It was a new ‘law’, or heavy suggestion as we surmised, that encouraged locals to hand over their finds and forbid hunting for the meteorite or the sale of them. This new ‘Declaration 69’ would be voted on in 60 days at which time it would either become official law or be struck down.Young Quechua boy wearing chullo cap.http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia18.jpgSmall Quechua girl shopping early at the market.http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia19.jpgDeclaration 69 (Page 1).http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia20.jpgDeclaration 69 (Page 2).http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia21.jpgNot wanting to tempt fate and be accused of stealing meteorites or be set up by the ‘tourists’ on the mountain bikes, we decided to cut our trip short and bug out early. We didn’t want to alert anyone of our revised plans so we made new appointments for later that day and the next morning. After making arrangements for an inconspicuous ‘escape’ we met with our driver who quickly loaded our small amount of luggage and he made his way through back alleys away from prying eyes. He stopped by an out of town gas station but did not pull in like normal but chose to park behind a large bush for concealment from the cameras at these locations. We would later learn that some cars are stolen from Chile and utilized in small villages in Bolivia without proper plates or registration after the right people are paid off. After filling the tank from a gas can we were easily permitted to travel an old Quechua trail. The trail was a handmade cobblestone road that threaded alongside treacherous mountains with hundreds of hairpin turns without guardrails and lined with 1000-foot drop-offs. Many memorial markers lined the path indicating where many souls met a terrifying death.Handmade Quechua cobblestone road leading towards the mountain pass.http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia22.jpg‘Highway to Hell’.http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia23.jpgOne of many destroyed vehicles along the Quechua trail.http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia24.jpgVideo of our route on the ‘Death Road’:http://www.naturesvault.net/Videos/AiquileBoliviaVideo2.mp4After six hours of a white knuckle and frightening ride utilizing five different vehicles, either for evasion from possible followers meaning to do us harm or because of the ‘stolen car’ issue, we finally made it to safety in Cochabamba. During our travels on the ‘Highway from Hell’ as we called it, we received word of meteorites that were in Cochabamba that we could possibly acquire.Three fragments of the Aiquile meteorite.http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia27.jpgFresh 437-gram fragment displaying black fusion crust and impact markings.http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia28.jpgWe arrived at the pre-determined location and were escorted to a dimly lit corridor in a downtown room without furniture. After much negotiation in Spanish between Michael and the owner, a few pieces were purchased. The large stone was not to be had as the owner wanted to what amounted to the cost of a large ranch. We left content with the few pieces we managed to get and took two different taxis to a hotel we booked online while in route to the meeting. We took no chances of being set up or followed. Risk of false imprisonment in South America is high so we had to constantly be on guard and switch plans on the spot. ‘Head on a swivel’ was the motto here. We managed to get a 2-hour power nap after changing our itinerary back to the U.S. before we had to be at the airport to fly to La Paz.Michael standing next to fountain town square in Cochabamba.http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia29.jpgGreg in front of government building at town square.http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia30.jpgUpon checking into yet another spur-of-the-moment hotel, we had a few hours for some sightseeing around the neighborhood before getting some rest before yet another 3:00 a.m. wake up call to catch a flight.Pedro Domingo Murillo Plaza in downtown La Paz.http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia31.jpgChristmas celebration at San Francisco Plaza.http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia32.jpgQuechua woman wearing traditional Bolo hat and attire adding color to downtown.http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia33.jpgAfter departing La Paz, with a quick stop in Santa Cruz, we flew over the jungles of Brazil, Colombia and the northern Caribbean coast over Barranquilla. Next was a narrow of emerald-colored sea that led us over Jamaica and over central Cuba before delivering us to Miami.Flying over the jungles of Colombia.http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia34.jpgLeaving South American airspace over Barranquilla, Colombia.http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia35.jpgThe emerald Caribbean seas embrace the island nation of Jamaica.http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia36.jpgWhile most of the meteorites recovered from this fall were confiscated by the municipal government, some of those will be put on public display in the local museum. This means that of the very few that were legally obtained before any overnight laws potentially go into effect, very little will be available to the collecting community. While we were prepared and had to bug out early due to a challenging and fluid situation, we overcame the difficulties and returned home safely. The Bolivia meteorite adventure was a quick thrill ride composed of; Excitement, Frustration, Disappointment, Danger, Reward and most importantly – A trip we will not soon forget!Best Regards,Greg====================Greg HupeThe Hupe collectiongmh...@centurylink.netwww.naturesvault.net (Online Catalog & Reference Site)www.LunarRock.com (Online Planetary Meteorite Site)NaturesVault (Facebook, Pinterest & eBay)http://www.facebook.com/NaturesVaulthttp://pinterest.com/NaturesVaultIMCA 3163====================______________________________________________Visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/meteoritecentral and the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.comMeteorite-list mailing listMeteorite-list@meteoritecentral.comhttps://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list ______________________________________________ Visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/meteoritecentral and the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
