Salar Trek (2013)

Expedition leader: Louis-Philippe Loncke
When: 22/10/2013 – 28/10/2013 (7 days)
Season: Spring
Outcome: Failure

Summary

Starting a trek with a backpack of 56 kg containing all supplies including 34 liters of water. He started his trek at 2pm on the first day and finished and abandoned at Isla Incahuasi on day 7 at 11am so that's a bit less than 6 full days on the Salars.

Objectives

Attempt the world first unsupported crossing the both Salar de Coipasa and Salar de Uyuni.
Why both Salars? Because they are brothers coming from the same ancient lake Minchin. The was made without a desert cart.
Try to learn and determine a drinking pattern to survive this desert while walking.
The chosen route is about 250 km long. It starts from Sabaya, goes South across the small mountain range, then heads to Isla del Pescado then Isla Incahuasi and finishes in the town of Uyuni without passing via Colchani. The attempt had foreseen an 8 to 9 day trek.

Types: Adventure
Challenges: Fully human powered, GPS, No food drops, No incoming comms, No preplaced food caches, No repairs / help, No resupplies, No weather forecast, Off-track, Solo
Number of persons on the field: 1
Progression means: On foot
Countries: Bolivia
Regions: South America
Landscapes: Desert
Route type: A-B-C
Coordinates: arrival: -20,240906 / -67,627469
departure: -19,016067 / -68,370989
Distances: gps: 162,0km
route: 160,0km
estimated: 165,0km
Altitudes: from 3663m to 3825m

Sponsors

No sponsors were involved.

Anecdotes

After a few hours on the first day, his nose bled a bit due to the salty air and the strong breathing.

Members

Name Roles
Louis-Philippe Loncke Expedition leader

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