Oxford University Exploration Club

In Search of Past Climate in Remote Island Caves of Southern Chile

Overview

Rarely visited, Madre de Dios and neighbouring islands are part of one of the harshest wilderness areas in the world where gale force winds and up to 8m of annual rain have sculpted a unique karst landscape of spectacular limestone rock formations. A small but experienced expedition will explore limestone coastal areas of Madre de Dios and neighbouring islands, in search of vital records of past climate captured in speleothems developed in this one of the most southerly karst regions on earth. The expedition will be based on a 70 foot yacht, “Ocean Tramp”, skippered by a scientist and adventurer with 20 years experience of the seas in this region. Using zodiacs to access the shore for periods of 1 to 5 days the expedition will explore and survey new caves and sample speleothems and cave waters for climate research. A film will aim to document the expedition bringing together the adventure, the wilderness, and the science.

Personnel

CHRIS DAY3rd year doctoral student at University College and Department of Earth Sciences, Oxford, aged 29.

• Roles: Expedition leader. Paleo-climatologist. Caver. Climber.
• Experience: OUCC Picos de Europa Expedition 2007 (Spain). Caving in Britain with OUCC since 2005 (South Wales, Yorkshire, Mendips). Scientific caving fieldwork: Morocco 2007, Sri Lanka 2007. Climbing: traditional and sport climbing for 14 years in Britain, Slovenia, Thailand, Romania, Italy and multi-pitch climbs of up to 1000m in the French Alps. Over 15 years of biannual visits to the French Alps to climb, ski, walk and mountain bike. Attended Expedition First Aid Course in 2006.

LOUISE MAURICEKarst hydro-geologist at the British Geological Survey, member OUCC, lives in Oxford, aged 32.

• Roles: karst hydrogeology and cave safety. Cave explorer and surveyor. Film-maker.
• Experience: Caver since 1990. Sport and traditional climbing since 1991. Hydrological fieldwork in Iceland (1994). OUCC caving expeditions to Spain, (1997, 1998, 1999); Caving expedition to Uzbekistan (2000). Paragliding world record attempts Texas (2004), South Africa (2005, 2006). Canadian arctic canoeing expedition (2007). Selvaggio Blu expedition (2007). Extensive cave exploration in UK (e.g. Ogof Draenen). UK ocean sailing experience since 2005. Travelling in New Zealand, Iceland, European Alps (many trips), Spain. Expedition articles in “Descent” and “Skywings” magazines. Co-maker of three adventure films broadcast on National Geographic channel. Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for Services to Cave Rescue (2002). Expedition First Aid 2006.

TIM GUILFORDProfessor of Animal Behaviour, Department of Zoology, and Fellow at Merton College, Oxford, aged 48.

• Roles: Film-maker. Cave explorer and surveyor.
• Experience: Many years’ caving, climbing, diving, paragliding, and general wilderness experience. Caving expeditions: OUCC Picos de Europa, 10 expeditions (1984-1997); Uzbekistan (2000, Wilderness Award). Zoology expeditions or fieldwork: Hebrides, Aldabra, Malaysia (diving), Tanzania, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa, US Virgin Islands. Paragliding expeditions: world record attempts, Texas (2004), South Africa (2005, 2006); Mexico (Paragliding World Cup, British Team); Pyrenees, Vol Bivouac traverse (2002); holder of 5 UK & US tandem paragliding records. Selvaggio Blu expedition (2007). Canadian arctic canoeing expedition (2007). Extensive UK cave exploration and surveying. UK Ocean sailing experience since 2004. Co-maker of three adventure films broadcast on National Geographic channel (Best Film on Mountain Sports, Banff Film Festival 2003; twice winner BCRA Underground Video Award), and much additional TV work. Assisted in 3 cave rescue operations with Gwent Cave Rescue. Attended Expedition First Aid Course in 2006.

RICK PADFIELD2nd Year Geography undergraduate, St. Peter’s College, Oxford, OUCC Equipment Officer, aged 19.

• Roles: Equipment Officer. Cave explorer and surveyor.
• Experience: OUCC caving expedition to Picos de Europa, Spain (2006). Two years’ caving experience. Mountaineering, Hillwalking, and Travelling experience since 2004. Long distance cycling, including trip from Lands Ends to John O’Groats. Experienced cartographer. Attended Expedition First Aid Course in 2006.

BEN LOVETTQualified Podiatrist, former surveyor, living and working in South Wales, aged 39

• Roles: Medical Officer. Cave explorer and surveyor.
• Experience: Many years’ caving, climbing, mountaineering, and general wilderness experience. Caving expeditions: Dachstein, Austria (1993); Goufre Berger, France (1996); China Caves Project (1997, 2001, 2003, 2007); OUCC Picos de Europa expeditions. (2000, 2007); Uzbekistan (2000). Mountaineering trips/expeditions: Trans-Greenland – east west ice cap self-sufficient traverse (1995); Summer Field Assistant (surveyor) with British Antarctic Survey at Halley Base (1998). Shipton’s Lost Valley: successful Anglo-Indian Expedition re-attempting Shipton and Tillman’s 1934 attempt to find a route between the Hindu Temples of Badrinath and Kedarnath in the Garhwall Himalaya (1998). Alps Mountaineering summer - 81, 83, 85, 87, 91, 94. Winter – Jan 01. Extensive UK cave exploration & surveying experience. Assisted in 5 cave rescue operations with Gwent Cave Rescue.

SIMON HEADFORDFreelance IT specialist, sailor, caver, living in Oxford, aged 47.

• Roles: Treasurer. Marine Logistics and Safety. Cave explorer and surveyor. Advance Field Liaison.
• Experience: Many years’ ocean sailing, caving, and climbing. Sailing expeditions: Papua New Guinea (1989-1993) including 2 x Australia to PNG yacht races; Sailed single-handed and two-handed Australia to Solomon Islands (1994); Indonesia, Torres Straight and Coral/Arafura Seas (1995); Durban to Southampton via Cape Town, St Helena, Ascension Is and the Azores (2004). Paragliding expeditions: Multiple world record camps (Texas, South Africa), current British paragliding distance record holder. Trans-pyrenees vol bivouac traverse (2002). Extensive experience of UK cave exploration and surveying.