Sponsors and Supporters

All three expeditions are grateful for the generous support received from the following:

Don Jesus Arias, owner of the San Valentin mine, provided our base-camp at the Llapay powerstation (elevation 2900m asl) which included bunkhouse-style accommodation, a cook, housekeeping, food and even fuel for the vehicles.  The loan of a rustic hut (elevation 4400m asl) close to the Sima Pumacocha entrances provided much-needed shelter for cavers exiting too late in the night to travel back to Llapay, and a convenient cache-point for emergency equipment.  In addition, tours of the mine and concentrator facilities at San Valentin were provided by his friendly staff.  The generosity and helpfulness of Don Jesus is truly outstanding and contributed enormously to each expedition's comfort.

Rio Tinto Resources graciously allowed the loan of two Toyota Hilux vehicles during each of the three expeditions.  These four-door, four-wheel-drive vehicles are generally considered the best in the world for rough country work, and we were very fortunate to have their use.  A third vehicle was rented during the 2004 expedition.

The Ghar Parau Foundation supported the 2004 expedition with a grant of £1000 which was put towards the cost of our 9mm rope.

The Mount Everest Foundation supported the 2004 expedition with a grant of £475 which was put towards the cost of equipment and renting a third vehicle.

Mountain Equipment Co-op of Canada provided a $500 grant-in-kind to the 2004 expedition, which included most of our bolt hangers and a few oval carabiners.

Les Oldham provided a great deal of logistics organization and advice, on occasion driving the full-day journey from Lima to Llapay to deliver much-needed supplies.  It was, of course, Les who first recognized the cave potential of the sinking stream at Pumacocha.  His friendship is greatly valued.

Information on some of these sponsoring organizations can be found on our Links page.

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