This video takes viewers behind the scenes of a challenging scientific expedition led by climate scientist Baker Perry. The team, consisting of scientists and local guides, embarks on a mission to install a weather station near the summit of Asungate, the highest peak in the southern Andes of Peru. This effort is part of the National Geographic and Rolex perpetual Planet Amazon expedition aimed at understanding the rapid recession of glaciers and its impact on freshwater supplies for communities reliant on the Amazon basin.

The expedition demands a massive logistical effort, requiring horses, llamas, gear, guides, and porters to navigate the harsh high-altitude environment. Team members not only face physical challenges due to the thin air and taxing nature of the climb but also need to master technical skills in ice climbing and weather station installation. The video highlights the collaboration between experienced mountaineers, scientists, and locals, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and local knowledge in achieving their scientific goals.

Main takeaways from the video:

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Key Vocabularies and Common Phrases:

1. expedition [ˌɛkspəˈdɪʃən] - (noun) - A journey undertaken by a group with a specific purpose, especially that of exploration, research, or war. - Synonyms: (journey, adventure, voyage)

Go behind the expedition and see just what does it take to get to the top.

2. summit [ˈsʌmɪt] - (noun) - The highest point of a hill or mountain. - Synonyms: (peak, top, apex)

I'm leading this expedition to install a weather station near the summit of Asungate.

3. receding [rɪˈsiːdɪŋ] - (verb) - To move back or away; retreat; withdraw. - Synonyms: (withdrawing, declining, diminishing)

The team's goal is to figure out just how fast the glaciers are receding.

4. logistical [ləˈdʒɪstɪkəl] - (adjective) - Related to the detailed organization and implementation of a complex operation. - Synonyms: (organizational, coordinative, planning)

And then we have two of the cholitas escaladoras for logistical support

5. components [kəmˈpoʊnənts] - (noun) - Parts or elements of a larger whole, especially a part of a machine or vehicle. - Synonyms: (parts, elements, pieces)

There are dozens and dozens of components. Each component has its own set of wires.

6. altitude [ˈæltɪˌtjuːd] - (noun) - The height of an object or point in relation to sea level or ground level. - Synonyms: (elevation, height, terrain)

When you go to altitude, it's a different game entirely.

7. perpetual [pərˈpɛtʃuəl] - (adjective) - Never ending or changing; constant. - Synonyms: (ceaseless, endless, eternal)

As part of the National Geographic and Rolex perpetual Planet Amazon expedition.

8. freshwater [ˈfrɛʃˌwɔːtər] - (noun) - Water that is not salty, especially when considered as a natural resource. - Synonyms: (clean water, unsalted water, potable water)

The glaciers are really critical suppliers of freshwater.

9. collaborations [kəˌlæbəˈreɪʃənz] - (noun) - The action of working with someone to produce or create something. - Synonyms: (partnerships, alliances, teamwork)

It's so exciting to have Ruth a part of the expedition as well.

10. perspective [pərˈspɛktɪv] - (noun) - A particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view. - Synonyms: (viewpoint, outlook, stance)

Now being high in the glacier, I think it's going to give me a full perspective of the area.

Expedition Amazon – The Trek to Ausangate - National Geographic

We still got some horses. Hey, 30 horses and llamas, 60 bags of gear, 1500 pounds of food and 15 guides and porters, all needed to install a weather station 20,000ft above sea level. The air is very thin. It's incredibly taxing on our bodies.

Go behind the expedition and see just what does it take to get to the top. Good morning. Hey, Christina. Hello, how are you? I've had the fortune of working in the Indies for nearly my whole life, and so I've seen some pretty dramatic changes in glaciers.

My name is Baker Perry. I'm a climate scientist and I'm leading this expedition to install a weather station near the summit of Asungate. Asungate is the highest peak in the southern andes of Peru, and it's one of the main sources of the Amazon river. We have a big team going up, not only of guides, importers, but also of the scientists. As part of the National Geographic and Rolex perpetual Planet Amazon expedition, the team's goal is to figure out just how fast the glaciers are receding and how that affects the rest of the Amazon basin.

The glaciers are really critical suppliers of freshwater. The community's down, so what we could do here might have really big impacts in terms of better understanding water security. What Baker alluded to there were links to our lab. Tom has this incredible ability to sort out the details. Troubleshooting some of the many challenges that present themselves.

Building weather stations or installing them isn't easy. Anywhere. There are dozens and dozens of components. Each component has its own set of wires. Then you've got to program the computer, send that to the data logger. The team practices the complicated build every chance they get. When you go to altitude, it's a different game entirely. We're almost out of this tape breaker. Our minds don't work as clearly, so we need to have everything planned out in a really regimented way, as high as it will go. So against. Against this.

We also train people we're moving with so the porters here or the Sherpa on Everest, so that they know what to do too. And in worst case scenario, if I don't make it, if Baker doesn't make it, they can probably do the install by themselves. That's how we work. And right now I've got my fingers crossed that I'll be feeling okay in just over 24 hours from now.

It's so exciting to have Ruth a part of the expedition as well. She's doing some incredible work with the andean bear. Now being high in the glacier, I think it's going to give me a full perspective of the area. She's a National Geographic explorer. She grew up in a community not far from Asungate as well.

Ruth may be local but summiting a 20,000 foot mountain is not her expertise. And she's not alone. Once again I'm asking myself what on earth here's an ocean photographer doing at almost 6000 meters or more than 18,000ft? I'm a photojournalist spending 396 days in the Amazon basin. I'm completely out of my depth. I'm incredibly comfortable on boats underwater. Give me a white shark any day of the week than a mountain like this.

Working on glaciers and climbing on ice, those are skills that I had to learn incredibly quickly. It's going to be a big challenge. Just looking for here is a completely different environment I've been working with just to see the ice wall.

Walls of ice, some over 600ft in length, await the explorers. Both need a crash course in ice climbing. I really like it here. I love mountains. I still feeling good with the altitude. Now imagine doing this with gloves at night. It's also tiring. It's not just the technique, it's just you're huffing and puffing on nothing.

It looks a lot easier than it actually is, actually. Ice axe in the left, eh? Dominant hand on the jumer. Yeah. Deep snow, eh? What do you do with the ice axe when you walk walking? Yesterday I was super confident and today I mean I was out of breath in a 20 foot ice ball that's maybe 50, 60 degrees the ice. Oh yeah. That's very. Something very new for me. The first time that I'm using crampons and harness and this big boots. But I think I will be ready to go to the summit.

Now for the record, I have no business being on a vine cap. I mean that's like on video for the record. Nah. Especially that night. Down is always easy in the glacier. How do you avoid the crevasses can be 30, 40 meters deep and they're covered in snow.

It's super important to work with the local people when we do this kind of work. Ciao, Adrian. Adrian was our lead mountain guide. He's the local expert. He has such positive energy and so he has just been an instrumental partner. And then we have two of the cholitas escaladoras for logistical support. Zenobian and Sisali Cecilia. So we're relying on their climbing expertise. If they weren't there leading us then the science wouldn't get done.

La vie menida welcome to. It was very tough day. We've been hiking since 08:00 a.m. i. I'm quite used to hive mountains but this one was very tough. You want the inside or the outside? Oh this side you want the inside? Yeah.

After hiking for 6 hours, the expedition carves out camp on the sloped mountainside for a few hours of rest. They'll set off again at midnight for the summit. Still relatively early in the day and I it's hard to not enjoy the views you see around you as well. It's a pretty awesome part of the world.

Cold. This has been the most humbling photographic assignment experience of my life. But it is my job to bring back photographs and stories of what I see and what I experience and to get people to care so much that they will actually go out of their way to help.

I maybe got a few hours off and on so looking forward now to getting on with business. Slept pretty good for a couple hours. Well I think Tom has some high altitude flashlight submissions right now. In a few minutes we'll start climbing. Yeah.

After ascending 7000ft to reach high camp, the team needs to climb over 2000 more to reach the summit plateau. At this elevation it's no easy task. This is a much more technical climb than even Everest. It's really steep. It's the hardest part about climbing Alcin Gattez and every step will be in the dark.

If the team succeeds this will be the highest weather station in the tropical Andes. But making it to the summit is up to their training. A little luck and au Sangate.

Science, Climate, Expedition, Technology, Nature, Inspiration, National Geographic