REPORT ON TRIP TO HIGH MANU 10/3-10/9 2006
See the georeferenced pictures in Google Earth
The following are waypoints and descriptions taken while walking from Acjanaco to 15 km past Qurqurpampa, as well as the unburned massif of Cerro Pitama. Waypoints are labeled “F” for fire, “H” for boundary markers, called “hitos”, and “T” for trail. Pictures and a waypoint file accompany this text. A major goal was to delimit fires of known ages for use in remote sensing.
Waypoint File in Garmin Format (also has Callanga and Tono points)
F1. Fire line. Land to N of line burned in July 2005. Land to S has not burned in at least 10 yrs and is regenerating in shrubs. Pictures of line, burned shrubs, unburned shrubland, and some shots down the Tocha Erikson that shows the effects of fires that started in the Kosnipata valley and moved upwards. Pillahuata fire started along road in Pillahuata (2600m) in 1999 and burned all the way up to treeline (3400m).
F2. Northern limit of 2005 burn. This burn abuts the July 2006 burn . Photos of all three aged burns at their confluence. Another photo illustrates that even footpaths can act as firebreaks in Puna if the wind isn’t too strong.
F3 and associated Track: Marks short break in track where fire followed road, track continues.
F4: Starts new track at beginning of another 2005 burn. Old cultivation (chacra) furrows visible in burned landscape. Burn scar runs 20º/200º from F4.
F5: Middle of burn scar. Photo taken at ~10º from this point. Valley fire burns trees.
F6: Overgrazed grassland. Burned 2004. Increased diversity of grasses and forbs here, even though biomass, cover, etc., and apparently productivity, is much lower.
REFUGIO: Very serviceable building with permanent water right outside. Forest patches nearby. Building round with chimney in center—poorly designed for firest (too big, doesn’t draw), but can easily house 10 people, with ample grazing and water for horses. Door is always open. Two larger lakes are Yanacocha and Kerwacocha (Black Lake and Seagull Lake).
L2: Kerwacocha NW end
T1: Start of trail to Naranjayoc, an old hacienda. Trail runs at ~070º.
HITOA: Marks halfway point from Acjanaco to Qurqurpampa. 3460m.
F7: Boundary between grassland and forest. Also shows effects of fire within forests. Compare troche Union ~3415 with these forests—no broad leaved melastomes here.
F8: Burned July 2006. Main burn at ~30º from point. Good woodland/fire interaction.
H2: Hito Machu Cruz
F9: Very large fire in July 2005 which burned up from the community of Jesus Maria. Line runs ~120º. Fire burned on day of high wind and jumped a 5m wide trail. High wind and low humidity can be more important the fuel load. Point was taken inside of the PNM Cattle Exclosure.
CH1: 8 yr old farm fields @ 75m, 200º from point. Park guards had fewer fire and grazing problems when fields were cultivated at high elevation.
F10: Fire border w/good forest. Photos taken at 308º.
173: Forest/Pajonal (grassland) border. Fire plus grazing leads to a receding forest border.
F11: Burn to limit of woody vegetation in 2005 killed advancing shrubland. 082º and 340º from waypoint. Burn to the east of those lines. Centropogon was major shrub in area, and is sprouting vigorously in burns (photos).
F12: Fire started at F11 ends along line running 090º-270º at this point. Photos taken.
F13: July 2005 burn running 340º. Lots of woody vegetation affected.
F14: End of burn starting ~F13. In buffer zone of park.
PIT: Waypoint in middle of burn going towards Cerro Pitama.
PIT2 (and associated track points): In burned area dominated by Blechnum, Chusquea resprouts, and Araliaceae.
PITCAMP: Camp at 3800m on ridge overlooking Cerro Pitama. Nice camp with water.
PIT3: Point on ridge heading to low summit of Cerro Pitama. Small patches of Polylepis, deep sphagnum.