Even while Copiapoathon 2006 was in progress, plans were being formed for the next Copiapoathon. As in 2003, we invited anyone interested in seeing Chilean cacti in habitat to join us for a three week tour of northern Chile.

As in 2003, I tried to coordinate and facilitate for other car parties to join Rudolf Schulz, Ricardo Keim & Ingrid Schaub, and this time also Juan Acosta & Florencia Señoret and myself for three weeks of travelling through the Atacama Desert with the focus on studying plants in the Genus Copiapoa. It was inevitable that we'd also see plants of the genera Eriosyce and Eulychnia that have become a special interest to some of us. We would also see many other cacti, succulents and associated flora and fauna.

As in previous years, some of those who had expressed an interest in coming along were unable to travel at the dates that we had decided on. We were happy to share our notes and tips in addition to the Copiapoathon Diary notes to assist them in organising a similar trip at a time that suits them and hope that they will share notes of their experiences with us. In the end, 22 participants appear in this year's group photo, more than ever before.

For the purpose of these diaries, the 2007 Copiapoathon started around midday on 3 November, as Leo van der Hoeven and I arrived at Santiago Airport. Rudolf Schulz had arrived early in October and had been doing some very useful scouting around, indicating that northern Chile looked drier than he had ever seen it before and that the country seemed to be enjoying an economic boom, so that it would be impossible to turn up in many of the towns and expect accommodation for the whole group at the usual places. Rudolf did a great job in pre-booking cabanas and hotels in Caldera and Taltal. Thanks Rudolf!

The best way to introduce the 2007 Copiapoathoners is by starting with this year's group photo taken on the morning of 13 November after a night's camping at, what we called, 'Puma Bay'.

The 2007 Copiapoathon Group Photo

Top left: Trevor Sellman (Australia)
Next row down: Florencia Senoret (Chile), Yvonne Christian (USA), John Senior (USA)
Front row: Ian Woolnough (UK), Andy Woods (UK), Juan Pablo Acosta (Chile), Leo van der Hoeven (Netherlands), Mike Harvey (UK), Rudolf Schulz (Australia), Ingrid Schaub (Chile), John Child (UK), Jan Ekkelboom (Netherlands), Isabel ???? (Chile), Juan Carlos Johow (Chile), Jorge ???? (Chile), Marijke & Bart Hensel (Netherlands), Sarda Woolnough (UK) and Cliff Thompson (UK) and kneeling at the front, Paul Klaassen.

Missing from the picture is Ricardo Keim (Chile) who must have been busy taking his own group photo.

In the past, these Diaries have been written from my Study in Durrington, UK, where, at this time of year, the days are short and the weather is cold, wet and grey. The aim is to publish each day's Diary page exactly 1 month after the actual date. This year, I decided to spend some extra time in Chile after the three week 'official' Copiapoathon, so that it is unlikely that I'll be able to follow the traditional time table. I'll publish what I have, when I can, and all the Diary pages will be added to my website at www.copiapoa.info when they have been completed.

Paul Klaassen, Lonquen, Chile