Sogrome, Colombia

November 2014

Our “Road” to the Community of Sogrome

Sogrome is in the northern region of Colombia in the

Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range & NP

Pico Cristobal Colon

Our journey began in Cartagena, then we bussed to Santa Marta (5 hr),

bussed to Valledupar (7 hr), trucked to Chemesquemena (2 hr), which is near

the “g” in Sogrome, and rode & hiked into Sogrome (8 hr).

On The “Road”

to Sogrome

Kristin, Ruperto,

Herb and Rafa in

Valledupar

Kristin and Pedro in Taganga, a fishing village near Santa Marta, Nov. 6, 14

Club Rotario de Santa Marta

Ruperto, Kristin, Rafa, Pedro @ 3 AM

Pedro, Kristin, Ruperto, Rafain Chemesquemena, end of the road

Portions of the trail captured in an Early Bird (satellite) image which is operated

by Digital Globe in Longmont and available from Google Earth.

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o

Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta from 0 to 18,947 ft - Pico Cristobal Colon

Ruperto, Pedro, Kristin, the officer & Rafa at the summit, 6,800 ft

Then off the ridgeAs the sun rises on a small settlement

near the summit

Don Quixote

Kristin and the “officer” on the trail

along the river

Herb on a bridge crossing one of the many streams feeding the river

Entering Sogrome Community Center

and down to the river

Community meeting hut, sleeping hut and kitchen

One school building standing & one not; note coffee beans

Pedro after riding and hiking 12.5 mi; note the construction

Local construction; note

smoking hut behind

The Community

Plenty of fresh, cool water in

streams

Market crops like plantain even on spiritual sites

Yucca as a staple food; note homes on the hillside

And waterfalls

Typical family grouping

A spiritual experience with Mamu

The famous coca bushOne of our friends

Community Kitchen

Community

meeting hall,

men’s sideCommunity

meeting hall,

women’s side

The People

The School Project• Training in construction

• Desks and chairs

• Arhuaco approved books

• Solar power for white

board and AV equipment

• Chickens for school lunch

The existing school building

School materials

Foundation of collapsed

school buildingExisting building repairs

Adobe blocks for 2nd school building Timbers for 2nd school building

The clinic Nurse’s quarters

Meds

Census – kids age 1-10

Best Friends!

And Return

to Cartagena

Note: Colombians ride, Americans walk

Implementing Phase One

Carrying materials up to Sogrome

Project Accounting: Payments, receipts, cash

A Big THANKS to all of the supporting clubs!