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Mountaneering
in Bolivia June 2 - 25, 2006 |
Pictorial report of a trip to the Cordillera Real in the Bolivian Andes.
note: click on the thumbnails to get a larger picture. The trip was organized by the American Alpine Institute |
| Stages |
Takesi trail
The takesi trail is really a paved road that was built by the early Aymara, and has been used by the Incas and then the Spaniards. It leads from Ventilla over the relatively low Apacheta pass (4700 m) to Chojilla (2280 m). We walk the trail in four days. The gear is carried by burros. The members of the group are Barbara, Heather, Peter, Jim, Chris, Hans, and our two guides Andrew and Juan. Condoriri Valley, ascent of Pequeno Alpamayo (5329 m, 17482 ft)We spend five days in this beautiful valley, surrounded by 5000 m mountains. The Condoriri looks like a condor with head (cabeza) and wings. The base camp is at 4680 m. The group practices skills and summits three mountains, but Barbara and Hans are intestinally challenged and can only do part of it. The stay still helps a lot with with acclimatization. Heather has left us. Ascent of Huayna Potosi (6088 m, 19974 ft)We reach the base camp near the Zongo pass by bus and walk up to high camp on the same day. All members of the group summit the next day, descend all the way and drive back to La Paz. Ascent of Illimani (6457 m, 21184 ft)On the first day we drive from La Paz to the village Pinaya (of which our guide Juan is also the mayor), and walk to the base camp. Our gear is carried by mules. On the second day we move to high camp, way up on a rock spur of Illimani. Five porters from the village are a great help. On the third day we summit, and then descend all the way to base camp. The next day we walk back to Pinaya and drive to La Paz. The city of La PazIn between our forays into the mountains we spend a day or two in La Paz, a city full of life, and strange sights, smells and sounds. The city is built in a huge bowl at the edge of the altiplano. It is the highest major city in the world (3600 m). Commerce seems to be conducted entirely in the streets. At this time of the year there is some kind of fiesta going somewhere at all times. A very exciting place, indeed. Surroundings (Lake Titicaca and Tiahuanaco)The group visited the famous, crystal-clear Lake Titicaca (3800 m), and the Tiahuanaco ruins that date back to as early as 1500 B.C. |
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