Bolivia is a raw country.  Its landscape, economy, and politics are in a formative process.  Travel can be difficult because of limited infrastructure, particularly roads.  Geographically, Bolivia is comprised of cordilleras, chains of mountains that form dense and complex knots of peaks, running for over 100 miles and averaging 18,000 feet.  These are among the most extensive and impressive peaks in the Andes.

The expedition begins in the city of La Paz, at over 12,000 feet, the highest capital city in the world.  From the airport one can see the primary climbing objective for this trip, Illimani (6462m) located in the Cordillera Real.  The first few days we rest, acclimate, visit local venues, and prepare food and equipment for transport into the mountains.  La Paz offers numerous markets to explore, a most interesting place to observe local Indian culture.

Access to our acclimatization peaks in the Condoriri area, as well as to Illimani, is first by private truck and then by mules.  We may use a mountain hut at least once, but for acclimatization and safety we must establish higher camps on the mountain.  While these mountains see rapid ascents by well acclimated mountaineers, we will take our time, become familiar with the route, and review skills and practices for a safe summit attempt.

With the goal of achieving consistency within the group, we concentrate on mountaineering skills, including snow climbing and crampon technique, the application of ice ax positions, and glacier travel procedures.  Participants are exposed to issues of high altitude physiology, high altitude mountain sickness, nutrition at altitude, evaluation of objective mountain hazards, and an introduction to glacier formation, movement, and route selection.

We encounter low temperatures requiring solid mountain living skills.  This trip is well suited to those who have been to altitudes greater than 14,000 for multiple days, are comfortable in a winter camping environment, and have intermediate alpine climbing skills.

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