CLIMBING SCHOOL IN CORDILLERA REAL, 6 Days
 Code: MSROYAL

Climbing school led by UIAGM / IFMGA / IVBV instructors. Clients attempt Huayna Potosi as their final test.

Dates: 3/May, 31/May, 5/Jul, 2/Aug, 23/Aug
Price: USD 421 More information about prices (land services only)
Single Room Supplement: USD 60 More information about prices
Difficulty: Strenuous More information about Difficulty grading
Accommodation: 5 nights refuge.
 

Ascent to Willa Llojeta peak. Picture R.Audet What would justify you to travel all the way to the Andes to take a climbing course and climb some mountains?.

First of all let us tell you that this is the first and only professional mountaineering school in the Andes. Our instructors have been trained either by the German Alpine Club (Deutschen Alpenvereins, DAV) or the Chamonix climbing and ski school (ENSA). As members of the Bolivian Mountain Guides Association, have got the certification of the International Mountain Guides Association (UIAGM, IMGA, IVBV).

The mountains surrounding Huayna Potosi and the glaciers that flow from its slopes are a great school “campus”. Starting from the same base camp at the foot of Huayna Potosi, we will spend the first 4 days learning internationally approved mountaineering techniques in: walking in different type of terrains, rock climbing, snow and ice climbing, glacier travel and basic crevasse rescue techniques.

As the “main course” we will climb Bolivia’s most frequented mountain and probably one of the world’s most visited “6000er”.

As the main goal of the trip clients is the normal route of Huayna Potosi; a moderated peak that clients must attempt in a self-organized expedition, or course always with the close supervition of our instructors.

NOTE: To take this trip you have to be fully acclimatized, ideally to have spent at least 3-4 days at the highlands and have already been higher than 4500m (14760 ft) before signing for this trip. For more information about this subject, please refer to the page acclimatization at our website. After the trip we strongly suggest you to extent your trip adding an extension to climb either Illimani MEILLIMA or Sajama MESAJAMA.

Itinerary:

D1. Transport to Plataforma Zongo. Basic rope techniques Practice. Refuge
D2. Snow techniques. Refuge
D3. Ice climbing techniques. Refuge
D4. Crevasse rescue techniques Practice. Refuge
D5. Climb to Campo Argentino. Refuge
D6. Climb of Huayna Potosi. Trek to base camp. Transport to La Paz.

 Highlights:
  • Knots and rope handle.
  • Snow climbing techiques and self arrest.
  • Ice climbing techiques, use of crampons and ice axes.
  • Crevasse rescue techniques.
  • Climb of Huayna Potosi.
  • We strongly suggest you to extent your trip and adding an extension to climb either Illimani MEILLIMA or Sajama mountains MESAJAMA.

Day 1. Transport to Plataforma Zongo. Basic rope techniques Practice. Hut.
Elevations
El Alto: 4,100m (13,450f)
Zongo pass 4,750m (15,580f)
Timing
Driving: 1-2 Hrs
Walking: 1-2 Hrs
Meals
L,D
In a little more than one hour we will drive from La Paz to Milluni mine from where we will walk towards Plataforma Zongo; our base camp. Actually we could drive all the way to our campsite, but we have planned this short hike to not only get better acclimatized but to have the chance to practice in the hills and cliffs that surround this scenic landscape.


Day 2. Snow techniques. Hut.
Elevations
Snow slopes around 5000 m
Zongo pass 4,750m (15,580f)
Timing
Walking: 6 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D
Depending on the conditions, the instructors will decide were to hike to start the instruction. Today all snow climbing techniques, self arrest and protection.
Day 3. Ice climbing techniques. Hut.
Elevations
South Huayna Potosi Glacier around 5000 m
Zongo pass 4,750m (15,580f)
Timing
Walking: 6 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D
The hike to the glacier takes around 30 minutes. There we will learn and practice the techniques with and without crampons and ice axes. From walking to vertical and more!
Day 4. Crevasse Rescue techniques. Hut
Elevations
Glacier above 5000 m
Zongo pass 4,750m (15,580f)
Timing
Walking: 7 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D
To get to the crevasses we have to climb quite high on the glaciers. The instructors will decide where to go depending on the snow conditions.
Day 5. Climb to Campo Argentino. Camp.
Elevations
High camp 5,500m (18,040f)
Timing
Walking: 5-6 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D
After organizing our loads with the high-altitude porters, we will start the ascent following a very marked trail between rocks and moraines on the east face of the mountain. Around noon we will arrive to the edge of the glacier (lower high camp) from where we will rope-up and continue traversing the glacier to “Campo Argentino” (Argentinean camp).


Day 6. Climb of Huayna Potosi. Trek to base camp. Transport to La Paz.
Elevations
Huayna Potosi 6,088m (19,968f)
Zongo pass 4,750m (15,580f)
La Paz 3,650m (11,972f)
Timing
Walking: 8-10 Hrs
Driving 1-2 Hrs
Meals
B,L
Today we will leave campsite around 5:00 a.m. much later than the rest of the climbers. The reason is to avoid the crowds and reduce the danger of climbing with so many inexperienced people and "pseudo-guides" around us. After a light breakfast we will get ready to start our hike traversing glaciers, across crevices and steep, frozen slopes to arrive at the foot of the final pyramid. There we follow either the north crest or the east wall to the summit (GPS’s have given 6,111m). Later we drop down to Zongo pass and return to La Paz.


SERVICES

Included

Not included

MORE INFORMATION

Please get into our “Resources” page in our website, there you will find plenty of information about pre-departure, National Parks, suggested reading, useful links and much more.

If you would like us to make additional hotel reservations besides the accommodation that is included in your trip, please get into our Reservations page