Bolivia 2000 by Edwin Lautner, Austria

Bolivia 2000: The thermometer shows minus 18 degree when we leave camp I in darkness. But I think the temperature is about minus 25 degree. My feet are very cold in my koflach boots and I am thinking about my friends in their cold leather boots. But nobody thinks of return, because we are already at 5.700 meters on Mount Huayna Potosi. The summit is close. We can see the lights of  La Paz and everybody of our group can reach the top, if the sun comes and warms us up.

Lago Titicaca: Before we start mountaineering, we go on a nice trip in a small boat on Lake Titicaca. We visit the impressive Islands Kalahuta, Suriki, Isla de la Luna and Isla del Sol. We spend two nights on the islands which is good for our acclimatication, because the altitude of the lake is 3.800 meters.

Condoriri group: After 120 km on the lake we are glad to come back to La Paz to recover. Then we start to basecamp in the Condoriri group. It´s a very beautiful but very cold place, surrounded by many peaks higher then 5.000 m. Some of these are just stoney hills, others are very impressive mountains with huge glaciers. The weather is very good here in July 2000, but cold. Minus 12 degree in the morning is normal. First we climb Cerro Austria, also called Cerro Negro, 5.328 m. Some of our group have troubles with their stomach, nobody with the altitude.

Apart from Cerro Condoriri, Alpamayo Chico is the most beautiful mountain. The conditions on the last steep slopes are very good and we enjoy the view of the summit. What a beautiful mountain!

We cannot climb the difficult Cerro Condoriri because of stormy conditions. So we have a day of rest. After this our last mountain here is Nevado Illusion, 5.370 m. We reach the summit after crossing very big crevasses and a small rock climb directly to the highest point.

Huyana Potosi: In our bus we reach the Zongo Pass at 4.710 m. Here is our basecamp. After the breakfast next morning, we slowly start to climb to the highcamp. Our rucksacks are very heavy and some of us need a little help before reaching the 5.400 m camp. The view of the lights down in La Paz is fantastic, but the night is very cold.

We climb up a very steep slope to reach a high plateau. At last the sun is coming out. The final ridge is very small but great. The last 200 meters to the summit is an incredible walk at over 6.000 meters between light and shadow, life and death. We sit on the summit at 6.088 meters above sea-level, all of us, 14 men and one woman. In the evening we enjoy dinner at the hotel in La Paz.

Parinacota: The climb of the volcano Parinacota, 6.342 m, is not very difficult, but long. Ugly penitentes snow starts at an altitude of 5.700 m. The slope is very long and exhausting. Finally nine of us reach the summit. The view of the Altiplano and the neighbouring mountain Sajama, 6.542 m, the highest mountain in Bolivia, is marvellous.

Edwin Lautner, Austria

Altitech2: Digital Altimeter, Barometer, Compass and Thermometer. Time/Date/Alarms. Chronograph with 24 hour working range. Timer with stop, repeat and up function. Rotating Bezel. Leveling bubble. Carabiner latch. E.L. 3 second backlight. Water resistant. 4" x 2-1/4" x 3/4" 2 oz. Requires 1 CR2032 battery. See more here.

  Altitude pre-
   acclimatization

   Ascenders

   Atlas snowshoes

   Black Diamond

   Botas

   Brunton

   Carabiners

   CaVa Climbing Shoes
   Clearance

   Clif Bar

   CMI

   Crampons

   Edelweiss ropes
   Eureka Tents

   Featured

   FoxRiver

   Garmin

   Granite Gear

   Harnesses
   Headlamps
   Helmets

   HighGear
   Ice Axes

   Kavu Eyewear

   Katadyn

   Kong

   Lekisport

   Lowepro

   Motorola

   Nalgene

   New England Ropes

   Nikwax

   Omega

   Outdoor Designs

   Pelican

   PowerBar

   Princeton Tec

   Prescription Glacier

   Glasses

   Primus

   Rope Bags

   Seattle Sports

   Serius
   Sleeping Bags

   Stubai

   Suunto

   Tents

   Trekking Poles
   Ushba
   and more here