August 2, 2018

IMG Senior Guide Adam Clark checked in early this morning to report 100% on top of Huayna Potosi (19,974 ft).  The team was up and climbing at 3am with a beautiful day in front of them.  The team had a great day and is making their way back down to Base Camp where they will celebrate and relax before heading back to La Paz to regroup for Illimani.

The climb of Huayna Potosi from High Camp heads up a large glacier to Campo Argentina before taking on their first big objective.  The guides will protect the bergschrund with pickets and screws for running belays.  Once above the bergschrund, the morning sun starts to rise and off to the East, they team can look down at the jungle on their right and El Alto’s lights on their left.  2 more hours of steep climbing and the Team is on the summit, Lake Titicaca in the distance and Illimani to the south.

Great climbing in Bolivia!

Greg Vernovage

Climb in 2019 with IMG in Bolivia

July 31, 2018

IMG Guide Adam Clark checked in from the Huayna Potosi Base Camp Refugio (15,420ft/4700m).  The team is doing well and are excited to spend the night in the Base Camp Refugio.  This Refugio is one of the cleanest Refugio’s I have ever had the pleasure of staying in.  The owner of the Refugio is named Yolanda.  She is one of the sweetest woman I have ever met in the mountains.  She looks after everyone who comes in and you are often greeted with a smile.  The team will settle in on the top floor of the Refugio and get some rest.

Tomorrow, they will pack their climbing gear into a duffel and head to High Camp (17,060ft/5200m) with the help of some porters.  The trek to High Camp is not technical but as the team heads up hill, they will want to take it nice and slow with the altitude.

All is well on Huayna Potosi in Bolivia!

Greg Vernovage

July 30, 2018

IMG Senior Guide Adam Clark checked in from Base Camp on Pequeno Alpamayo (17,482 ft).  The team had great weather for a climb this morning.  Leaving Base Camp, the team trekked about 45 minutes up the trail before arriving at the tongue of the glacier.  From here, they eat, drink, crampon and harness up for the glacier travel section of the climb.  After climbing for about 2 hours on the glacier, the team arrived at the “first summit.”  From the first summit, the team can look across the saddle and see the main summit ridge of Pequeno Alpamayo.  Down climbing some mellow fifth class rock, the team will then cross the saddle and head up the summit ridge.

The team is now resting at Base Camp and will be up around 6 am to head to the trailhead.  The Team will resupply food and continue to Huayna Potosi Base Camp.

Perfect climbing and weather in Bolivia!

Greg Vernovage

July 29, 2018

The start of the climb on Pequeno Alpamayo with the summit in the back. (Greg Vernovage)

IMG Guide Adam Clark checked in after a great day acclimatizing yesterday and another day of training on the tongue of the glacier.  The team is doing well and ready to climb their first objective in the morning, Pequeno Alpamayo.

It has been a great weekend in Bolivia!

Greg Vernovage