July 29, 2021

2021 Bolivia Team on Huayna Potosi Summit (Fabricio Gomez)

Dawn break on Huayna Potosi (Roberto Gomez)

100% on top of Huayna Potosi (19,974′) in Bolivia this morning!  The Team was in and out of the clouds for most of the night but received a few great views once on top.  This is a challenging climb right out of the high camp Refugio.  The team departed high camp at 3am and worked their way up the glacier hitting high break just as the sun began rising.  This is a particularly beautiful sunrise because it hits the jungle to the East and slowly lights the city of El Alto off in the distance to the West.  Once on top, the team was rewarded with views of the Cordillera Real range with the next objective, Illimani to the South.

The team will descend all the way to Base Camp today and then onto La Paz this afternoon for some well deserved rest, laundry and a celebratory dinner! Fabricio was able to get a summit photo out to us just now.  Congratulations to our Bolivia Team on their summit of Huayna Potosi!

All is well in Bolivia!

July 28, 2021

“At high camp on Huayna Potosi!  This trip is awesome!”  This is the InReach message that we just received from one of the climbers on the Bolivia Team.

Trekking to High Camp on Huayna Potosi (Giorgio Zannini)

The team continues to have fantastic weather in Bolivia and are now in position to head to the summit of Huayna Potosi (19,974′) tonight.  We stay in Refugio’s on Huayna Potosi owned and operated by our long time friend, Yolanda.  Yolanda runs a tight ship in terms of taking care of her Refugio’s and this year, the team has the lodging to themselves.

The hike from Base Camp to High Camp on Huayna Potosi is no-technical and is normally dry until the last 30 minutes to the upper Refugio.  At the upper Refugio, the team will have plenty of time to eat, rest and drink before heading out tonight.  An added bonus with this Refugio is where it is located; literally walk out the door and onto the glacier that leads you to the summit.

All is well in Bolivia and a great night of climbing in front of the team!

July 27, 2021

We are just off the phone with IMG Senior Guide Adam Clark and Fabricio Gomez in Bolivia.  They managed to get a few photos out on their way to Huayna Potosi Base Camp.  The team is doing great and are collecting a resupply of fresh food in El Alto on the way to Huayna Potosi.  The weather continues to be spectacular for the team and they are looking forward to their next objective.

All is well in Bolivia!

July 26, 2021

The Teams checked in within minutes of each other this morning to let us know they are 100% on top of Pequeno Alpamayo (17,482′) and Condoriri (18,530′)!  The team is very strong and enjoying fantastic weather over the past few days.  IMG Senior Guide Adam Clark put it best in his message from the summit of Condoriri saying, “The climbing is fantastic and the views are amazing up here!”

The teams are now descending from the summits and will be back in Base Camp celebrating with a home cooked meal made by our support team.  The rest of the afternoon will be for resting and packing; tomorrow, the team will head to Base Camp on Huayna Potosi.

All is well in Bolivia and congratulations on the summits!

July 24, 2021

Summit of Pico Austria looking at Pequeno Alpamayo (Greg Vernovage)

IMG Senior Guide Adam Clark checked in just now from the summit of Pico Austria (17,454′)!  This is a peak that we can trek to the summit of and is a great way to acclimatize and see our next objective, Pequeno Alpamayo.  The team is feeling great and enjoying Bolivia.  Tomorrow, they will head to the tongue of the glacier for some training review and cache gear for the climb the following morning.

All is well in Bolivia!

July 23, 2021

Tambo Condoriri (14,000’) (Greg Vernovage)

Huayna Potosi from Tambo Condoriri (Greg Vernovage)

The team in Bolivia had a great day traveling from Copacabana and the shores of Lake Titicaca up to our first camp at Tambo Condoriri (14,000′).  After arriving to Tambo Condoriri, the team set up camp and went for a nice acclimatization hike to 15,800 feet.  The weather has been fantastic and the team is feeling healthy and strong.  After good dinner and first night in the tents with the cool air, the team is up and moving to Condoriri and Pequeno Alpamayo Base Camp where they will spend time training and acclimatizing before tackling Pequeno Alpamayo.

All is well in Bolivia!

July 22, 2021

IMG Senior Guide Adam Clark checked in with some great photos of the day yesterday.  The team was up early to catch the boat from Copacabana to Sun Island with our tour guide Rosemary.  Adam said they had thunderstorms during the night but when the sun came up, it was just beautiful.  Once on Sun Island, the team took a casual hike to the summit at 13,500 feet.  That is a nice acclimatization hike when you consider Lake Titicaca sitting at 12,467 feet!

Trekking on Sun Island (Adam Clark)

As the team made their way to the top and then back to the waters edge for lunch, they would pause periodically to learn about the history of the Aymara people and their beliefs from Rosemary.  Adam said “Rosemary is a wealth of knowledge and so great to have with the team.”

Back to Copacabana in the afternoon to rest and prepare for this mornings drive to Tambo Condoriri (14,000 ft) and our first camp.  The team is feeling great and excited to move closer to the mountains and their first objective, Pequeno Alpamayo.

All is well in Bolivia!

July 21, 2021

A walk on the beach in Copacabana (Adam Clark)

Enjoying the views (Adam Clark)

IMG Senior Guide Adam Clark checked in overnight to let us know the team is doing great and having a good time acclimatizing on the shores of Lake Titicaca.  The drive yesterday along the Cordillera Real mountain range is fantastic and gives you a great opportunity to see what your objectives are going to be in the coming days.  Once in Copacabana, the small city on the shore of Lake Titicaca, the team took a tour of the old cathedral and then walked up to the lookout point for additional acclimatization and fantastic views.

With all of the history in Bolivia, it is nice to just sit down and look to the distance and imagine what it was like when all of the terraces were being used for crops.

Looking down at Copacabana (Adam Clark)

This morning, the plan for the team is to be up early and heading for the boat to Sun Island.  This is another great part of the trip!  They will hike to the high point around 14,000 feet and see Moon Island and in the distance, the Cordillera Real.  After working up an appetite, the team will descend to the waters edge for a traditional lunch.

All is well in Bolivia!

Greg Vernovage

July 20, 2021

Illimani from La Paz (Greg Vernovage)

2021 Bolivia Team Welcome Dinner (Adam Clark)

IMG Senior Guide Adam Clark and the Team has arrived to La Paz with all of their gear!  Adam said “It feels great to be back in Bolivia.  The Cordillera Real range is right here and we are excited to have the mountain to ourselves.”  The team is now heading to Copacabana and the shores of Lake Titicaca.  The hotel is at nearly 12,500 feet and we will take a few days of sightseeing around Lake Titicaca and a trip to Sun Island before heading to Tambo Condoriri and our first objective, Pequeno Alpamayo.

We are looking into possibilities of returning to Bolivia this Autumn for a few new objectives and also some trekking.  Stay tuned to our blog and website for more details, coming soon!

Greg Vernovage