This introduction to climbing aims to teach a range of fundamental mountain skills. It is set in the heart of Bolivia’s Cordillera Real range, in Condoriri National Park.
Most of the course takes place on a glacier at around 5,000 metres. We aim to develop the techniques required to prepare
aspiring climbers, with little or no mountaineering experience, to
be contributing team members on glaciated mountains.
We begin by
taking a look at the many hazards that snow covered mountains
present. Next, we teach the skills and techniques necessary to help
you climb and enjoy the mountains.
You need to be well acclimatised before the course to be able to take part. Following
the course, if you are adequately acclimatised, you may like to climb
Huayna Potosi. This can be done directly after the course or after
returning briefly to La Paz.
Check our Books and Maps section where you will find a range of literature to help you get the most out of your South American adventure.
Mountaineering course
Program – day 1
We leave La Paz at 9am and by vehicle to the Tuni Condoriri reservoir. From here, it’s a three hour walk to base camp in the Condoriri National Park (4,650 metres).
In the
afternoon, we familiarize ourselves with technical equipment and
learn the most important knots needed for climbing.
Day 2
We walk 1
½ hours to the glacier. Here, we spend some 6 hours learning and
practising basic crampon and ice axe techniques, including the art
of self-arrest. Other areas covered will include crossing technical
terrain, rope team travel, snow and ice anchors and belay systems,
ice climbing. Camp.
Day 3
Today,
accompanied by your instructor, you’ll have an opportunity to put
your newly learnt skills into practice with your first climbing
experience proper. There are 2 options:
Option 1
The
easier ascent is Pequeña Ilusion (5,300m); an eight–hour round trip,
with gradients of up to 40°.
Option 2
Pequeño Alpamayo (5,420m). With 55° gradients, this is for
climbers with reasonable technical ability. Its ascent involves a
10-hour plus round trip.
Day 4
Return to
La Paz.
Note
Following the course you may wish to stay on and climb one or more
of the less-technical peaks in the Cordillera Real. The choice
of accessible peaks includes Huayna Potosi.
Please contact the office for more information.
Included
Private
transport to & from trail head, instructors (max ratio of 4 to 1 on course and 2 to 1 on climb), tents, cooking equipment & cook, all meals from lunch on day 1 to breakfast on day 4 (bring your own snacks), mules for transporting kit to & from camp, personal technical gear - harness & karabiners, plastic mountaineering boots, walking ice axe, prussic loops, gaiters, crampons, group technical kit - ropes, snow stakes, snow screws &
technical ice axes.
Not included
All snacks
in between meals, warm clothes - 3 layers of fleece tops, thermal and fleece bottoms, waterproof outer shell - top and bottom, warm socks, water proof gloves, warm wool/fleece hat, scarf, sun glasses & high factor sunscreen, water bottles and purification tablets, dinner on the night of the 4th day, head torch and spare batteries
Some of the
skills covered:
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