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Published: March 23rd 2013
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La Paz / Mount Potosi
La Paz is so far amazing! We were here 2 days, and hearing about the Huanya Potasi mountain hike - one place we got information on the hike and thought 'nah, no way we can do that' then we stumbled on a place who specialised in hiking had a chat to them and then abot 1 hour later handing over our money.
They make it sound so easy 'beginners can do this its fine' etc. Well. I wouldnt say it was 'fine' and i would not suggest it to anyone who hasnt hiked before!
They said it was abot medium in toughness. I would also debate this class.
The tour cost us $AUD 146.00 each. It included, 2 guides per 4 people, sleeping bags, sleeping in huts, all ice climbing equiptment, head torches, back packs and food.
Day 1: Practise Ice Climbing
Day one, we left La Paz at around 9am. The 14km's to the base was very slow, on a road where the van barely could go over 30km/h we arrived and had chicken and rice for lunch, before packing our back packs with all our ice gear and
heading an an hour walk to the glacier to practise.
First we put on all our gear at the base: boots, pants, jacket, helmuts, shoe spikes and with ice picks in hand began to walk to the glacier.
The first chance the guide got - he climbed up an ice face put his set up on the top in and then told us to climb up! I have never in my life done something like that, I have the black bruises on my knees to prove it! aparently you are supposed to trust that the tiny spikes and ice pick will hold you up - i couldnt seem to trust this and not use my knees! regretting that now.
Then it started to snow heavily, was so amazing on this huge glacier with the mountains in the back ground with the peacfulness of snow as well - made us all very exited for the days ahead!
Day 2 - Treking to 'High Camp'
There is no secret where High Camp gets its name from - its High! La Paz has an altitude of around 4000metres about sea level, High Camp places you at 5100+.
The hike
from Base Camp to High Camp was tough - carrying our 10-15kg's of climbing gear, water for the days ahead, clothes and sleeping bags on our backs we walked up slippery steep rock faces and arrived at camp 2 hours later.
Lunch was served at 11am - and dinner was served at 5pm and in bed by 6pm in our cold, 30 poeple matresses on the floor dorm to get up at 11.30pm to begin our night trek up the mountain.
Day 3 - Hiking Mount Potosi
11.30pm we woke up - and by woke up i mean had to get up as most of us did'nt sleep at all. Andy and I woke up with realy bad altitude sickness and vomitted before the trek began. Bad start. With our splitting headaches, our ability to eat no energy we headed off into the freezing night and began to climb the steep snow walls to the summit that was 6 hours away from us at this point.
The higher we got, the worse my sickness became. I could drink no water, as I could'nt commit to keeping it down my head felt like it was going to
burst and I could'nt even eat one of the 10 choholate bars we had bought for energy. 3 hours in, and after speaking with my guide it was to dangerous to continue as it would only become higher and harder, and I learnt at 3am after roughly 3 hours of steep, slow sno climbing that 5,600metres above sea is my limit and regretfully called it quits! Another climber came with me, a french rock climber who said it was to hard - made me feel a little better!
Brenden had to run up to catch up with our other group mates Andy and Hannah, and I headed back down and an hour later was outside High Camp further emptying my stomach into the early hours of the morning.
Brenden, Andy and Hannah all continued, reaching the summit just as the sun was rising. I had just fallen asleep around 8:30-9am when they returned to camp. First to come up stairs was Andy, whos words when I asked him how was it where ' Dont talk to me' then Brenden, whos answer was ' That was the worst thing I have ever done in my life'.
The trek, from
the point of me leaving only became harder and they all felt the altitude. It included walking on ridges with steep drops either side, only saftey being tied to your guide and other trekers, steep climbs and using your ice pick to climb metres and metres of compacted snow to reach the peak. On return, they were exhausted, Andy the same as I empty from being so sick, the others could'nt eat and all of us dresing the climb down the mountain.
Somehow, we all managed the trek back down with packs of back (my guide swapped his lighter one for my heavier one - also, he packed my bag each day, put my boots on and off, and guided me back down the mountain and made sure when we got back i had water and tucked me in) he earnt his tip!!
After recovery (16 hours of sleep last night) Brenden now can see how amazing the trek was, and we both can guarentee it will probally be the hardest most extreme trek either of us will ever do - and i didnt even make the peak!
the downhill bike ride down Death Road - My muscles and I are liking the sound of Downhill!
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