Huayna Potosi 6,088m - The breathtaking view at the top will leave you speechless!
We joined a tour from La Paz, Bolivia and climbed Huayna Potosi (6088m). You can drive up to the base camp at an altitude of 4800m. There are two-day and three-day courses, but I definitely recommend the three-day option.
It was really tough, but I was able to reach the summit, so here's some advice from my experience.
There are many tour companies, so I think it's a good idea to visit a few and decide based on the gear you need and the price. The schedule and accommodation (mountain huts to sleep in) don't change much.
However, the first tour company said that hiking boots are required and that you can rent them if you don't have them, but the second one didn't say that. In fact, you walk on rough ground, but if you wear sneakers that you're used to walking in, it was no problem at all. There were many people wearing sneakers, and I saw many people wearing hiking boots slipping on the sand.
First day of the tour
Rental equipment
Fit the size of snow shoes and clothing on the third day
I also rented a backpack, but it was big and heavy. If you have a backpack over 60L, I think it's better to use your own bag.
Snow shoes are very heavy. If the size fits, it is better to choose lighter ones if possible. Lighter ones will make your feet colder, but you can cover them by wearing two layers of socks. We drove to base camp and practiced using crampons and ice axes after lunch.
The first day was not that difficult.
Day 2: We packed our sleeping bag, snow shoes, crampons, ice axes, water, and everything into our backpacks and climbed to the high camp, about 400m above sea level, close to 5,300m. This was the hardest part for me because my luggage was too heavy. I was put in an early group and couldn't keep up, so I took breaks, rested, and climbed slowly, regulating my breathing. There was plenty of time, so there was no need to push ourselves here.
We arrived at the high camp and had an early dinner, and rested for the next morning, but I couldn't sleep at all here because of altitude sickness and a headache. It might have been easier if I had taken altitude sickness medicine.
On the second day, we had a meeting with the guide, and the important thing here was to tell him that we wanted to take our time and climb slowly. The climb is done by a pair and one guide.
Day 3
We started at 12:30.
(The group that went at a fast pace the previous day started at 2:00)
Thanks to this, we had plenty of time before sunrise, and there was no one around, so we were able to climb at our own pace, taking many breaks.
The group that started at 2:00 seemed to have climbed at high speed without being able to take breaks as they wanted because of the long line.
If either of the pair became ill, they had to go down.
We continued climbing at a slow pace but steadily, and reached the summit before sunrise and saw a magnificent view.
The journey was by no means easy.
But the sense of accomplishment and the view were irreplaceable.
It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Don't push yourself too hard. But if you're sure, you can reach the summit. The tour company will give you instructions on what luggage to bring other than rentals, but it's better to keep it as light as possible. On the second day, you basically have to carry all of your luggage on your back.
People say it's cold, but the jackets you rent are warm, so you don't need to bring multiple layers of clothes. You won't need to change clothes for the three days.
Snacks are also served in the hut, so you only have time to eat what you brought with you on the last day. I only ate candy to replenish my sugar.
It's a good idea to bring medicine for altitude sickness.
It seems that taking it after the symptoms appear helps to alleviate the symptoms.
I had a headache on the second night and couldn't sleep at all, but I was able to climb. Some people had headaches from the first night, but I think it's a good idea to just lie down at base camp and rest as much as you can.
This is not a competition. The goal is to reach the summit. It's okay to do it slowly, so do it little by little.
Make sure to communicate with your guide and call out if you need a break. It's important to express your intentions clearly.
It's not easy, but you can climb.
It's a challenge that allows you to see an unknown world.
I hope many people will try it. #HuaynaPotosi #LaPaz #6088m #HuaynaPotosi
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