Resting At High Camp

July 26, 2006
Day 301
Huayna Potosi Climb Day 2

I had a long sleep last night, and we had a leisurely start today. One problem that became apparent right away was that I didn't have enough room for all of my stuff in the small backpack that was provided for me. I'm… Read More »

Learning How To Climb

July 25, 2006
Day 300
Huayna Potosi Climb Day 1

I was supposed to get picked up at my hotel at 9:00 today. Someone showed up at 9:30, but there still was no car. Instead, I had to walk up the hill to a tour agency office and wait some more. About 11:00,… Read More »

Preparing For Huayna Potosí

July 23-24, 2006
Day 298-299

I had to spend a few days preparing for Huayna Potosi and getting ready to leave Bolivia. Getting all my gear organized (I accumulated a lot of stuff in Bolivia that I no longer needed) was no easy task. I also signed up to go to Huayna Potosi with… Read More »

Twin Lanes Bowling

July 22, 2006
Day 297

Since the Apolo trek didn't pan out, I wanted to find one last challenge before heading home. I had wanted to climb a mountain for a long time, so I figured this would be the perfect opportunity. Even though Huayna Potosi is 6088 meters (20,000 feet) high, it supposedly… Read More »

The Stangest Market Ever

July 21, 2006
Day 296

Our bus out of town left today at 3:00 AM. I'm not sure why it left so ridiculously early, especially considering that the ride was only twelve hours, which meant that we would get back to La Paz in the middle of the afternoon.

After a few hours, when… Read More »

The Trek That Couldn't Happen

July 20, 2006
Day 295

Yesterday we learned from the owner of a truck that he would be leaving for Queara at 4:00 AM today. The info seemed more reliable this time. We told him we'd go with him and went to bed early.

By 4:00, another problem had arisen. Craig started to feel… Read More »

Untrustworthy Bolivians

July 19, 2006
Day 294

Craig and I got up leisurely today wanting to catch the truck to Queara at 10:00. After a bit of asking around town, we learned that the truck wasn't there, but nobody seemed to know exactly where it was. We sat around the plaza, played a few games of… Read More »

A Beautiful Trip

July 18, 2006
Day 293

Today started the same as yesterday. Another early wakeup, another expensive taxi to El Alto. We bought tea from the same lady as yesterday and waited in the freezing pre-dawn cold for the bus to show up. While waiting, I met an interesting man from Puno, Peru who said… Read More »

A Blessing In Disguise

July 17, 2006
Day 292

We were told that a bus would leave for Pelechuco from El Alto at 6:00 this morning, but we couldn't buy tickets in advance. It was not a good situation to be in, but we didn't have a choice if we wanted to leave for the trek from Pelechuco… Read More »

Resting Before The Big One

July 15-16, 2006
Day 290-291

I spent this weekend recovering from my blisters and my fallen toenail from last week's trek. Before I begin my long trip to Ecuador, Craig and I will do one last trek. It will start in Pelechuco, a full day's journey from La Paz, and end in Apolo, a… Read More »