Do not panic dear reader! Spikes in ice...

What are we about to do...

Well, from time to time, people make some crazy choices of ways to spend a day or two... and it was crazy but calculated. With the group deciding to spend the spare days in La Paz we went to a travel agent and found all our options and well, what we chose was another challenge ( but wow!) With two of the 5 amigos mountain trained, and one a risk manager by profession and all looking for a hint of excitement we decided to take on a 6,000 mtr mountain peak!

Huayna Potosi ( 6038m), a treking mountain in the Cordillera Real (Bolivia) involves a half day trek to 5130m, a half nights sleep (?) at the refugio and a 1am start to scale the snow and ice slopes to the summit.

Plan A was for Jen to trek to the refugio with us but she was feeling a bit poorly for the day and stayed home in a warm bed ( hummmm, who made the best decision we wonder)

We got as far as 5,700m turnaround, disappointed at not getting to the top but also really pleased with our efforts we reaturned wiith our guide to the refugio (high camp) before descending to base camp and the trip home to La Paz.

We all were united next day safe and sound in La Paz tp plan our next FLAT GROUND adventure.

Huayna Potosi ( 6038m) on the drive in
Apprehensive or excitement ?
The trek up to high camp refuguo
We made it this far... 4pm day 1
What are these spikey things ? Crampons and ice axe! ... lets g0 play With instuction from Tim and barb, Deb and Vonny got the basic idea before we retired for the night at 7pm!

this is a beginner mountain? Ice steps (but look Mums, we are on ropes)

Sunrise from 5,700mtrs after 4 hours plodding up hill

Barb, Tim and Vonny at the turn around point of 5,700 - too stuffed to keep going another 4 hours up - wise decision ( Deb made a better decision earlier turning back before it got even colder)
Tim - the water had slightly defrosted now the sun is up

this was the tricky bit...not for novices in our opinion but as the novice is writing the blog....I survived my on mountain training - Cheers Tim-Barb.

See - all fit and well at Thursday breakfast with Max from Elis diner in La Paz.