August 1, 2019

IMG Senior Guides Harry Hamlin and Roberto Gomez checked in from Huayna Potosi Base Camp just now.  The team reached the summit this morning and are now back at Base Camp. Great work! The mountains in Bolivia are never “gimmee’s.” On Pequeno Alpamayo (17,482’), the terrain changes during the climb requiring climbers to be technically efficient on all levels; glacier travel, rock and steep ridge climbing. On Huayna Potosi (19,974’), we add more altitude and a steep face that needs to be climbed to the summit. It helps to have great weather and this team enjoyed beautiful conditions for climbing and Harry said there was zero wind on top!

The team will rest this afternoon and get a nice dinner made by our fantastic cook staff tonight. Tomorrow morning, they will load the bus at 9am and head to La Paz to celebrate. Some of the team will say goodbye and head home while others will take a rest day and prepare for the icing on the cake by heading over to Illimani (21,200’).

All is well in Bolivia!

Greg Vernovage

July 31, 2019

IMG Senior Guide Harry Hamlin just checked in from high Camp on Huayna Potosi.  The team is doing well and in great spirits since they have now put themselves in position to summit Huayna Potosi (19,974’).  The team is spending the night in a brand new Refugio at High Camp.  Harry said this Refugio is one of the cleanest high altitude huts he has ever been inside and to top it off, we reserved the hut for our entire team.  They will have dinner and get some rest now because the breakfast call will come at 1am and the team will be climbing by 2:00.

All is well and the weather looks great for the climb of Huayna Potosi!

Greg Vernovage

July 30, 2019

Fixed line on Pequeno Alpamayo (Roberto Gomez)

Roberto and Harry checked in from El Alto during their resupply of food. The team is right on schedule and now heading to Huayna Potosi Base Camp where they will repack and spend the night. From Base Camp to High Camp, the team will use porters to move their gear. The path is dirt, rock and then turns to snow near High Camp. The team is feeling great and the weather looks good for the next few days.

Harry and Roberto also managed to send a few photos from the climb of Pequeno Alpamayo.  Enjoy!

Greg Vernovage

July 29, 2019

Pequeno Alpamayo (Greg Vernovage)

IMG Senior Guide Harry Hamlin called from Base Camp to let us know the team had a great day on Pequeno Alpamayo (17,482’). This is a fun climb! The morning starts with a trek to the tongue of the glacier. Once at the glacier, the team puts on their harnesses, helmets and crampons. Roped up, they climb for about 2 hours to the “first summit.” After the first summit, the team downclimbs some fifth class rock and crosses the saddle to the summit ridge. Our local guide Roberto fixed the summit ridge and the team enjoyed a beautiful day on top!

Tomorrow the team will pack up camp and head for the trailhead where they will be picked up and transferred to Base Camp on Huayna Potosi.

All is well in Bolivia!

Greg Vernovage