Bolivia - Pomerape - Parinacota - Sajama - Villa Sajama

Bolivia

Villa Sajama (continued)

Sajama (21,463’)

Parinacota (20,807’)

Pomerape (20,413)

Itinerary

Day 9 — Casual wake-up; mandatory rest day. Today is a rest day to promote recovery and allow for proper acclimatization. It is important to remember that rest and recuperation are vital to the acclimatization process and the prevention of altitude sickness. Our well thought-out and proven system of active acclimatization – incremental increases in altitude and exertion in combination with sufficient recovery time and proper nutrition – has paid off time and again with a consistently high success rate summit days.

Day 10 — Early wake-up; trek to Sajama basecamp. This morning we load our gear on mules and, first heading north, then west out of the village, make the 5-6 hour trek to Sajama basecamp (15,750’) near the Rio Aychuta. We spend the remainder of the day relaxing and preparing for tomorrow’s move to high camp.

Day 11 — Casual wake-up; move to Sajama high camp. Our porters arrive after breakfast to assist with today’s carry to high camp. Today’s route will take us on a series of traverses through over scree and snow fields, as well as huge towers of andesite, a volcanic rock deriving its name from this very range where it is most common. Andesite magma commonly erupts from stratovolcanoes as thick lava flows, some reaching several miles in length and with temperatures of up to 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. We arrive after 6-6 hours and set up our high camp (18,010’) on a narrow, rocky, windblown ridge. We rest and prepare for tomorrow’s summit day.

Day 12 — Alpine wake-up; Sajama summit; return to basecamp. Leaving high camp we travel over steep (up to 50-degrees) snow and ice, and around crevasses and large penitentes. Higher still, we negotiate the upper snowfield and eventually arrive at Sajama’s broad summit. The summit is so broad, in fact, that it was the site of the world’s highest soccer game in 2001. One month after high winds and temperatures as low as minus-60 Fahrenheit thwarted a first attempt, two teams – one made up of villagers from Sajama, and the other from members of the La Paz Mountain and Trekking Guides Association – made the trip to the summit to play the game. They climbed with four orange footballs and two goalposts painted black to aid visibility in the snow and harsh sun. After a round of photos, we depart the summit and descend to basecamp for the night.

Day 13 — Optional day. This day can be used at any time during the expedition, and is built in to the itinerary to allow for illness or injury; to be used for additional rest and acclimatization; or as an additional summit day to allow for unfavorable weather or route conditions, or to climb a secondary objective.

Day 14 — Casual wake-up; transfer to Villa Sajama. After breakfast we load onto 4x4s for the drive back to Sajama Village. After lunch we relax and enjoy our final day with the wonderful people of this mountain village (and perhaps take one more soak in the hot-springs).

Day 15 — Casual wake-up; transfer to La Paz. After breakfast we load into 4x4s for the drive back to La Paz, arriving in the afternoon. After hotel check-in we inventory gear and pack for travel. This evening, join your teammates for a celebration dinner and expedition debriefing.

Day 16 — Casual wake-up, transfer to airport, return flights home.

Note on Itinerary

Although our guides take reasonable measures to adhere to the itinerary, it is subject to change due to variables including, but not limited to, weather and route conditions, the condition and ability of the team, local and US government restrictions, airline changes or cancellations, other variables outside the control of Expedition-Logistics, blah, blah, blah.

Land Cost

Land Cost Includes
Professional U.S. and local guides, basecamp cook/manager, porters and pack animals, in-country ground and air transportation, all overnight accommodations, all scheduled meals, permits, group climbing equipment (ropes, rock, snow and ice protection, etc.), group camping equipment (tents, stoves, fuel, cooking pots, first aid kits, etc.), and oxygen where necessary.

Land Cost Does Not Include
International roundtrip airfare, personal climbing and camping equipment (see Personal Equipment Checklist for more information), trip cancellation insurance, medical or evacuation insurance, excess baggage fees or airport taxes, expenses incurred as a result of inclement weather or other conditions of nature, government action, illness, flight delays, or any other delays beyond the control of Expedition-Logistics, including unscheduled hotel nights and meals, incidental personal expenses (phone calls, laundry, room service, etc.), alcoholic beverages, or gratuities to guides, porters and staff.

Additional Information

See our Terms & Conditions for more. If you have questions regarding this expedition or your suitability for it, contact us at climb@expedition-logistics.com; please include your telephone number and the best time to call.