So I´m not a mountaineer...

One of the things which you cant help but notice here is some of the lovely snow topped mountains. I got the idea that after having spent almost a month in Bolivia and most of that being about 3500m, with my highest point til then at 5000m, that perhaps I was acclimatised enough to try climbing one. Well Huani Potosi is just out of La Paz, climbable for novices with a guide and at 6088m its not to be sneezed at, so I signed up.

After collecting all the ice climbing gear at the agency, it was about a 2hr drive to the hydro-electric lake (that along with the others below it supplies most of La Paz`s power), that was the start of the walk. And then a 3hr hike up the mountain to the refuge at 5130m. Well I was puffing a bit but felt ok going up. Unfortunately things got worse not better, with sleeping at this altitude rather difficult. The hike to the top is supposed to take about 6 hrs and you start at 1am to summit at sunrise. I ended up walking for about an hour or so before being completely stuffed... puffing of course, but also feeling nauseous, dizzy and then starting to faint with everything going black... altitude sickness - I think about 5500m. So I went back down with my guide and climbed into my sleeping bag, leaving the others to slog their way up and down. Judging by their exhaustion it was bloody hard work (but beautiful), and from my experience I think I´ll stick to walking around the bottom of any mountains from now on! Great view when the clouds clear though.

Oh well, I can now say I´ve hiked up snow and ice with crampons and an icepick, and know enough to definitely say that those who climb Everest are NUTS!