Thanks for the compliment! Yeah our total trip was about two months, which gave plenty of time for cultural travel, jungle exploring, hiking, and mountaineering. I really look forward to going back to Peru for some climbing, hopefully next year!
Thanks for your positive comment. Regarding Peru, unfortunately we didn't get to do any mountaineering. We were planning a couple of peaks around Arrequipa, but then we realized that both my climbing partner and I had a Human Bot Fly in our shoulders (which we got in the Amazon). As opposed to climbing, we ended up going to the doctor, getting surgery, etc. The whole ordeal was a pain in the ass. In the end it probably worked out for the best as there was a huge storm the next week -- it shut down all the major passes for a couple of days. Wouldn't have enjoyed being at 20,000 feet with that weather.
A well written report. I like your html work for the photo matrix. I might have to use that. Your trip brought back fond memories of my time there in 2008. Cheers!
hey...Great Trip Report!!! it brought back great memories for me as i was in SA for a few months last winter, and also climbed Alpamayo and Potosi while in Bolivia- both spectacular!! unfortunately i had the same dark summit experience on Potosi.
but loved everything- Bolivia rocks.
I briefly mentioned in the trip report that we used two different guide services. We had a bad experience with the first one and an amazing experience with the second one.
The guide we liked was Eduardo Mamani (his contact details are all in the trip report). To say that he made the trip easier is a huge understatement. The biggest hassle in Bolivia is transportation, as the vast majority of peaks require 4X4 private transport. Eduardo had his own vehicles and knows all of the back roads, so that was a snap. Furthermore, he knows porters, cooks, and arrieros all over the country. Not only did he organize booking them, but he got a price that was substantially less than what we would have paid on our own. Also, while we could have climbed all the peak on our own, having someone who knew the route was great. Finally, he is a hilarious guy. He really made the climbing fun and made sure that we were having a good time. When you price everything out, the extra money you pay organizing your own food, transport, mules, etc is barely worth going without a guide. At least for Bolivia, I highly recommend it!
I am planning to do the same itinerary as yours but not having too much luck with dates and groups. I am the only one so far who is signed up for fixed departure dates from bolivianmountains. I am little worried about the guides and all.
It is easy to organize the logistics on the ground. There are tons of guides there and all of the guide shops are located on the same street. It would save you a lot of money (but cost another day or two) to organize it on the ground.
cp0915 - Sep 1, 2009 9:44 am - Voted 10/10
Exceptional!Excellent photos and information. Great job, guys. It sounds like you had a wonderful trip. Now where's the Peru report...!
BLong - Sep 4, 2009 4:18 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: steaming with jealousy!!Thanks for the compliment! Yeah our total trip was about two months, which gave plenty of time for cultural travel, jungle exploring, hiking, and mountaineering. I really look forward to going back to Peru for some climbing, hopefully next year!
marauders - Sep 4, 2009 11:42 am - Voted 10/10
Cool stuffSounds like a superb adventure.
mstender - Sep 4, 2009 5:59 pm - Voted 10/10
Awesome!Thanks for this great report. Awesome photographs. Just like CP I am also wondering if you are going to post a Peru TR as well.
BLong - Sep 7, 2009 4:36 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Awesome!Thanks for your positive comment. Regarding Peru, unfortunately we didn't get to do any mountaineering. We were planning a couple of peaks around Arrequipa, but then we realized that both my climbing partner and I had a Human Bot Fly in our shoulders (which we got in the Amazon). As opposed to climbing, we ended up going to the doctor, getting surgery, etc. The whole ordeal was a pain in the ass. In the end it probably worked out for the best as there was a huge storm the next week -- it shut down all the major passes for a couple of days. Wouldn't have enjoyed being at 20,000 feet with that weather.
Haliku - Sep 5, 2009 12:07 am - Voted 10/10
Well done!A well written report. I like your html work for the photo matrix. I might have to use that. Your trip brought back fond memories of my time there in 2008. Cheers!
Hotfeet - Sep 5, 2009 1:00 am - Voted 10/10
Excellent!One of the best trip reports I've ever read.
juliacoreyburns - Sep 5, 2009 8:42 am - Hasn't voted
yay Boliviahey...Great Trip Report!!! it brought back great memories for me as i was in SA for a few months last winter, and also climbed Alpamayo and Potosi while in Bolivia- both spectacular!! unfortunately i had the same dark summit experience on Potosi.
but loved everything- Bolivia rocks.
mmcguigan - Sep 5, 2009 10:24 pm - Voted 10/10
Awesome JobGreat report with tons of info. Congratulations on a terrific adventure.
rickford - Sep 6, 2009 5:37 pm - Voted 10/10
man that sounds good!Great job! That is some gorgeous terrain!
BLong - Sep 8, 2009 1:19 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Very Nice....Great question.
I briefly mentioned in the trip report that we used two different guide services. We had a bad experience with the first one and an amazing experience with the second one.
The guide we liked was Eduardo Mamani (his contact details are all in the trip report). To say that he made the trip easier is a huge understatement. The biggest hassle in Bolivia is transportation, as the vast majority of peaks require 4X4 private transport. Eduardo had his own vehicles and knows all of the back roads, so that was a snap. Furthermore, he knows porters, cooks, and arrieros all over the country. Not only did he organize booking them, but he got a price that was substantially less than what we would have paid on our own. Also, while we could have climbed all the peak on our own, having someone who knew the route was great. Finally, he is a hilarious guy. He really made the climbing fun and made sure that we were having a good time. When you price everything out, the extra money you pay organizing your own food, transport, mules, etc is barely worth going without a guide. At least for Bolivia, I highly recommend it!
seeksit - Sep 12, 2009 1:48 pm - Hasn't voted
Nice lead photoWonder why I said that?
JDrake - Sep 24, 2009 11:26 am - Voted 10/10
Brilliant!Just fantastic stuff - ranks high among my favorite trip reports. Keep up the great work BLong!
BLong - Jan 20, 2010 1:50 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Brilliant!Thanks JDrake, I really appreciate it. Knowing that people enjoy reading these makes it worth the effort & time it takes to create them!
BLong - Jul 24, 2011 5:38 pm - Hasn't voted
New BetaEduardos new website:
http://www.bolivianmountainguides.com/
rocky29oct - May 21, 2015 5:21 pm - Hasn't voted
Nice trip reportI am planning to do the same itinerary as yours but not having too much luck with dates and groups. I am the only one so far who is signed up for fixed departure dates from bolivianmountains. I am little worried about the guides and all.
BLong - May 21, 2015 5:32 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Nice trip reportRocky,
It is easy to organize the logistics on the ground. There are tons of guides there and all of the guide shops are located on the same street. It would save you a lot of money (but cost another day or two) to organize it on the ground.