Farmer - Nov 24, 2019 1:35 pm Date Climbed: Jul 7, 2017
Solo
What a great view to Chili and Bolivia … easy walk though…
runout - Dec 29, 2018 12:29 pm Date Climbed: Aug 17, 2005
Perfect view!
Solo.
Farmer - Feb 11, 2018 10:30 am Date Climbed: Jul 7, 2017
Standing on the border of Chili and Boliva
My first vulcano.. great view towards the Sajama... and Illimani.. and the Atacama desert... easy walk, only the big penitentes made a speedy ascent (and espacially) descent impossible... Big crater of appr. 300m deep... very enjoyable......I went solo...
NatureGirl - Aug 17, 2017 2:15 pm Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2017
summit killing penitents
we were lucky with the wind ... it was cold but ok, penitents were a mayor disadvantage ... anyway great summit with impressive crater and marvellous views.
steved - Jun 29, 2017 12:37 pm Date Climbed: Jan 1, 2017
From Sajama village
Hiked from Sajama village to campo alto Parinacota, attempted summit next day. Got to about 6250 metres (just to the top of the penitentes) before deep snow (hip deep) hindered progress. Still a quality hike/climb.
HeyItsBen - May 9, 2016 11:13 pm Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2015
Beautiful place, sucky wind
The wind broke my 4 season NF tent here after being dropped off with a hired jeep from Sajama, by far the strongest wind I've ever experienced. Went back into town to wait a few days for the wind to die down, which it did, a little. Back to Parinacota, we made the summit fully bundled in parkas and mitts and I was still cold, colder than I remember being at 17k on Denali. I had to time my footsteps in between gusts of wind, and wiggle my toes with every step to keep them warm, even with good double boots. Possibly my toughest summit day. Would have been an easy hike in good weather.
Such a beautiful area with the twins and Sajama. Ran out of time for Sajama, but tagged Acotango the next morning before we had to head back to La Paz.
leithian - Nov 21, 2014 9:44 pm Date Climbed: Nov 14, 2014
Chilean side
Started from Parinacota village, hitching up to the main road. Another hitching till the big lake. Then walking through old lava fields maze for 4 hours until the high camp at 4930m. Lost my way couple of times since I was alone, the jeep tracks were winding through the lava fields like crazy.
Started the ascent at 4am next morning, in the dark, barely able to see the track going upwards. Lost my trail again in the rocks, just followed to the nearest white spot. At the beginning the penitentes were really high, like 60-80cm, almost impassable. Later it became much more walkable, though way too many crevasses to jump over. I believe I must have chosen the worst part of the glacier but somehow I finally managed to get to the crater rim.
Loosing my way so many times in the dark, not knowing the correct way made this one probably one of my most demanding acsent so far. I was completely alone on the mountain that day. But wievs were really worth the effort! :) so as my altitude record.
boisedoc - Aug 17, 2014 10:31 pm Date Climbed: Aug 13, 2014
slog
In the late winter, there was very little now left (maybe from 19500-20500ft). Mostly hiking on volcanic scree and then the snowfield (in very poor condition). The descent was 5000ft of scree skiing. I was excited to climb such a high mountain- 20800ft which is the highest I have ever been- but the climbing itself was pretty boring. Certainly cold and exhausting. Good views of Pomerape and Sajama. We got a ride in a 4x4 from the village of Sajama up to about 5100meters (they are technically not supposed to drive that high but will do it at night
matthias.pabst - Jun 21, 2014 9:06 pm Date Climbed: Jun 15, 2014
Normal route from Col
A very long ascent on scree and then on some snowfield with early penitentes. Pretty hard as it was the third day in a row doing more than 1000m of altitude gain. Made it and the view was amazing. No wind so I was on top in a merino shirt and softshell jacket. Fast decent on another route through scree and sand.
Packmule - Jun 18, 2014 10:53 am Date Climbed: Jun 9, 2014
Parinacota
There is a jeep track from the Bolivian village of Sajama to base camp. There are two routes, one goes from hut at 5100M up a zigzag trail onto a ridge up to snowline & then directly up to summit, the other goes from the pass at about 5300M up to the summit. The route from the hut is steeper but more direct.
Nearly everyone doing this route from Bolivian side is now going by jeep to base camp. It is difficult to walk in as there is no water en route or when you get to base camp. It has been a very dry winter so the snowline is high (about 5800 metres) & the snowfield is in very poor condition, broken up with lots of small penitentes. This makes for a tough climb up on loose sand & scree & it is not any easier when you get on the snow. There are no technical difficulties & if you have any idea what you're doing you don't need a rope, just ice axe, crampons, two walking poles for below the snowline & lots of warm clothes including good plastic boots & gloves. There are access issues at the hut, it is not controlled by the national park but by a family living on the hill & as they are trying to charge people (illegally) to cross their land few people are using the hut at the moment.
Get to Sajama on the minibus every day at noon from Patacamaya (on the La Paz -> Oruro road) or get a bus from La Paz to the frontier (Tambo Quemado) & get off at Lagunas, about 10KM from the frontier. From Lagunas you should be able to arrange a jeep to Sajama for about 70 Bolivianos.
brota - Mar 27, 2013 3:30 am Date Climbed: Mar 22, 2013
Normal Route
I arrived to Sajama village by minibus after 5pm, rented crampons and ice axe and at still at night walked towards the peak. At midnight arrived reasonably close and camped at 5080 mts. At 6am I started hiking towards the base camp and high camp (had to descend below 5000 mts). Basically started the climb at 8.30 am from the saddle at 5300 mts. From 5400 mts it was all on snow.
Technically easy walk up but I was tired from the beginning and was having stomach problems. From 6100 mts it was harder as the snow had melted. Reached the peak at 1.30 pm. According to the local guides I was the first one on the top this season. Awesome climb. So far my highest peak. After that three days more hiking in the area and hot springs. No time for Sajama unfortunately.
If hiking, get informed well by the locals, there is a minefield nearby!
Woodie Hopper - May 23, 2012 8:33 pm Date Climbed: May 20, 2012
From Bolivia
Climbed from below the saddle. There was more snow than usual this year (beginning a little above the saddle) in good condition for cramponing, but too hard and irregular for a glissade on the way down. We were on pace to top out in about 4 hours, but high winds prevented that. I stopped short of the summit hoping for the wind to die down after sunrise, but that didn't happen. Frost-nipped finger tips are still somewhat numb today.
bighornmonkey - Aug 29, 2011 10:53 am Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2011
on foot from Sajama
At the village of Sajama they wanted 800 Bolivianos (USD$ 120) to give us a roundtrip ride to the Parinacota BC. So instead, we decided to walk...that was actually a really pleasant approach. It took us 5 hours of effort to get within striking distance of the summit. On the approach, we were concerned with availability of water but that turned out not to be an issue.
From the saddle between the two volcanos, it took us about 7 hours to reach the summit. about 5 hours of grueling penitentes to surmount. Very cold and windy day!
Did another 6000m peak (Sajama, highest peak in Bolivia) two days prior. First 6000m twofer. Hee haa!
edomar2611 - Mar 14, 2011 2:36 pm Date Climbed: Aug 21, 2009
Classic Route from Bolivian side
I spent one night close to the pass between Parinacota and Pomerape at 5200 m. Then I started at 2 a.m.; no wind, a little cold. Wonderful view of Pomerape and Sajama when the sun was rising. The snow begun at 5700 m with penitentes. I reached the summit at 8 a.m. with a great view of the crater and of the desert with Pomerape and Sajama.
rgg - Oct 14, 2010 11:48 am Date Climbed: Sep 19, 2009
From Bolivian side
In the early hours, it was very cold, but once the sun got out, it got quite nice. Spent an hour hiking around a large part of the crater rim.
There were only a few stretches of snow and penitentes, but high on the mountain, the scree made for slow going. For every two steps we went up, we slid down one.
The ascent took about 8 hours, the descent about two. We took a slightly different route on the descent, mostly straight down a very long scree slope,
monkeypike - Aug 25, 2010 3:22 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2010
Northern Summit From Bolivia
Climbed up the easy path to the summit from high camp in 6 hours. There was almost no snow on the mountain and it was possible to summit without ice axe or crampons.
Climbed with Ignacio from Sajama who we also climbed Pomerape and Sajama with and I would highly recommend. You can contact him through the park office in Sajama village.
MountainHikerCO - Dec 31, 2007 2:08 pm Date Climbed: Aug 17, 2000
From Bolivia
Climbed up to the saddle from the Bolivian side. Probably then crossed into Chile to get to where we accessed the glacier. Lots of ice penitentes on the glacier in rows perpendicular to the fall line.
tatraman - Sep 25, 2007 7:12 am Date Climbed: May 20, 2006
Parinacota ski descent
we climbed from the coll between Parinacota and POmerape and skied down afetrwards. Great views into the crater, long walk, technically absolutelly easy. Fierce winds and very low temperatures at dawn, though (below - 25deg. C)
Peak_Bagger - Apr 17, 2007 5:02 am Date Climbed: Sep 18, 2005
Snowy Ascent
Big storm came in and dropped 1/2 m of fresh snow. Wish I had my board with me. Pretty grueling snow plow up to the summit in 7 hrs from base camp, but a quick 1 hr glisaade back down.
Solo from Sajama and first to summit this year. Snowed the night before and climbing was tough ! 7h from BC to summit... the best part was coming down, sitting on top my backpack.. big fun !
Farmer - Nov 24, 2019 1:35 pm Date Climbed: Jul 7, 2017
SoloWhat a great view to Chili and Bolivia … easy walk though…
runout - Dec 29, 2018 12:29 pm Date Climbed: Aug 17, 2005
Perfect view!Solo.
Farmer - Feb 11, 2018 10:30 am Date Climbed: Jul 7, 2017
Standing on the border of Chili and BolivaMy first vulcano.. great view towards the Sajama... and Illimani.. and the Atacama desert... easy walk, only the big penitentes made a speedy ascent (and espacially) descent impossible... Big crater of appr. 300m deep... very enjoyable......I went solo...
NatureGirl - Aug 17, 2017 2:15 pm Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2017
summit killing penitentswe were lucky with the wind ... it was cold but ok, penitents were a mayor disadvantage ... anyway great summit with impressive crater and marvellous views.
steved - Jun 29, 2017 12:37 pm Date Climbed: Jan 1, 2017
From Sajama villageHiked from Sajama village to campo alto Parinacota, attempted summit next day. Got to about 6250 metres (just to the top of the penitentes) before deep snow (hip deep) hindered progress. Still a quality hike/climb.
HeyItsBen - May 9, 2016 11:13 pm Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2015
Beautiful place, sucky windThe wind broke my 4 season NF tent here after being dropped off with a hired jeep from Sajama, by far the strongest wind I've ever experienced. Went back into town to wait a few days for the wind to die down, which it did, a little. Back to Parinacota, we made the summit fully bundled in parkas and mitts and I was still cold, colder than I remember being at 17k on Denali. I had to time my footsteps in between gusts of wind, and wiggle my toes with every step to keep them warm, even with good double boots. Possibly my toughest summit day. Would have been an easy hike in good weather.
Such a beautiful area with the twins and Sajama. Ran out of time for Sajama, but tagged Acotango the next morning before we had to head back to La Paz.
leithian - Nov 21, 2014 9:44 pm Date Climbed: Nov 14, 2014
Chilean sideStarted from Parinacota village, hitching up to the main road. Another hitching till the big lake. Then walking through old lava fields maze for 4 hours until the high camp at 4930m. Lost my way couple of times since I was alone, the jeep tracks were winding through the lava fields like crazy.
Started the ascent at 4am next morning, in the dark, barely able to see the track going upwards. Lost my trail again in the rocks, just followed to the nearest white spot. At the beginning the penitentes were really high, like 60-80cm, almost impassable. Later it became much more walkable, though way too many crevasses to jump over. I believe I must have chosen the worst part of the glacier but somehow I finally managed to get to the crater rim.
Loosing my way so many times in the dark, not knowing the correct way made this one probably one of my most demanding acsent so far. I was completely alone on the mountain that day. But wievs were really worth the effort! :) so as my altitude record.
boisedoc - Aug 17, 2014 10:31 pm Date Climbed: Aug 13, 2014
slogIn the late winter, there was very little now left (maybe from 19500-20500ft). Mostly hiking on volcanic scree and then the snowfield (in very poor condition). The descent was 5000ft of scree skiing. I was excited to climb such a high mountain- 20800ft which is the highest I have ever been- but the climbing itself was pretty boring. Certainly cold and exhausting. Good views of Pomerape and Sajama. We got a ride in a 4x4 from the village of Sajama up to about 5100meters (they are technically not supposed to drive that high but will do it at night
matthias.pabst - Jun 21, 2014 9:06 pm Date Climbed: Jun 15, 2014
Normal route from ColA very long ascent on scree and then on some snowfield with early penitentes. Pretty hard as it was the third day in a row doing more than 1000m of altitude gain. Made it and the view was amazing. No wind so I was on top in a merino shirt and softshell jacket. Fast decent on another route through scree and sand.
Packmule - Jun 18, 2014 10:53 am Date Climbed: Jun 9, 2014
ParinacotaThere is a jeep track from the Bolivian village of Sajama to base camp. There are two routes, one goes from hut at 5100M up a zigzag trail onto a ridge up to snowline & then directly up to summit, the other goes from the pass at about 5300M up to the summit. The route from the hut is steeper but more direct.
Nearly everyone doing this route from Bolivian side is now going by jeep to base camp. It is difficult to walk in as there is no water en route or when you get to base camp. It has been a very dry winter so the snowline is high (about 5800 metres) & the snowfield is in very poor condition, broken up with lots of small penitentes. This makes for a tough climb up on loose sand & scree & it is not any easier when you get on the snow. There are no technical difficulties & if you have any idea what you're doing you don't need a rope, just ice axe, crampons, two walking poles for below the snowline & lots of warm clothes including good plastic boots & gloves. There are access issues at the hut, it is not controlled by the national park but by a family living on the hill & as they are trying to charge people (illegally) to cross their land few people are using the hut at the moment.
Get to Sajama on the minibus every day at noon from Patacamaya (on the La Paz -> Oruro road) or get a bus from La Paz to the frontier (Tambo Quemado) & get off at Lagunas, about 10KM from the frontier. From Lagunas you should be able to arrange a jeep to Sajama for about 70 Bolivianos.
brota - Mar 27, 2013 3:30 am Date Climbed: Mar 22, 2013
Normal RouteI arrived to Sajama village by minibus after 5pm, rented crampons and ice axe and at still at night walked towards the peak. At midnight arrived reasonably close and camped at 5080 mts. At 6am I started hiking towards the base camp and high camp (had to descend below 5000 mts). Basically started the climb at 8.30 am from the saddle at 5300 mts. From 5400 mts it was all on snow.
Technically easy walk up but I was tired from the beginning and was having stomach problems. From 6100 mts it was harder as the snow had melted. Reached the peak at 1.30 pm. According to the local guides I was the first one on the top this season. Awesome climb. So far my highest peak. After that three days more hiking in the area and hot springs. No time for Sajama unfortunately.
If hiking, get informed well by the locals, there is a minefield nearby!
Woodie Hopper - May 23, 2012 8:33 pm Date Climbed: May 20, 2012
From BoliviaClimbed from below the saddle. There was more snow than usual this year (beginning a little above the saddle) in good condition for cramponing, but too hard and irregular for a glissade on the way down. We were on pace to top out in about 4 hours, but high winds prevented that. I stopped short of the summit hoping for the wind to die down after sunrise, but that didn't happen. Frost-nipped finger tips are still somewhat numb today.
bighornmonkey - Aug 29, 2011 10:53 am Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2011
on foot from SajamaAt the village of Sajama they wanted 800 Bolivianos (USD$ 120) to give us a roundtrip ride to the Parinacota BC. So instead, we decided to walk...that was actually a really pleasant approach. It took us 5 hours of effort to get within striking distance of the summit. On the approach, we were concerned with availability of water but that turned out not to be an issue.
From the saddle between the two volcanos, it took us about 7 hours to reach the summit. about 5 hours of grueling penitentes to surmount. Very cold and windy day!
Did another 6000m peak (Sajama, highest peak in Bolivia) two days prior. First 6000m twofer. Hee haa!
edomar2611 - Mar 14, 2011 2:36 pm Date Climbed: Aug 21, 2009
Classic Route from Bolivian sideI spent one night close to the pass between Parinacota and Pomerape at 5200 m. Then I started at 2 a.m.; no wind, a little cold. Wonderful view of Pomerape and Sajama when the sun was rising. The snow begun at 5700 m with penitentes. I reached the summit at 8 a.m. with a great view of the crater and of the desert with Pomerape and Sajama.
rgg - Oct 14, 2010 11:48 am Date Climbed: Sep 19, 2009
From Bolivian sideIn the early hours, it was very cold, but once the sun got out, it got quite nice. Spent an hour hiking around a large part of the crater rim.
There were only a few stretches of snow and penitentes, but high on the mountain, the scree made for slow going. For every two steps we went up, we slid down one.
The ascent took about 8 hours, the descent about two. We took a slightly different route on the descent, mostly straight down a very long scree slope,
monkeypike - Aug 25, 2010 3:22 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2010
Northern Summit From BoliviaClimbed up the easy path to the summit from high camp in 6 hours. There was almost no snow on the mountain and it was possible to summit without ice axe or crampons.
Climbed with Ignacio from Sajama who we also climbed Pomerape and Sajama with and I would highly recommend. You can contact him through the park office in Sajama village.
MountainHikerCO - Dec 31, 2007 2:08 pm Date Climbed: Aug 17, 2000
From BoliviaClimbed up to the saddle from the Bolivian side. Probably then crossed into Chile to get to where we accessed the glacier. Lots of ice penitentes on the glacier in rows perpendicular to the fall line.
tatraman - Sep 25, 2007 7:12 am Date Climbed: May 20, 2006
Parinacota ski descentwe climbed from the coll between Parinacota and POmerape and skied down afetrwards. Great views into the crater, long walk, technically absolutelly easy. Fierce winds and very low temperatures at dawn, though (below - 25deg. C)
Peak_Bagger - Apr 17, 2007 5:02 am Date Climbed: Sep 18, 2005
Snowy AscentBig storm came in and dropped 1/2 m of fresh snow. Wish I had my board with me. Pretty grueling snow plow up to the summit in 7 hrs from base camp, but a quick 1 hr glisaade back down.
Fabrice.Rimlinger - Nov 11, 2006 3:33 pm Date Climbed: Apr 7, 2006
Custom Route !Solo from Sajama and first to summit this year. Snowed the night before and climbing was tough ! 7h from BC to summit... the best part was coming down, sitting on top my backpack.. big fun !