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Hi,
I have a dilemma which boots should I bring along for those two climbs. Should I bring the plastic boots (I have Koflach Degre - http://secondascent.com/s/index.php?tar ... t_id=29925) or La Sportiva Nepal (http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/ ... 0029M.html) ?
thank you for help.

IMHO I think you would be alright with the leathers as neither climb is more than 1 day from BC. Assuming you do not try and knock both mountains out in two days your boots should dry out adequately at BC to be comfortable for the next climb. Cheers,

I did vallunaraju in fairly deep snow with my leather LaSportivas and was fine except I had cold toes untill we started back down. I just didn´t have thick enough socks.

I was told leather boots are just fine. I'm planning on bringing regular boots for the approach and then use my Lowa Mountain Expert beyond BC.

I climbed Vallunaraju with my Salomon SM Lite leather boots. I felt fine all the time.

How about some of the other peaks in Argentina and Bolivia? I will be down there for 6 months this coming (our N) winter and would rather not pack plastic boots -

but I love my toes.

pitney

If you intend to do anything more challenging than Ishinca/Vallunaraju, then I think plastics would be a good idea, and going leather on some of the longer routes might be taking a serious risk.

thanks !

thanks for all the replies, took my Nepals, did the long moraine approaches in my regular hiking boots and switched to climbing boots just at the ice, with new socks, had no problems. appreciate the advice!