Hauyna Potosi

The second trip was a two day climb of Huayna Potosi, a mountain that peaks at 6,088m. This peak, higher than Kilimanjaro, is snow covered the whole year round and sits significantly higher than the clouds covering the Amazon rainforest below it. The first day is a gentle three hour hike from base camp up to high camp, carrying all the equipment we need for the following day. High camp is conveniently positioned exactly where the rock stops and the ice begins, and it is here where a meal awaits together with a few hours sleep. We’re all in bed as early as 7 as we’re expecting breakfast in time for midnight. At this altitude not only is day time climbing unbearably hot, but the risk of slipping on the snow or experiencing an avalanche is higher than desirable. We therefore plan to climb all night when the snow has turned to ice.


At midnight we wake and already some people have to drop out. Altitude sickness has hit them hard with headaches and vomiting. The rest of us start adding layers, and then with clamp-on spikes on our feet and ice axe in hand we head into the darkness in groups of three. Pairs of climbers have each been tied to a guide with the understanding that we either all make it or all turn back. The climb was easily the most grueling day of my life; constantly uphill with only a five minute break every hour and some completely vertical walls for us to overcome with use of our ice axe. Half way up and the altitude is really paying its toll. My main focus is getting enough oxygen into my lungs, while my partner is suffering far worse with a throbbing headache. Knowing that I need him to make it, the process of feeding him various painkillers and altitude pills quickly commences, and just minutes after sunrise we successfully hit the top. Once the sun rises over the ice the views are incredible. The whole night the only view we had was the tiny spotlight at our feet created by our head torches. On the way back down we get to fully appreciate the beauty of what we have just defeated. The pictures can only attempt to do it justice.