Huayna Potosi, you are the devil

 Llama anyone??  Really gets your appetite going.  Right? Who´s with me?

 Huayna Potosi from base camp.  Glacier looks beautiful....from a distance.

 This is the best pic I got from my guide.  The last fall I could muster and told him I was done, time to go back down!

 There is a trail in there somewhere!

I´m in the back with the full face helmet!  Yay for Luigi (the guide) playing favorites!!

Yes, the devil.  Biking was amazing.  I  rode hard, was first for the majority, even got a flat that I am taking as a badge of awesomeness!   Needless to say, I was feeling good and confident from the ride. Then the mountain came.  The taxi ride was beautiful.  I was full of excitement and awe of the mountain in front of me.  There was quite a bit more snow than I thought but that just made it ever more beautiful!  It turned out just to be the guide and myself climbing up to base camp so on we went.  No porter so carried all the equipment needed for the few days.  Climbing up, I started to get a little nervous.  I was not doing so hot.  I never asked for altitude but we were somewhere around the 5000 meter mark.  It took me a very long time to reach base camp.  My guide, Mario, was already at the top once I made it and I took my bag off and layed on a rock.  I wouldn´t have minded being there till next week.  My stomach hurt, tired more than I can explain, and a little more worried than before.  At the camp there was a great group of people (7) that had already made it to the top and in their sleeping bags resting.  I followed and collapsed upstairs.  We all made jokes about how much harder it was than we thought to climb the initial bit. We were a little worried about the next day but laughed through it. 

Dinner was at 5pm, then bed.  We were to start climbing at 11:30pm that night.  We had until 7am to make it to the top or we would need to turn back due to the ice melting.  I ended up being paired with the fastest of the group.  Why that happened I have no idea.  He was very nice about my worries that I was so slow and said as long as we make it to the top.  Didn´t make me feel better.  That night was the craziest storm I have ever heard.  First snow, lots of it.  Then wind, lots and lots of scary wind.  Then the two together.  I was developing a nasty headache. I however, did get some sleep while many got none.  Morning comes and we suit up.  I was feeling worse than earlier in the day but I wanted to try, at least.  Coming outside the moonlight was incredible. Star constellations I have no idea what they were J In the distance there was a spectacular lighting show being put on.  Huge bolts in the sky making the horizon glow most of the time.  Amazing.  We got everything on and started.

I didn´t make it long J  And, snow is not so pretty when you need to blaze your own trail and if you take a wrong step you will sink to your waist.  Not pretty at all. Walk 5 steps, stop, breath.....breath more.  Try again, fall. Get stuck in the snow. Swear. I went as far as I could before deciding that I was not having fun.  The guy I was grouped (tied to for safety) with and I both convinced the guide to either let him or I go solo so he could actually make it to the top.  I wanted to continue but knew I was not going to make it all the way and didn´t want to ruin his trip cause of my inability.  Thankfully, he let the other guy off the rope.  I continued for a bit more and called it at around 5400 meters (out of 6088).  Later, on the way down I fell off the side of our homemade snow path and slid for a bit.  The guide caught me on the rope and I learned how to use my ice pick quickly, hacking at the snow! I was eternally greatful that the guide decided to stay with me rather than the other guy! I was tired, felt sick, and hated the snow at that point. Made it down in one piece.  After getting sick outside I went back to my bed and passed out.  Later I heard another come in.  And another. And another.  At least they had made it further than me but not quite all the way.  I am bummed that I didn´t make it but don´t think I regret turning around when I did.  The slower I went the colder it got.  It was amazingly beautiful though.  Don´t have too many pics, mainly cause I was concentrating on living :) I heard that it was a great view from the top, something the others were very proud of and something none of them ever wanted to do again :)  Not sure how much more hiking in the boonies I want to do, make day-trips.  Well, until I forget how miserable I was and want to actually get to the top!  Good times :)  Just another story :)