Lago Zongo

On Sunday, I was able to venture beyond La Paz to Lago Zongo at the base of Huayna Potosi, one of Bolivia's 6,000 meter peaks, for some granite climbing. Here is the view as we leave El Alto:

Illimani floats above the Altiplano:
Llama and Huayna Potosi. The lower left glacier looks eminently skiable:
Joose, my partner and new friend:
No one knew the name of this peak. The mixed line direct to the summit looks sublime:
Here we are at one of the climbing areas. You can see the quality of the granite is very good, particularly given the elevation of 15,500' or so which is a new record for me:
Our driver did a great job:
At the anchors of one of our first routes:
Hardy flora:
Not sure but it might be related to Jabba the Hut:
The lake:
A fine buttress with a bolted 10b/c route up the middle:
Joose at the anchors of another great crack:
Life struggles:
It does not always succeed:
Huayna Refugio, the green one:
Looking back at Zongo Pass:
The clouds are boiling from the Yungas:
Another shot toward the Yungas and the Amazon basin:
To get to the next climbing area, we had to descend these ladders. No locked gates and no warnings needed:
The area in profile:
The big ladder:
My turn:
Another profile shot:
Joose leads the way:
Oh, the mixed routes I hope to do:
Joose below as I prepare to rap. After five hours, I started to get a headache from the elevation:
Making sure "todo bien" as we prepare to leave:
Home by 4:30. There is so much unclimbed rock in this area that it boggles the mind. Or maybe it's just the elevation talking.