Lago Zongo

I went with Roberto for two days to Lago Zongo for some rock climbing.

We had started a new route the previous year but snow and wind had driven us away.  The route ascends the left side of this buttress:

It has nice views of Huayna Potosi across the lake:

Here is Roberto following the second pitch:

And here is Roberto climbing the third pitch of another route that parallels our new route:

Roberto on the third pitch of our route:

Relaxing at the belay:

I tore up my knuckles tightening the bolts:

Feeling pleased with the new route at the end of the day:

We dropped down the road into the Yungas and set up camp:

The next day was a bit colder so we went to work on some new projects below the aqueduct:

Getting ready to rappel to the base:

Down we go:

Roberto finishes one new route:

We cleaned and top roped two new routes.  Bolting would have to wait for another day.

Tiquimani abides:

We retuned the next Friday to add a harder variation to our new route.  The variation follows a blank arete and is much harder than the original route which follows a moderate dihedral.  Using the variation, the route is entirely bolted and goes at around 6b+, assuming you have some experience on steep granite slab.  We called it California Dreaming because the rock and moves were similar to good Sierra granite climbing.  Oscar's son, Danny, is at the top of the second pitch here:

Roberto nears the end of the first pitch:

Danny is rappelling off after climbing the route:

Tiquimani, again:

I managed to really tear up my hands this time:

Oopsie: