On Top of the World

It's been some time since I last posted a blog entry. I have to admit I have been busy finishing my spanish language studies at the Maryknoll Instituto de Idiomas, and I can proudly say that I completed the "basico" course on June 9th! But I want to go back to the month of May to share an adventure I had with some other language students climbing Mt. Tunari near Cochabamba.
Mt. Tunari at 16,519 ft is the highest peak in Parque Tunari, a Bolivian national park and preserve. Areas of the park contain a protected and fragile ecosystem while other areas are populated by indigenous farmers who live in isolated pueblos growing quinoa, wheat and choclo (corn) on terraced slopes. The area has been referred to as the Nepal of Bolivia due to the similarity of terrain and jagged mountain peaks.

Along with a group of 20 language students plus a guide, I left by bus for the Parque Tunari early on a Saturday morning. I made the mistake of taking a window seat...(what was I thinking?)...so I unfortunatly had the treacherous view "below" as the bus snaked along the very narrow mountain road. Most of us had taken altitude sickness pills and were drinking "mate de coca" (tea) but I was surprised as I stepped off the bus after the 2 hour thrill ride, that the air was already very thin at @12,500 ft and my breathing was immediately very labored.
Some of the younger students decided to challenge the summit but I opted to stay with a small group only going midway to the summit. We took a path along a crystal clear "lago" (lake) sheltered by huge boulders. It was difficult climbing in the high altitude but the vistas were breathtaking.

After about an hour we stopped to rest and decided to stay at this point and eat lunch. We were joined by some grazing llamas and overhead we could see condors gliding and swooping around the snow covered peaks.The air smelled of wet earth...there was very little vegetation, only a few plants nestled in the crevices of the rocky landscape. Beneath our feet was a type of prickly moss...so we sat on our jackets!

After lunch the three children in the group played a game of parachute toss and we all took shorts catnaps before beginning our decent. As we walked slowly along the rocky path, we could feel the air turning colder and the clouds beginning to hide some of the lower peaks. The views descending were even more spectacular. Perhaps it was the time of day but the mountains just seemed to be framed in a "rosado" glow...an unforgettable image!

The hike ended as we greeted our more "athletic partners" at the bus and after a group photo...began the long bus ride back to Cochabamba. Not having had any previous experience hiking over 10,000feet, I can honestly say that it was a physical challenge, but the rewards of being at that altitude were truly amazing...the attached pictures can't do justice to this top of the world experience!