[ o l e ] South America :: Photos :: photostory

Walking tree, Madidi National Park, Bolivia

Sun, 13 May 2007 20:59:45 GMT

Walking tree, Madidi National Park, Bolivia

Sunlight is a rare commodity in the density of the rainforest. The locals say these trees grow feet so they can walk among the other trees to seek the best-lit spots.

Howler Monkeys, Madidi National Park, Bolivia

Sun, 13 May 2007 14:59:45 GMT

Howler Monkeys, Madidi National Park, Bolivia

Thorn tree, Madidi National Park, Bolivia

Sun, 13 May 2007 08:59:45 GMT

Thorn tree, Madidi National Park, Bolivia

Capped Heron, Madidi National Park, Bolivia

Sun, 13 May 2007 02:59:45 GMT

Capped Heron, Madidi National Park, Bolivia

Squirrel Monkey, Madidi National Park, Bolivia

Sat, 12 May 2007 20:59:45 GMT

Squirrel Monkey, Madidi National Park, Bolivia

Squirrel Monkeys, Madidi National Park, Bolivia

Sat, 12 May 2007 14:59:45 GMT

Squirrel Monkeys, Madidi National Park, Bolivia

Squirrel Monkey, Madidi National Park, Bolivia

Sat, 12 May 2007 08:59:45 GMT

Squirrel Monkey, Madidi National Park, Bolivia

Hoatzin ("Stinkbird"), Madidi National Park, Bolivia

Sat, 12 May 2007 02:59:45 GMT

Hoatzin ("Stinkbird"), Madidi National Park, Bolivia

Tapir, Madidi National Park, Bolivia

Fri, 11 May 2007 20:59:45 GMT

Tapir, Madidi National Park, Bolivia

Spot the monkey, Madidi National Park, Bolivia

Fri, 11 May 2007 14:59:45 GMT

Spot the monkey, Madidi National Park, Bolivia

Do you see the monkey? Spotting animals in the rainforest is harder than on the Galápagos islands.

On the way to Madidi National Park, Río Beni, Bolivia

Fri, 11 May 2007 08:59:45 GMT

On the way to Madidi National Park, Río Beni, Bolivia

Sunset over the Río Beni, Rurrenabaque, Bolivia

Fri, 11 May 2007 02:59:45 GMT

Sunset over the Río Beni, Rurrenabaque, Bolivia

Rurrenabaque is a small jungle town located on the edge of the Amazon basin that stretches thousands of kilometers north into Brazil. “Rurre” is the entrance to Madidi National Park, one of the best wildlife-watching spots in the Amazon rainforest.

Aerial view of Mount Illimani (6438 m), Cordillera Real, Bolivia

Thu, 10 May 2007 20:59:45 GMT

Aerial view of Mount Illimani (6438 m), Cordillera Real, Bolivia

The very next day after the Huayna Potosí climb I flew from La Paz to Rurrenabaque in the Bolivian Amazon region. The plane crosses the Cordillera Real and we got a great view of the six-thousanders.

Starting the descent, Huayna Potosí, Cordillera Real, Bolivia

Thu, 10 May 2007 14:59:45 GMT

Starting the descent, Huayna Potosí, Cordillera Real, Bolivia

Preparing for the descent, Huayna Potosí (6088 m), Cordillera Real, Bolivia

Thu, 10 May 2007 08:59:45 GMT

Preparing for the descent, Huayna Potosí (6088 m), Cordillera Real, Bolivia

View from the summit, Huayna Potosí (6088 m), Cordillera Real, Bolivia

Thu, 10 May 2007 02:59:45 GMT

View from the summit, Huayna Potosí (6088 m), Cordillera Real, Bolivia

View to the west: Huayna Potosí’s shadow, Cordillera Real, Bolivia

Wed, 09 May 2007 20:59:45 GMT

View to the west: Huayna Potosí’s shadow, Cordillera Real, Bolivia

In the background: Lake Titicaca.

View from the summit, Huayna Potosí (6088 m), Cordillera Real, Bolivia

Wed, 09 May 2007 14:59:45 GMT

View from the summit, Huayna Potosí (6088 m), Cordillera Real, Bolivia

Me on the summit, Huayna Potosí (6088 m), Cordillera Real, Bolivia

Wed, 09 May 2007 08:59:45 GMT

Me on the summit, Huayna Potosí (6088 m), Cordillera Real, Bolivia

Me on the summit, Huayna Potosí (6088 m), Cordillera Real, Bolivia

Wed, 09 May 2007 02:59:45 GMT

Me on the summit, Huayna Potosí (6088 m), Cordillera Real, Bolivia

It took me 4:40 hours to reach the summit. We arrived at 7 a.m., about 45 minutes after first light. What an incredible feeling!

Rocky camp at 5100 m, Huayna Potosí, Cordillera Real, Bolivia

Tue, 08 May 2007 20:59:45 GMT

Rocky camp at 5100 m, Huayna Potosí, Cordillera Real, Bolivia

This is where we spent the last night before the summit attempt.

Ice climbing practice at 4900 m with my guide Mario, Huayna Potosí, Cordillera Real, Bolivia

Tue, 08 May 2007 14:59:45 GMT

Ice climbing practice at 4900 m with my guide Mario, Huayna Potosí, Cordillera Real, Bolivia

Ice climbing practice at 4900 m with my guide Mario, Huayna Potosí, Cordillera Real, Bolivia

Tue, 08 May 2007 08:59:45 GMT

Ice climbing practice at 4900 m with my guide Mario, Huayna Potosí, Cordillera Real, Bolivia

Huayna Potosí (6088 m) as seen from basecamp at approx. 4700 m, Cordillera Real, Bolivia

Tue, 08 May 2007 02:59:45 GMT

Huayna Potosí (6088 m) as seen from basecamp at approx. 4700 m, Cordillera Real, Bolivia

Huayna Potosí, the 6088 m mountain I’m about to climb, Cordillera Real, Bolivia

Mon, 07 May 2007 20:59:45 GMT

Huayna Potosí, the 6088 m mountain I’m about to climb, Cordillera Real, Bolivia

Uyuni, Bolivia (3600 m)

Mon, 07 May 2007 08:45:34 GMT

Uyuni, Bolivia (3600 m)

Genesis, Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

Mon, 07 May 2007 02:45:34 GMT

Genesis, Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

Standing on hands, Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

Sun, 06 May 2007 20:45:34 GMT

Standing on hands, Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

Self-portrait, Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

Sun, 06 May 2007 14:45:34 GMT

Self-portrait, Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

Hexagons made of salt, Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

Sun, 06 May 2007 08:45:34 GMT

Hexagons made of salt, Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

Sun, 06 May 2007 02:45:34 GMT

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

Sat, 05 May 2007 20:45:34 GMT

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

Sunrise on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

Sat, 05 May 2007 14:45:34 GMT

Sunrise on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

Driving on salt, Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

Fri, 04 May 2007 01:05:16 GMT

Driving on salt, Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

Sunrise over the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

Thu, 03 May 2007 19:05:16 GMT

Sunrise over the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

Salt Hotel, Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

Thu, 03 May 2007 13:05:16 GMT

Salt Hotel, Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

El Arból de Piedra (Tree of Stone), Tupiza—Uyuni tour, Bolivia

Thu, 03 May 2007 07:05:16 GMT

El Arból de Piedra (Tree of Stone), Tupiza—Uyuni tour, Bolivia

Group meeting, Tupiza—Uyuni tour, Bolivia

Thu, 03 May 2007 01:05:16 GMT

Group meeting, Tupiza—Uyuni tour, Bolivia

Cruising on the Altiplano highway, Tupiza—Uyuni tour, Bolivia

Wed, 02 May 2007 19:05:16 GMT

Cruising on the Altiplano highway, Tupiza—Uyuni tour, Bolivia

Flamingos, Laguna Colorada, Tupiza—Uyuni tour, Bolivia

Wed, 02 May 2007 13:05:16 GMT

Flamingos, Laguna Colorada, Tupiza—Uyuni tour, Bolivia