Bolivia outdoors - Bolivia - page 49

tactics, such as stringing 10 or more climbers on the same rope. Always do your research
and go with professionally accredited guides such as those registered with the Asociación
de Guias de Montaña ( 2-214-7951; www.agmtb.org ; Sagárnaga 189, Edificio Dory-
an, La Paz) , an internationally certified association of registered mountain guides.
They're more expensive, but it's worth the cost.
When choosing an agency, ask to see the equipment you will be using and meet the
guide. If harnesses are worn, double-boots are broken down or the ropes are frayed, de-
mand they be replaced. Talk with the guide and make sure you feel comfortable with
them. When you hit the mountain, the guide should teach you how to travel on a rope (two
people and a guide per rope, no more) and self-arrest with your ice ax.
Agencies can provide almost everything you will need - from just organizing transport-
ation to a full service with guide, cook, mules, porters, an itinerary and so forth - but you
should bring warm clothes (avoid cotton and stick to wool or synthetics), a headlamp and
extra batteries, plenty of water and snacks. The guides will generally prepare three meals
a day.
Professional trekking guides generally charge US$40 to US$60 per day (plus food).
Maps
Historically, maps of Bolivia's climbing areas have been poor in quality and difficult to
obtain. Even now, elevations of peaks are murky, with reported altitudes varying as much
as 600m - it seems the rumor that Ancohuma is taller than Argentina's Aconcagua won't
die.
Maps are available from Los Amigos del Libro, which has branches in La Paz (
22-220-4321; www.librosbolivia.com ; Mercado 1315) , Cochabamba ( Click here ) and
Santa Cruz ( 3-336-0709; Ingavi 114) , and other bookstores. In La Paz try the
trekking agents and tourist shops along Sagárnaga.
The Travel Map of Bolivia, one of the best country maps, and New Map of the Cordi-
llera Real, which shows mountains, roads and precolonial routes, are published by
O'Brien Cartographics. They are out of print, but still available at various tourist
hangouts, including the postcard kiosks within La Paz' central post office ( Click here ).
Government 1:50,000 topographical and specialty sheets are available from the Ins-
tituto Geográfico Militar (IGM) , which has offices in most major cities, including a
branch in La Paz ( Click here ) .
Walter Guzmán Córdova has produced 1:50,000 colorful contour maps of El
Choro-Takesi-Yunga Cruz, Mururata-Illimani, Huayna Potosí-Condoriri and Sajama, but
those other than the El Choro-Takesi-Yunga Cruz map are in short supply. The Deutscher