Nevado Sajama

Nevado Sajama 6,530mts / 21,424ft

Tour Description

This stunning expedition to Nevado de Sajama (6,520m / 21,391 ft), the roof of Bolivia, begins with altitude acclimatization on the Chilean Altiplano (high Andean plateau). Setting out from the city of Iquique in northern Chile, we’ll visit the hot springs of Chusmisa, Polloquere, on the Surire Salt Flats, and Chiriguya at the foot of the volcano Guallatiri. The spectacular scenery of the Atacama features salt lakes, active volcanoes, and emerald lagoons. The flora and fauna is rich and varied and includes flamingoes, ñandú, a type of ostrich, and vicuñas, a relative of the llama.

On our two acclimatization climbs we will ascend Guallatiri (6,050m / 19,849 ft), an active estratovolcano on the border with Bolivia, and the inactive Volcán Parinacota (6,330m / 20,767 ft). Our route leads us on to the impressive Lake Chungara, located in the Lauca National Park and only 9 km / 5 km from the Bolivian border. Surrounded by lofty volcanoes, Chungara, at 4,570m / 14,993 ft, is one of the highest lakes in the world. Crossing into Bolivia, we begin our ascent of the Nevado de Sajama volcano from the picteuresque village of Sajama.

Itinerary

Day 1 Santiago
You will be picked up at the airport and transported to our hotel. In the afternoon there will be a half day guided tour of Santiago. In the evening we meet with the other members of the expedition and the guides to review the schedule and check personal gear.
Elevation – 567m / 1,860 ft / Hotel

Day 2 Santiago - Iquique
This morning we fly from Santiago to Iquique. We’ll take a city tour, which will include the historic nitrate mine at Humberstone and the giant petroglyphs of the Atacama desert. After lunch, we continue on to the altiplano where we’ll set up camp near the Chusmiza hot spring area (3,000m / 9,842 ft).
Transfer distance – 160 km / 99 miles / Transfer time 2 hours / Elevation – Min sea level - Max 3,000m / 9,842 feet / Tent

Day 3 Chusmisa - Polloquere
From Chusmisa we visit the altiplanic villages of Colchane, Enquelca, and Isluga before reaching the Surire Salt Flats in the afternoon. We camp near the Polloquere hot springs, on the Surire Salt Flat, a natural reserve of great beauty and part of the Lauca Biosphere Reseve. This is an important nesting area for flamingoes. Large herds of vicuña can also be seen.
Transfer distance – xx km / xx miles / Transfer time xx hours / Elevation – Min 3,000m / 9,842 feet - Max 4,200m / 13,779 ft / Tent

Day 4 Polloquere - Chiriguaya
From the Surire Salt Flat we head north across the Altiplano where we’ll see large numbers of flamingos, ñandú, and vicuñas. We’ll also have spectacular view of the high peaks surrounding the salar. Reaching the base of the Guallatiri volcano at the abandoned town of Chiriguaya, we’ll set up camp.
Transfer distance – xx km / xx miles / Transfer time xx hours / Elevation – Min 4 ,200m / 13,779 ft - Max 4,400m / 14,435 ft / Tent

Day 5 Chiriguaya – summit Guallatiri Volcano - Chiriguaya
We’ll get up very early and set out in the pre-dawn, so as to reach the summit by midday. Guallatiri is one of the most active volcanoes in the north of Chile and from the summit we will see the fumarole and the snow around it tinted yellow with sulphur. We will also have stunning views of the Altiplano and other high peaks nearby. After taking photographs we’ll return to our camp at Chiriguaya.
Trekking Time – xxx hours / Elevation – Min 4,400m / 14,435 ft - Max 6,071m / 19,917 ft / Tent


Day 6 Chiriguaya - Parinacota base camp
This morning we continue on to Parinacota base camp. We’ll visit the beautiful high plateau lakes of Cotacotani and Chungara along the way. From this point we’ll have spectacular views of Sajama.
Transfer distance – xx km / xx miles / Transfer time xx hours / Elevation – Min 4,400m / 14,435 ft - Max 4,600m / 15,091 ft / Tent

Day 7 Parinacota base camp – Parinacota upper camp
This morning we climb to the Parinacota upper camp where we’ll eat and rest for our summit push tomorrow..
Trekking time– 5 hours / Elevation – Min 4,600m / 15,091 ft - Max 5,180m / 16,994 ft / Tent

Day 8 Parinacota upper camp – Parinacota summit – Parinacota base camp
We set out very early for the summit. We will reach 6,000m / 19,600 without difficulty. Above this elevation we will reach the ice pinnacles known as `penitentes’. From this point the route becomes more challenging and we will use crampons and ice axes. It is not technical but requires considerable stamina. Around midday we will reach the summit. We’ll admire its immense crater, some 300 m / 900 ft in diameter, and enjoy the stunning views of the surrounding high peaks and the Altiplano below. We will record our achievement with photographs and descend to our base camp where we’ll eat and rest to recover energy.
Trekking time– xxx hours / Elevation – Min 4,600m / 15,091 ft - Max 6,348m / 20,826 ft / Tent

Day 9 Parinacota base camp – Bolivian border – Sajama village
Today we cross the border into Bolivia. Soon after passing through customs, we will reach Sajama village (4,200m / 13,779 ft) at the foot of Nevado Sajama, in the Sajama National Park. We’ll spend the night in a small hut with basic services.
Transfer distance – xx km / xx miles / Transfer time xx hours / Elevation – Min 4,600m / 15,091 ft - Max 4,200m / 13,779 ft / Hut

Day 10 Sajama Village – Sajama base camp
Leaving Sajama village we hike the pretty trail to base camp, porting loads on the three hour trek beside a stream through a forest of low-growing native trees. Reaching the base of Volcán Sajama we’ll set up camp.
Trekking Time – 3 hours / Elevation – Min 4,200m / 13,779 ft – Max 4,700m / 15,419 ft / Tent

Day 11 Sajama base camp - Camp 1
Today we climb to Camp 1 (5,400m / 17,716 ft). The ascent is steep and passes ice pinnacles. We will also see the trees known as polylepis tarapacanagrow, which grow to an elevation of 5,200m / 17,060 ft, making Sajama one of the mountains with the highest treeline in the world. Camp 1 is located on a hillside, with platforms carved into the ice.
Trekking Time – 4 hours / Elevation – Min 4,700m / 15,419 ft – Max 5,400m / 17.716 ft / Tent

Day 12, 13 Camp 1 – Sajama summit - Sajama base camp
Keeping one day in reserve in case of poor weather, today we’ll make our summit bid, a fairly demanding 7 to 9 hour trip. The ascent includes crossing a 45-50 degree trench, rock outcroppings, and a glacier. After reaching the summit, the ‘roof of Bolivia’, we’ll admire the stunning views of nearby high peaks and the Altiplano below. We’ll take photographs and return to base camp where we’ll eat and rest to restore our energy.
Trekking Time – 7 - 9 hours / Elevation – Min 4,700m / 15,419 ft - Max 6,542m / 21,463 ft / Tent


Day 14 Sajama base camp – Sajama village – Arica Chile
From base camp we descend to Sajama village and continue on to Arica, in Chile. And the Nevado Sajama expedition comes to an end!
Transfer distance – xx km / xx miles / Transfer time xx hours / Elevation – Min Sea Level – Max 4,700m / 15,419 ft / Hotel

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Tour Details

Service includes

• Professional Bilingual Mountain Guide.
• Ratio Guide Clients 1-4.
• All local organization and supervision by KL Adventure Staff.
• Private transportation including airport pick up.
• Three Hotel nights double occupancy with breakfast.
• All meals during the expedition. 
• High quality expedition common gear; The North Face tents, Mountain Hardware and Marmot tents, isolate mattress, high camp stoves & gaz...
• Lightweight base camp set up: dining tent, tables, etc.
• Permanent access at base camp tent to hot drinks, tea, coffee, biscuits, etc.
• Mules to carry individual gear up to 20 kg per person to Sajama base camp.
• First aid kit, hyperbaric chamber, oxygen bottles, oximeter.
• Radio communication VHF 2.
• Satellite phone at base camp on a per minute payment basis.

Service does not include

• All personal climbing equipment gear.
• International & domestics flights.
• Any cost involve in a early or late departure.
• Any drinks (soda, beer or wine) in Iquique & Arica.
• Arrival and departure dinner.
• Cancellation, accident and rescue insurance.
• Any cost involve during waiting days in Punta Arenas or anywhere.
• Cash for extra expenses.
• Any other service not mentioned in the list.
• Gratuities are not included.

 Important

• All itineraries are subject to change due to changes in the weather, individual’s acclimatization rates and the guide’s criteria.
• Private Porter to be share between two expedition members carrying 10kg each, service available upon request at additional cost.
• Any departure dates can be re-scheduled with a minimum of 6 persons.

Physical conditioning for your trip with KL Adventure

Whether your trip involves trekking, mountaineering, or technical climbing, your training program should involve the following:

• Alpine-specific training (via hiking with a pack and specific skills development pertaining to your trip)
• Strength training (via free weights, a weighted backpack, bodyweight exercises, or gym machines)
• Cardiovascular training (via spinal-loading aerobic training)

Alpine specific training - During your training, progressively ramp up your speed, duration (time or mileage), and pack weight of weekly training hikes to give you alpine-specific conditioning that cannot be matched by any other type of training. Hike steep outdoor trails, gradually increasing your pack weight with each outing until you are at your target trip pack weight. A reasonable target for multi-day trips would be to ascend 3,500 feet in a 2-2.5 hour period, or roughly 1,750 vertical feet in an hour, with your target trip pack weight. In early season, you might start out with a 15# pack on hikes that gain up to 1,500’ elevation over 6-8 miles round trip; each hike try increasing the total elevation gain, distance, and/or speed, then begin adding several pounds per trip until you are comfortable with your target trip pack weight. When you can gain 3,500 feet with your target pack weight, start to decrease rest breaks and increase speed.  Include overnight trips in your training regimen to get accustomed to successive days of sustained work with little to no recovery time.

Strength training - Training with free weights, a weighted backpack, bodyweight exercises, or gym machines will help you build overall strength, particularly in the core (lower back and abdominals), upper back, and legs. Developing strength in your upper back and shoulders will help you with such tasks as carrying a pack and using ice axe, ice tools or trekking poles effectively.  The calves, hips, quads, hamstrings and glutes are all involved in ascending and descending alpine routes, and strength endurance is required in all areas of the legs and hips.  Technical climbing will require a solid foundation in upper body strength training as well. Training primarily with free weights will give you the functional, alpine-specific strength that will help you most in the mountains. In early phases of strength conditioning, focus on building a foundation for harder workouts, starting with 2-3 sets of each exercise for 8-10 repetitions. As you continue to train, you will shift focus to building strength through lower repetitions (5-8) to build maximum strength. Finally for the last 4-6 weeks before your trip start increasing the repetitions to build strength endurance and mental and physical stamina; each phase varies the weight used, repetitions completed, number of sets, and rest interval.  Most important in strength training is to be sure you maintain proper form at all times in order to prevent injury or strain.

Cardiovascular training – Activities you can add several times per week to supplement your alpine-specific pack carrying training include spinal-loading exercises such as trail running, walking on an inclined treadmill, doing stair stepping or stepmill training, working on an elliptical machine, or walking up and down hills or stairs with a weighted pack.  In early season, include at least 3-4 sessions of 30-45 minutes of sustained activity at a moderate intensity, and gradually build to 4-5 aerobic sessions of sustained effort for an hour or more as you approach your trip. If you will be at high altitude for portions of your trip, include interval training in your weekly program. To do this, find a steep hill or sets of stairs that will allow you to climb steadily for several minutes. Push as hard as you can while you go up, then recover coming down, and repeat for anywhere from 30-45 minutes.  For hill walks, add weight to your pack on a regular basis until you can carry slightly more than your target pack weight (referred to as over-weight training) the whole time. Participate in as many hikes or climbs that take you above 8,000’ as you possibly can, in order to learn how your body responds to high altitude.

This training information brought to you by KL Adventure conditioning partner, Body Results. For more conditioning information, products and services and special pricing for KLA’s clients go to www.bodyresults.com/kla