To wrap up my blogs about my time in La Paz, I'd like to share some general observations and impressions about the place. La Paz really stands out to me when compared to the Latin American cities I visited last year. Buenos Aires had a distinctly European feel. Quito had a generic, big sprawling Latin … Continue reading Our Lady of Peace
Tag: hiking
La Paz Day Trips
Although my main reason for going to Bolivia was to hike tall mountains, there are things to do in Bolivia besides mountaineering! Unfortunately, since the socialist (and later authoritarian) government of Evo Morales came to power in 2006, there has been a steep drop off in tourism due to a number of policies he enacted. … Continue reading La Paz Day Trips
Cordillera Occidental – The Volcano
After the Illimani near disaster, I started heavily rethinking my idea to attempt a summit of Sajama, the highest peak in Bolivia. Well, truth be told, I had started rethinking it the week before on Huayna Potosà when all the guides were talking about how miserable the conditions were. Not because of snow, but because … Continue reading Cordillera Occidental – The Volcano
Cordillera Real – The Warm Up Peaks
If you've been following this blog this summer, you know that all the summits I bagged, all the hiking I did, and all gym time and running was aimed at one goal - Bolivian summits. And so, a mere one day after I switched from sea level in Washington DC to a city that sits … Continue reading Cordillera Real – The Warm Up Peaks
Colorado Peak Sweep (Parts 33 – 35)
I'm a little behind on my peak plans for the summer. After Longs and Meeker, I had planned to hike another that Saturday, but my body was still pretty wrecked and I was running a 10k at 10,000 feet on Sunday, so I opted for a rest day. The following weekend, it rained and rained … Continue reading Colorado Peak Sweep (Parts 33 – 35)
Colorado Peak Sweep (Parts 29 – 32)
My 2022 mountains started with Mt. Rundle in Banff, which while not a 14er, had more gain and was more challenging than anything I plan to do in Colorado this summer. It was terrifying and difficult, but when I had completed it, I knew that I was Colorado ready. I have seven weekends in Colorado … Continue reading Colorado Peak Sweep (Parts 29 – 32)
On the Panamanian Roads Again
After my Bocas trip, I had two more weekends to get out and enjoy the jungle. As I mentioned before, I highly recommend renting a car since there is a lot you can do from Panama City, but not a lot of tourist infrastructure for doing it. A few things to keep in mind if … Continue reading On the Panamanian Roads Again
I Got New Wheels!
Okay, no, not really. I'm still seven weeks away from needing to buy a car to replace my beloved Nitro, which I sold last November after 11 years together. What I have done is rented a car for the entirety of my stay in Panama City. Expensive? Yes. But so are tours in Panama. This … Continue reading I Got New Wheels!
Why I Really Went to Argentina
Now that I'm in my 40s, paying for bougie vacations is apparently a thing I do. Now that I pay for bougie vacations, I realize that they are totally worth the money. The two months that I spent in Buenos Aires were all a precursor to a running vacation across Patagonia that I booked a … Continue reading Why I Really Went to Argentina
Oh the Places You Can Go!
Argentina is enormous and has many different climates and landscapes and geographical features. You need at least a month to see it all, which is, of course, not feasible for most people. I've been based in Buenos Aires and have had a few three-day weekends off work that I took full advantage of to hop … Continue reading Oh the Places You Can Go!
Jennifer A Swallow 