Andes Mountain Traverse 2001

1. Ilana & Greg's photos (5 photos)
2. Gabe's photos (13 photos)
3. Nate's photos (3 photos)
4. Rich's photos

Photos provided by Rich. Rich has a whole CD-ROM with 96 photos on it. He would happily provide this CD to you, in exchange for a donation to NOLS. If you are interested, use the email link on this screen and we will put you in touch with him.

One image from Rich is quite big, so has its own link:

• NOLS Fund brochure (354KB), describes how NOLS makes it possible for people to attend NOLS courses with financial aid.

You can get more information about making donations to NOLS' programs at the NOLS Web site, www.nols.edu.

• Clouds, mountain, snow and sky


• Resting during snow class day in the rock camp. We spent a day in deep hilly snow learning how to self-arrest, walk, ascend, glissade and generally handle ourselves. We also tied our prussiks, learned about coiling rope, and how to harness ourselves together and travel. Despite being in the middle of a snow field, the weather was pleasant (about 55 degrees F) and many people went barefoot on the rock during lunchtime.
  
• View of the Puma formation with clouds. This is from the rock camp, before we ascended to the red saddle camp.


• Another view from the rock camp. The stress cracks in the nearby glaciers are clear from here. These are lots bigger than they look -- the cracks are far too wide to cross. We ascended to the Puma to the right of the photo.


• Heavy weather in the red saddle camp. Weather alternated between slush, rain and snow, but the wind was nearly constant and very gusty. Groups worked to build snow walls and cooking areas, but the cooking areas had a tendency to get blown in with snow. It's crucial in this environment to not just put something down -- it could get buried in minutes!


• In the upper drainage valley, crossing the river on the way out (this is below the meadow camp, before ascending along the Lago Leone shore). Crossing a river is difficult: we needed to scout for an area not too deep or swift, disconnect our pack belts for a quick escape if necessary, and cross in groups for stability. We crossed in water about 30 inches deep.


• After the river crossing, we camped just a little way up the opposing hill (about the same height as the meadow camp). The next day, we ascended to this rock camp. We had classes in the use of pulleys in the evening, followed the next morning by crevasse rescue in a nearby snow field. This was a nice peaceful camp that gave us time to dry our gear in the dry breeze. This view is from before we reached the rock camp, looking back towards the Leone drainage we spent so much time in.


• Exit along Lago Leone (nearly at the river crossing). Andy in the foreground.


• Joe crossing rushing water in the landslide, nearly back at Lalo's camp.


• Waiting for the bus to return to NOLS base camp, several of us spent time socializing with neighbors. Here is Shawnita riding a borrowed horse.