Pico Simón Bolívar, 5,007 m
the highest mountain in Venezuela
We arrived at the airport in Caracas, after a brief stop in Lima and a peaceful and serene flight. Dedicate one day to go to this important capital and then on into Merida is located about 700 kilometers and one hour by plane.
Together with Lieutenant Colonel Joseph H. Hernandez, as members of the UPAME and representing the Mountaineering and Climbing Federation, we headed to the Assembly of our institution in the city with members of the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation, of the French and the English Federation Mountaineering and Climbing.
We arrived at the airport in Caracas, after a brief stop in Lima and a peaceful and serene flight. Dedicate one day to go to this important capital and then on into Merida is located about 700 kilometers and one hour by plane.
Together with Lieutenant Colonel Joseph H. Hernandez, as members of the UPAME and representing the Mountaineering and Climbing Federation, we headed to the Assembly of our institution in the city with members of the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation, of the French and the English Federation Mountaineering and Climbing.
Mountaineers from America, Spain and France at the meeting UPAME had emerged
important subjects related to the participation of competitive sport climbing in the Olympics of 2006 and other activities, including mountain ecology that should be addressed.
Merida, the city known as the gentlemen, students and tourists, the beautiful Andean city Venezuela is a beautiful blend of cosmopolitan colonial past and present, surrounded by green, wooded mountains, running straight on a plateau surrounded by 4 rivers within a long mountain valley above the 1,600 feet high, and leaves an unforgettable memory in the traveler's visit and discover. In the central town
are old colonial houses, some converted into museums, organizations and even shopping malls. From this city
watched the Pico Bolivar, which protects from a distance. We soon learn that ascend is the goal of every climber who heard about it and that its difficulty is a real adventure.
days passed quickly and soon we were able to coordinate meetings with our Venezuelan friends to move up during the weekend to Simón Bolívar, with its 5,007 meters above sea level, and always covered with snow, is the highest mountain in Venezuela. Is close to Merida and surrounded by two peaks of importance as the Humboldt and Bonpland, in the position 22'y O71 N8 ° ° 3 ', within the Sierra Nevada is called the highest mountain in the northern part South America, up from Ecuador.
He joined the issue with representatives from Chile, Spain and France for the approach must use a cable car. Jaime Suarez
Mérida Cable Car
you have the highest and longest cable car in the world. It was built in 1957 and has a course of 12, 5 km. through a large and important extension of the Sierra Nevada National Park, linking, after 3 seasons, to 2,442, 3,452 and 4,045 meters, the city of Merida to Pico Espejo to 4,765 m, it will go. From the cable car
seen people, landscapes and gorgeous green mountains with tropical sun.
seen people, landscapes and gorgeous green mountains with tropical sun.
decided to get off at the penultimate station, Loma rounded by, at 4,045 meters high and surrounded by a cloud, and from there walked up and to accomplish acclimatization to the top of Pico Espejo, about 720 meters up, where we would spend the night.
After about three hours of hard rain and blowing up from where we use our sticks and picks, we overcome this gap and reach the base camp would be the last cable car station that would serve us shelter. Once installed
did not stop surprising note, about 30 feet away, a great and imposing image of the Virgen de las Nieves,
Virgen de las Nieves - Pico Bolivar, Merida -
... carved in white marble, standing on a beautiful white base and cotton clouds and with a backdrop of beautiful mountains between Mount Bonpland protruding.
vainly tried to get the full picture of Bolivar, the moving clouds prevented it, and the weather seemed to change at that point.
After observing the unusual environment around us and because of the cold dusk, we proceeded to get comfortable on the wooden floor of the shelter and moments later, after a quick dinner, we took refuge in the warmth of our sleeping bags.
The next morning at seven, began the ascent of 240 meters that separated us from the summit.
vainly tried to get the full picture of Bolivar, the moving clouds prevented it, and the weather seemed to change at that point.
After observing the unusual environment around us and because of the cold dusk, we proceeded to get comfortable on the wooden floor of the shelter and moments later, after a quick dinner, we took refuge in the warmth of our sleeping bags.
The next morning at seven, began the ascent of 240 meters that separated us from the summit.
During the ascent to the Bolivar
The height difference was small, but together the technical difficulty to bursts of clouds that obstructed the vision and thin and intermittent snow,
The height difference was small, but together the technical difficulty to bursts of clouds that obstructed the vision and thin and intermittent snow,
... we could just reach the summit at twelve hours, which gave us an average rise of 50 meters per hour.
At no time could make sense of time as the climbing required our attention. There were moments when we had to drive far care our crampons and ice axes in upholstered cornices with ice, while others monitor the safety of a friend who came forward looking for best and safest ascent route. Sometimes standing somewhere waiting difficult until he touched the turn, while the cold wind shook us. But gradually went up and we finally arrive. By doing more of a sigh of relief could be heard.
The summit was awesome to be a sharp blade that can barely accommodate, and not without risk, two or three people. A bust of Simón Bolívar at the height of the top, placed in 1951, even more difficult to stay.
At no time could make sense of time as the climbing required our attention. There were moments when we had to drive far care our crampons and ice axes in upholstered cornices with ice, while others monitor the safety of a friend who came forward looking for best and safest ascent route. Sometimes standing somewhere waiting difficult until he touched the turn, while the cold wind shook us. But gradually went up and we finally arrive. By doing more of a sigh of relief could be heard.
The summit was awesome to be a sharp blade that can barely accommodate, and not without risk, two or three people. A bust of Simón Bolívar at the height of the top, placed in 1951, even more difficult to stay.
Cumbre Bolívar, con el busto del Libertador
Nos apartábamos para facilitar el acceso de los demás andinistas y más tarde nos acomodamos en una nevada cornisa para un frugal almuerzo, pero recordando cómo se pegaban nuestros guantes a la roca por el frío.
Joan Garrigós y Jordi Pons 
José H. Hernandez y Jaime 
Four rappels got us quickly to a height near the base of our shelter and away from the annoying storm.
A slow return from there ended at 18 hours, and once they got to the point of departure for that day to accommodate our team speed and elements as should take the last cable car, which went down to the station operators, which was about to leave. Wanted to go back to Merida.
As we descended, resting our exhaustion in the comfortable seats, admire the beauty of the landscape that demonstrated in all the other climate that developed in height.
had been a great pleasure to share this experience with other climbers at the summit to celebrate with beer and a delicious dinner of grilled trout - which are obtained from rivers and ponds of Sierra Nevada - and how well prepared Merida, regretting having to leave this city unforgettable. Jaime Suárez
The Pico Bolívar, 5,007 meters, the highest mountain in Venezuela, was called "Makumbari" (place where it settles and sleeps the sun) by the natives of this land, belonging to the Great Nation Maku, who to see the glow of their snowy flanks at night, considered holy.
After several subsequent designations, the proposed in 1925 the present name in honor of the Liberator to consider the centenary of his death.
As we descended, resting our exhaustion in the comfortable seats, admire the beauty of the landscape that demonstrated in all the other climate that developed in height.
had been a great pleasure to share this experience with other climbers at the summit to celebrate with beer and a delicious dinner of grilled trout - which are obtained from rivers and ponds of Sierra Nevada - and how well prepared Merida, regretting having to leave this city unforgettable. Jaime Suárez
The Pico Bolívar, 5,007 meters, the highest mountain in Venezuela, was called "Makumbari" (place where it settles and sleeps the sun) by the natives of this land, belonging to the Great Nation Maku, who to see the glow of their snowy flanks at night, considered holy.
After several subsequent designations, the proposed in 1925 the present name in honor of the Liberator to consider the centenary of his death.
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