Owen Thomas (with Jim Morris and Dave Stanley). Jun-Jul 2001

This team planned to explore the Pupuya Massif, making first British ascents of a number of peaks by new lines. However, on arrival in Bolivia, they discovered that local unrest which had erupted in 2000 had escalated to such an extent that not only the Cordillera Apolobamba, but also many major tourist areas were completely off-limits. Nevertheless, some valuable mapping work was carried out, aligning maps created by Paul Hudson and others with Landsat images. An ascent of Pyramida Blanca, c.5300m, in the Cordillera Real was intended for acclimatisation purposes, but then the weather deteriorated to 'the worst in Bolivia for 35 years', so they came home.