Bolivia Cordillera Real Huayana Potosi

Achachilas Project

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In the Aymara spiritual tradition, Achachilas are protective spirits inhabiting and represented by the mountains. They are linked to the ancestral past and are given offerings. The Achachilas Project is a partnership between the Sustainable Ascents Foundation, the Bolivian Catholic University, the Parish of Penas and rural Aymara villages in the Cordillera Real mountains of northern Bolivia. We are working together to use alpine climbing to improve the lives of people in the villages.

Elbrus4Alpinists Project

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Unknown to most climbers, there are two pristine alpine routes on the west side of Mount Elbrus (one of the 7 summits), one up the northwest face pictured above, and another on the remote southwest side of the mountain. These can be climbed from the remote valleys that make up the traditional homeland of the Karachay people. The Elbrus4Alpinists Project will bring economic stability to the slowly dying homeland of an ancient culture.