Kees Goossens's Mountain Page

This page is not updated any more.

I like mountains for walking, mountaineering, ice climbing, and recently mostly biking and trekking.

Iceland

Scotland

cairngorms.gif (bw) cairn.jpg (colour) Detail of a photo where I stand on top of a cairn in the Cairngorms, Scotland. OK, so I'm an egomaniac!

Canadian Rockies

Canadian Rockies, along highway ?, not far North of Lake Louise.

Lazio, Italy

guadagnolo.jpg Climbing in Guadagnolo, the highest village in Lazio. That's near Rome in Italy. I'm descending Masso Caduto, grade 6A. That used to be my limit, now it's much higher of course..

Italian Alps

A number of pictures of Castor or Castore (4221m) in the Breithorn-Lyskamm area in the European Alps in September 1999. The first two pictures show the descent and ascent respectively via the West side (starting from the Valle d'Ayas, staying overnight either at the Mezzalama or Guide Ayas refuge, and passing over Colle di Verra). Difficulty PD. The third picture shows the first part of the final crest from below the bergschrund. The fourth picture looks down the normal South-East route (difficulty F) to Colle di Felik. The final picture is montage of two pictures taken from the Valle d'Ayas; from left to right Pollux or Polluce (4091m), Castor (4221m), and Punta Felik (4088m).

Here are some pictures from the 2001 holiday in the Alps. On the top of the Dom (4545m): And a nice evening in the Domhutte

A view on Breithorn (4160m).

Some pictures of 2004:

A view on Mont Blanc/Monte Bianco (~4800m).

A view on Lyskamm from Zumstein (4563m).

A view the other side from Zumstein (4563m).

Another view the other side from Zumstein (4563m).

On the top of Punta Parrot (4436m) in the Monte Rosa massif.

A couple of pictures of the Rochefort ridge (~400m).

Cordillera Real, Bolvia

This is Pequeno Alpamayo (5376m) in the Cordillera Real in Bolivia on 30 July 2000, with Tarija on the left via which we ascended.

This is a view towards Condoriri.

This is Willa Lojeta in the Cordillera Real in Bolivia on the 5th of August 2000. It's around 5200 meters high, and just a stroll to get to the top (although if you return via the glacier proper you'll need roping up as seen in this picture).

This is Mulla Apacheta in the Cordillera Real in Bolivia on the 6th of August 2000. It's around 5350 meters high.

This is a view towards from the high camp (~5750m) at Huyana Potosi.
This is a view of Sajama, the highest mountain in Bolivia (~6500m). We managed to ascend to the highest camp, at 5590m. The face depicted here is 2500m high!

Andes, Chile

The following pictures were taken in January 1999 in the Chilean Andes, almost directly East of Santiago. We (Roberto Hexsel, Jim Paterson, and Kees Goossens) went to the Cajon del Morado valley (3150 meter at the start of the glacier) for some days, to acclimatise. We then tried to climb the Volcán San José (San Jose vulcano, 5880 meters), and got to 5000 meters before having to turn back due to food problems.

The Italia peak (Punto Italia) as seen from a side valley of Cajon del Morado at about 4000 meters. We're on the way down after a bivouac the night before.

Our objective, the San Jose vulcano (5880 meters). The photos show unusually little snow and ice, due to the effects of El Nino, so the locals told us.

The Gordo valley below San Jose. Roberto is pointing out something to Jim. The route goes to the stream seen coming down on the right. The Plantat refuge is around the highest point of the stream. The normal, or tourist, route then continues left under the large central ice field to under the ridge immediately left of the col. Ascend this ridge to the ice field, then to the col, and the top. Four days are needed to ascend (about 1000 meters a day), two to descend. The direct route saves a day going up (there is another little shelter on that route so that no tent needs to taken along). It is much steeper than the normal route, which was already a struggle on the loose rock (scree running could be apopular national sport in Chile!). The snow and ice can be mostly avoided (not a bad idea, see the penitentes below!).

And then there were three! Here we are at the Plantat refuge at 3080 meters.

At about 3500 meters covering myself in factor 44 sun cream, again. We camped 600 meters further up, to the left. The following day we gained the ridge on the left, and went on the left of the large snow field seen in the centre.

So-called penitentes (excellent name, certainly I was made to pay for my sins!), strange parabola-shaped snow formations at our second camp at some 4000 meters.

Our camp at 4185 meters, looking West (towards Santiago and the coast). Behind Jim is the approach valley (Cajon de Maipo, or Maipo valley) where Banos Morales lies. To the right, out of sight, is the Cajon del Morado valley where we acclimatised.

Happy at 5000 meters, our highest point.

Here is our gear list, and a number of observations. Here is some information about high altitude physiology.

top frame