Introduction

Murarata isn't a ski resort it's a mountain in the Cordillera Real in Bolivia.  This is good area to experience ski mountaineering.  The Cordillera Real, has numerous high and difficult glaciated peaks.   A number of the peaks which have gentler ascents are good for ski mountaineering e.g. Mururata, Illimani and Chacaltaya (where Bolivia's one ski resort is located).

Understandably, the Cordillera Real is popular with mounatineers with snowfall in the summer and reasonably stable and dry weather during the winter.

Mururata (left) and Illimani (right)

Ski Mountaineering

Given the altitude skiing and boarding high in the Andes is not easy.  High levels of solar radiation also mean that snowfields melt quickly and many of the big glaciers are receeding fast - a major problem affecting Chacaltaya.  The snowline does not start till around 5,000m (16,400ft) so just getting up to the snow can be an epic in itself.  But, this is considered a good place to practice your ski mountaineering skills and experience the high mountain environment.

Murarata 

Mururata stands at 5,871m / 18,965ft high.  Mururata's glacier is one of the longest in the Cordillera Real and a number of companies run ski mountaineering trips to the glacier.  Itineries usually cover a number of the easier peaks but you are required to have acclimatized for a number of days as well as having climbed a couple of peaks around 5,500m (18,000ft).

Other Trips

Other ski mountaineering routes in the area include: Mecondor and Mejkota