best viewed at original size

Literally, this was the high point of the entire South American journey.
We took a taxi from La Paz – an ordinary old cab – to the end of the road, a run-down ski chalet at 5,200 m elevation.
Also present was this university research station (in photo), where they monitor the fast-disappearing Chacaltaya Glacier, a benchmark site for global warming and source of water for La Paz.
This is way above the tree-line, and well above the grass-line as well; just bare ice-shattered rock and remnant summer snow.

Our cab driver decided that 5,200 m wasn’t enough and persuaded us to climb another 100 m to a lookout point.
I think he was teasing us. With so little oxygen, after each ten paces I needed a minutes' rest.
Exhausted, we returned to the chalet for an afternoon coffee, and were delighted when an Andean Condor flew past at eye level.