This was a very difficult 3 day exercise in insanity!A guide that I had met in Chile encouraged me to climb a mountain in Bolivia since it was fairly cheap and easy here, all things considered.Of course I had never even been above 3000m above sea level until this trip, but I guess you have to try sometime so I did!The first day I got equipment, and drove w/ 2 Germans & an Aussie (yes I was the only girl) to a lodge at 4700m.From there we walked to a glacier to practice ice climbing w/ an ice pick and crampons & walking on the ice w/ crampons.It was not so difficult, but not so easy either - very physically exhausting!It was a cold night at the lodge despite my sleeping bag and then the next day we walked for over 3 hours, carrying all of our stuff, from 4700m to the highest cabin at 5300m.We had ramen noodles for dinner (it really seemed like it!) and then were supposed to sleep from 7pm until 1:30am but I could not sleep at all!?The Australian was too sick to climb (maybe the altitude, maybe the food?) so I had my guide, Jesus, all to myself and at 3:15am we finally started.I was feeling a little sick to my stomach & weak since I hadn't slept but I gave it my best.The first ice wall in the dark was pretty intense.I literally lay against the wall every 3-4 movement cycles because it was so exhausting.Luckily my 5 bottom layers and my 6 top ones kept me warm.In theory you were supposed to make it to the top for sunrise but I saw the beautiful night lights of La Paz and the sunrise way before the summit!I couldn't believe how difficult it was to walk!I couldn't really eat my chocolate for energy because my mouth was so dry even though I drank almost 2L of water.I think it was only because of the coca candy that I made it to 5950m.After lying on the snow for a little bit to try to gather some strength, I pushed myself to at least get to 6000m.I literally had to walk for 10sec & rest 10sec., it was so tiring (remember there is a lot less oxygen at that altitude!).When we got to the last ice wall I tried it for just a few meters but was too tired to make it up and then back down.It was also very scary feeling so weak!Jesus told me we were at 6040m so I was proud of myself for that and came back down a bit and filmed my amazing feat at 6035m.The walk back down was quicker but I still had to go down the first ice wall and then from 5300m down to 4700m carrying all my stuff.My pack was very heavy and I was exhausted.We finally made it back to the 4700m lodge at almost 3:30pm and the others were already in the car waiting for me.Although I didn't make it to the top, I feel very proud to have made it up to 6040m without any sleep, hardly any food, and no experience!I don't see professional mountain climbing in my future but I might try another mountain someday - after I forget about the fact that my neck and shoulders were in pain for a full week after this climb!