Tacos, Beds and Showers – Off Orizaba
We are back in Mexico City with some people flying home today. I will catch my flight early tomorrow. We had a nice descent from the summit of Orizaba yesterday. The snow was somewhat packed making it easier than if it had been soft or mushy. That was one benefit of starting so early and avoiding the hot sun of the afternoon. As promised, here are a few pictures of summit day. I will do a complete recap plus posts more pictures next week. Also I will provide the final details of climbing slide show for the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund taking place in California and Colorado in March. Now for the pictures: Downclimbing from the summit: Sunrise from the Summit The caldera of Orizaba Sitting on the caldera’s rim The Shadow of Orizaba at Sunrise Alan on the Summit Climb On! Thanks again for your support during my journey on The Road Back to Mt. Everest. Also, please take a look at two summit videos I posted on the main dispatch page. I think you find them interesting. Climb On! This is Alan
Orizaba Audio Dispatch: Orizaba Summit!
Alan does a live dispatch from the summit of Orizaba. To hear this Orizaba 2008 audio dispatch, just click on the play button. Thanks for listening and following Alan on The Road Back to Mt. Everest: Memories are Everything. This is about more than just climbing mountains… Climb On! Alan
Orizaba Audio Dispatch: Summit Bid Plan
Alan reports from High Camp on the plans for summit bid that night. To hear this Orizaba 2008 audio dispatch, just click on the play button. Thanks for listening and following Alan on The Road Back to Mt. Everest: Memories are Everything. This is about more than just climbing mountains…. Climb On! Alan
Orizaba Audio Dispatch: High Camp
Alan reports from High Camp, plus some excitement when looking for a pair of contact lenses in a pile of garbage! Just click on the play button to hear this Orizaba 2008 audio dispatch. Thanks for listening and following Alan on The Road Back to Mt. Everest: Memories are Everything. This is about more than just climbing mountains…. Climb On! Alan
At the Base of El Pico de Orizaba
Rural Mexico has a lot in common with many other countries I have traveled in to climb mountains – rugged terrane, wide open spaces, dusty roads and poverty. And big smiles, hard workers and friendly faces. We arrived in Tlachichuca an hour after sunset and entered the walled compound of Senior Reyes. He is a surgeon at the local hospital AND runs a climber hostel. The compound was a soap factory for almost 100 years run by his Great and Grandfathers and Father. It is a unique building with a living room next to the old boiler (made in Titusville PA in 1930s) . Upstairs is the bunk room with bunk beds for 50 or more. The drive from Mexico City was uneventful except for the hazy views of Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl – two other famous Mexican volcanoes. The frst views of Orizaba were near sunset thus casting a soft glow on our objective: Once in Tlachichuca, we had a nice dinner courtesy of Senior Reyes then an early bed. Today we enjoyed a hearty breakfast. A gear check was next before we journeyed into the town center ( a 2 minute walk) to see the local “art” market. Let me just leave it that it was not the Louvre. All of this is part of a day here to adjust to the 8000′ altitude. Tomorrow we take a 1950 Ford utility 4×4 to the hut at 13,600′. So far so good. Remember: Memories are Everything Climb On! This is Alan
In Mexico City
We all arrived in various states into Mexico City last night and have met Dave at the hotel. We leave in a few hours for Tlachichuca. Mexico City is as smoggy as advertised. Here is a look out my hotel window! I am glad we are leaving for the countryside soon. Climb On! This is Alan
Orizaba Bound and More
Next week my friends Patrick (pictured right with Elizabeth), Robert, Scott and I will be in Mexico climbing the 3rd highest peak in North America at 18,880 feet, 5754 meter. However various sources quote the altitude somewhere between 18,400 and 18,900. I will take my GPS and measure from the summit! The one week expedition will be my first climb in Mexico. We call ourselves the “cuatro hombres lentos de los Estados Unidos que buscan una cumbre y una cerveza” or more charitably, The Orizaba 4! This will be a special climb since… it will be with close friends rather than strangers from around the world. Patrick, Robert and I have climbed more than twenty of the Colorado 14ers together plus we summited Rainier a few years ago as part of the Rainier 9 Team we put together. My dispatches may be a little different this time since many friends and family of our Orizaba 4 will be following us. We fly into Mexico City and meet with Dave Elmore of . After a short ride to Tlachichuca (7,000′) we will begin the acclimatization process which will take us to the Piedra Grande Hut at 13,972′. We will make a carry to establish the high camp and launch our summit push from there early Saturday morning, January 27th. Orizaba is a dormant volcano and is mostly loose rock or scree but a permanent glacier starts around 15,000′ and covers the upper parts of the mountain. We will rope up in this area for additional safety. We expect the weather to be mild at lower elevations but cold and windy near the summit and will be in full alpine gear. Here is a link to the current weather. This will be fun! Also it will be my last climb before Everest in April and May. Finally, I want to let everyone know that I will be speaking at several fund raisers for the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund (CAF) on March 4th and 5th in the Santa Clara and Palo Alto areas of Northern California and another event at Neptune Mountaineering in Boulder, Colorado on March 13. Refreshments will be available plus a brief update on the CAF. I will show pictures of some of my climbs including Deanli, Shisha Pangma, Ama Dablam and of course, Everest. I hope you can attend or help spread the word. More information will be available in early February. OK, that’s it for now. More from Mexico!! Remember: Memories are Everything Climb On! This is Alan
Orizaba
A trip report from climbing Mexico’s Orizaba, 8,880 feet/5,754 meters in 2008.