MEXICAN VOLCANOES

IXTACCIHUATL (5286 m) MALINCHA (4260 m) and PICO ORIZABA (5700 m)

Trip Date

11-22 January 2003

Trip Overview

Our Mexican Volcano Expedition will appeal to people with a yearning for high Altitude adventure but perhaps unable to get time for the longer trips we do. The three volcanoes are not technically difficult to climb by their normal routes. We do however, sometimes climb harder variations depending on conditions and experience of the party. The altitudes reached on these mountains (nearly 6000m) makes them of particular interest to people wanting to gain high altitude mountaineering experience. The view from the rim of the craters is spectacular in the extreme as the mountains rise from an 8000 ft high plateau some 60 km across.

Location

Orizaba and Ixtaccihuatl are the first and third highest mountains in Mexico. One is situated in a National Park some 30 miles due East of Mexico City, the other a further 100 kms towards the Gulf of Mexico. Their impressive snow capped shapes are viewed to an advantage from almost anywhere East of the capital. The views from the summits have been described as "stupendous".

Accommodation

For our stay in Mexico City we will be using the Hotel del Principado which is situated in the "Zona Rosa". The hotel is very comfortable with en suite twin or double rooms, television and radio. Telephone - (any calls to be paid by yourself). Restaurant and Bar. The Zona Rosa is the centre of Mexico City's night life and good restaurants and disco bars abound.

Travelling in rural Mexico one can expect all types of accommodation from the sublime to the ridiculous. At our base we will be staying at an altitude of 12,900 ft. We will use high altitude huts for areas where other suitable accommodation is not available.

Above the clouds, the icy summit of Pico Orizaba 5800m

Transportation

Transfers to and from Mexico City airport and transportation whilst in Mexico is provided.

Food

There is such a vast array of good restaurants in and around Mexico City to choose from that you will prefer to please yourself. We provide all food during the climb of Ixtaccihuatl, Malincha and Orizaba also whilst camping where restaurants are not available.

The Ascent

La Malincha, at 4260m, gives a pleasant way to boost our acclimatisation. From a comfortable bivouac at the edge of the forest where we have a warming campfire, we make our pre dawn ascent of the mountain. A pleasant scramble takes us high above the easy angled lower slopes and on to a rocky ridge with airy drops each side. The final ridge is quite exposed and the view of the sunrise over the surrounding peaks well worth a picture or two.

The ascent of Ixtaccihuatl starts at the microwave aerials on the Paso de Cortes. Several hours climbing up a rocky path leads us to the high altitude refuge where we bivouac for the night. A pre dawn start leads us up the "ridge of the sun", largely a scramble initially, but becoming more interesting as we gain height via steeper snowfields to the summit. As always on this expedition, we can expect a superb panorama from the rounded 5286m summit.

Our ascent of Orizaba starts from huts at 12,000 ft where we will have spent time for acclimatisation. Again a very early start is needed in order to avoid the heat and bad snow that plague late starters. We usually try to summit at dawn and be off the mountain by late morning. An initially steep slope gives way to an enjoyable scramble up a gentle rock face. A gully leads to the extensive final snow fields and ultimately the crater rim. A sharp ridge leads us to the summit cone. The inside of the crater one of the most spectacular with vertical walls dropping hundreds of feet to the floor.

Cost - 13 Days Mexican Volcanoes Expedition

£1150.00 Land only price * - click here for Dollar, Euro or Swiss Franc prices

*Our trips no longer include international flights as our clients come from all over the world and the internet has made available very cheap flights.

Instruction

We will provide any instruction/assistance in required mountaineering technique.

Insurance

It is obligatory that participants hold valid travel insurance with cover for trekking. It should cover missed departure, medical repatriation etc. Several companies offer suitable insurance, but if you need assistance please contact us.

Visa

No visa is required for citizens of UK to enter Mexico. Instead a Tourist Card which is obtained for you free of charge. Other Nationalities should check with their local Mexican Consulate.

Grading

This trip is suitable for climbers and hillwalkers with no previous technical climbing experience. Though the mountains are at high altitude, they present few difficulties other than those normally associated with ascents to high altitude. A reasonable degree of fitness and motivation is required.

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