Mexico Volcanoes High Altitude Adventure
Pico de Orizaba (18,500 ft)
Iztaccihuatl (17,332 ft)
La Malinche (14,600 ft)
9 days
Day Zero: Arrive in
Mexico City (7,000 ft), overnight in the historic
Zocolo district.
Day One: Morning meeting and travel
east of Mexico City to overnight at a rustic mountain
resort (10,000 ft) on the flanks of La Malinche to
begin our acclimating. For comfort, we stay in cabins
at the government resort.
Day Two: Summit La Malinche. Overnight
at the resort.
Day Three: Travel to Iztaccihuatl
and overnight at the Altzomoni climbers lodge with
spectacular views of the smoking volcano Popocateptl.
(Dinner)
Day Four: Acclimating day hike to
15,000 ft on the slopes of Izta. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day Five: Izta summit day. The climb
is a long yet easy one. We cross the relatively flat
Ayoloco glacier on the way to the summit. On clear
days we have distant views of Orizaba, Nevado de Toluca
and Mexico City. After we descend we drive back to
the town of Cholula to overnight and enjoy a fine
dinner.
(Breakfast)
Day Six: A day off
to explore Cholula, site of the worlds largest pyramid
(at it's base) or neighboring Puebla
Day Seven: Drive to
Tlachichuca and an exiting four wheel drive trip to
the Peidra Grande hut (14,200 ft) on the flanks of
Orizaba. On the way we make a brief visit of the highest
village in North America. The afternoon is spent resting
and acclimating. We set up our own camp (the hut can
be noisy) utilizing tents while using the hut for
meals and socializing. (Dinner)
Day Eight: We awake
very early for our Orizaba summit attempt. The climb
involves steep (40 deg) glacier travel with ice axe
and crampons. At the top of North America's third
highest peak we are rewarded with spectacular views
of central Mexico. We then descend all the way back
to a hotel at Tlachichuca for a well-deserved dinner
and rest. (Breakfast)
Day Nine: Travel back
to Mexico City airport for aftertnoon flights home.
Itinerary subject to change
