Climb Mexico's El Pico de Orizaba
Equipment List

The following is a list of equipment required for the Orizaba Express program while on the mountain. We may encounter a variety of weather conditions including rain, wind, snow, sleet, extreme heat, and extreme cold. Neglecting to bring the proper equipment can jeopardize your success and even your safety, so we want you to think carefully about any changes or substitutions you are considering. Our philosophy is to hope for the best  but prepare for the worst.

Most of the required equipment is available for rent or purchase from Whittaker Mountaineering. RMI participants receive a 10 percent discount on new clothing and equipment items ordered from Whittaker Mountaineering (excluding sale items). The Discount Code is RMI 2008 for internet orders. For more information or questions regarding these clothing and equipment items call 800-238-5756 or click on any of the links below.

PACK & BAG

[  ] BACKPACK: A 3,500 - 4,000 cubic inch pack is the ideal size for this climb. A separate summit pack is not needed.
Guides' Pick: JanSport Whittaker L Series or Gregory Makalu Pro 70

[  ] 2 DUFFEL BAGS: 7,000 - 9,000 c.i  Duffels made of a tough, rugged material are better for mountaineering expeditions than traditional hard sided suitcases.
Guides’ Pick:  Sea to Summit Duffel L or Gregory Long Haul XL or XXL

[  ] SLEEPING BAG: A bag rated to 20° F will keep you warm while on the mountain. Either goose down or synthetic is adequate.
Guides' Pick: Mountain Hardwear Lamina 20°

[  ] SLEEPING PAD: Full length inflatable or closed cell foam pad.
Guides' Pick: Therm-A-Rest Prolite 4 or Cascade Designs Ridgerest

[  ] COMPRESSION STUFF SACK: For your sleeping bag.
Guides' Pick: Sea to Summit eVent® Compression Dry Sack XL

TECHNICAL GEAR

[  ] HELMET: A lightweight climbing helmet that is UIAA rated.
Guides' Pick: Grivel Salamander or Petzl Ecrin Rock

[  ] CLIMBING HARNESS: A comfortable, adjustable climbing harness.
Guides' Pick: Black Diamond Alpine Bod

[  ] ICE AXE: The length of your axe depends on your height. Use the following general mountaineering formula: up to 5’8”, use a 65 cm. axe; 5’8” to 6’2”, use a 70 cm. axe; and taller, use a 75 cm. axe. If you hold the axe so that it hangs comfortably at your side, the spike of the axe should still be a few inches above the ground.
Guides' Pick: Grivel Rainier

[  ] CRAMPONS: The 12 point adjustable crampons designed for general mountaineering are ideal. Rigid frame crampons designed for technical ice climbing are not recommended. Carry any repair kit/replacement parts and tools needed for adjustment which are specific to your crampons.
Guides' Pick: Grivel G12

[  ] TREKKING POLES: Lightweight and collapsible.
Guides' Pick: Leki Ultralite or Black Diamond Spire

 [  ] 2 CARABINERS: 1 locking and 1 non-locking.
Guides' Pick: Black Diamond Rocklock Screwgate and Black Diamond Oval

HEAD

[  ] WARM HAT: A wool or synthetic hat. It should be warm, but thin enough to fit underneath a climbing helmet.
Guides' Pick: Mountain Hardwear Micro Dome or SmartWool

[  ] BALACLAVA/ NECK GAITER
Guides' Pick: Mountain Hardwear Power Stretch or SmartWool

[  ] BALL CAP: A lightweight ball cap, bandana or sun hat.
Guides' Pick: RMI Ice Axe Hat

[  ] GLACIER GLASSES: A pair of dark-lensed sunglasses with side shields or full wrap-type sunglasses is required.
Guides' Pick: Julbo Dolgan

[  ] GOGGLES: Amber or rose-tinted goggles work best for adverse weather. Additionally, contact lens wearers may find a clear-lensed goggle very useful on windy nights.
Guides' Pick: Smith Rhythm and Smith Monashee OTG

[  ] HEADLAMP: Lithium batteries are the preferred choice as they perform well in a cold environment. We also recommend that you bring an extra set of batteries.
Guides' Pick: Petzl MYO XP

HANDS

A good glove / mitten combination is important because of the variety of weather conditions experienced throughout your climb. Below are some recommendations. Your glove combination should include three separate layers that work well when used in combination.

[  ] LIGHT WEIGHT GLOVE: One pair of fleece or wool gloves.
Guides' Pick: Mountain Hardwear Kahiltna Glove  

[  ] MEDIUM WEIGHT INSULATED GLOVE: One pair of wind/water resistant ski gloves.
Guides' Pick: Marmot Randonee Glove

[  ] HEAVY WEIGHT INSULATED GLOVE or MITTEN: One pair of wind/water resistant, insulated gloves or mittens for protection against wind, snow and cold.
Guides' Pick: Mountain Hardwear Absolute Zero Mitten or Black Diamond Guide Glove

UPPER BODY

The following five layers are needed for the upper body. It is important that these layers work in combination with each other.

[  ] BASE LAYER: One long-sleeve, light or medium weight top will be used as your next-to-skin layer. Light colored tops are ideal, since dark colors absorb heat from the sun, and neck zippers will provide extra ventilation.
Guides' Pick: SmartWool Next-to-Skin Lightweight Zip-T: Men | Women or Patagonia Capilene 3: Men | Women

[  ] INSULATING LAYERS: We recommend at least two layers - A lightweight and a medium weight top that work well together.  These are the layers that you will spend most of your time climbing in.
Guides' Pick: Mountain Hardwear Dragon Jacket and Mountain Hardwear Micro-Chill Zip T

[  ] SHELL JACKET: A jacket made of rain and wind resistant material with an attached hood.
Guides' Pick: Mountain Hardwear Pinnacle Jacket

[  ] INSULATED PARKA with HOOD: This item will keep us warm by trapping body heat at rest breaks and becomes of highest importance when we are faced with poor weather. The parka may be either goose down or synthetic fill and should have at least two inches of insulation thickness. It should fit over all of your clothing layers, including your wind shell. An attached, insulated hood is a must.
Guides' Pick: Mountain Hardwear Sub Zero SL Parka

LOWER BODY

[  ] BRIEFS: Bring several pair.
Guides’ Pick: Patagonia

[  ] HIKING SHORTS
Guides’ Pick: Mountain Hardwear Destination Short

The following three layers are needed for the lower body. It is important that these layers work in combination with each other.

[  ] BASE LAYER: One pair light or medium weight bottoms that will be used as your next-to-skin layer.
Guides' Pick: SmartWool Microweight Bottom or Patagonia Capilene 3

[  ] CLIMBING PANTS: Synthetic climbing pants offer a wide range of versatility. You can wear them alone on hot days, or in combination with the base layer on cold days. The thickness (insulation quality) should be based on your personal tolerance to cold temperatures.
Guides' Pick: Mountain Hardwear Trekking Pant (lighter pant) Mountain Hardwear Makalu Pant (heavier pant)

[  ] SHELL PANT: A pant made of rain/wind resistant material. Full-length side zippers are required for facilitating quick clothing adjustments over boots and crampons.
Guides' Pick: Mountain Hardwear GTX 2.5 Pant  

FEET

[  ] MOUNTAINEERING BOOTS: Insulated plastic boots or insulated leather mountaineering boots are preferred for ascents in Mexico. The boots need to be worn comfortably in sub freezing temperatures and the sole needs to be rigid for kicking steps and holding crampons. In general, plastic boots provide better insulation.  If opting for a leather boot please make sure that they are an adequate pair of mountaineering boots.  Hiking boots are not sufficient for this climb.
Guides' Pick:
Leather Boots: La Sportiva Nepal Evo GTX  | Plastic Boots: Scarpa Inverno

[  ] LIGHTWEIGHT HIKING BOOTS / APPROACH SHOES: Great for the day hike on La Malinche and around camp.
Guides’ Pick: Timberland Cadion Men | Women

[  ] GAITERS: Knee-length pair of gaiters that are large enough to fit over your mountaineering boots.
Guides' Pick: Outdoor Research Expedition Crocodiles

[  ] SOCKS: Three pair, either wool or synthetic. Some climbers find liner socks useful for reducing friction.
Guides' Pick: SmartWool Mountaineering or Adrenaline Heavy Crew

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

[  ] CLOTHES FOR IN TOWN AND WHILE TRAVELING: 2 pair of pants and 3-4 shirts are recommended.

PERSONAL MEDICAL KIT: Keep it light but include at least the following items:

[  ] Band-Aids	[  ] Moleskin / blister kit	[  ] Antacids
[  ] Aspirin / Ibuprofen	[  ] Imodium (anti-diarrhea)	[  ] Pepto-Bismol (stomach relief)
[  ] Small roll of adhesive tape

PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS: We recommend that you talk with your personal physician about obtaining the following medications for your personal medical kit.

• [  ] Antibiotics for traveler’s diarrhea (such as Cipro)
• [  ] Acetazolamide for altitude illness (250 mg. tabs)

[  ] SUNSCREEN and LIP PROTECTION:
Guides' Pick: Coppertone Sport SPF 30

UTENSILS:
[  ] Insulated drinking cup
[  ] Large plastic bowl
[  ] Spoon or fork
[  ] Pocketknife
Guide’s Pick: Buck Whittaker Lumina

[  ] CHEMICAL HAND WARMERS: Bring 2 - 3 pairs.

[  ] 2 - 3 WATER BOTTLES: Bring two to three sturdy one-quart bottles. Depending on your personal level of water consumption, two is adequate but some climbers find that they prefer three bottles. Wide mouth bottles are ideal since their openings are less likely to freeze. If you bring a hydration system, also bring one one-quart bottle as a backup incase the system freezes or leaks.
Guides' Pick: Nalgene

[  ] 2 LARGE GARBAGE BAGS: We recommend lining your backpack and sleeping bag stuff sack with garbage bags to keep items in your backpack completely dry.

TOILET ARTICLES:
[  ] Toothbrush
[  ] Toothpaste
[  ] Baby wipes
[  ] Small container of waterless hand sanitizer

[  ] EAR PLUGS for sleeping

[  ] CAMERA

[ ] 2 AA ALKALINE BATTERIES for avalanche transceiver. Avalanche transceivers are supplied by RMI.

[  ] SEVERAL STUFF SACKS
Guides’ Pick: Sea to Summit Sn240 Siliconised Nylon Stuff Sacks

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: The following items can be of aid if you lose your passport, airline ticket or luggage.

• [  ] Photocopy of your passport
• [  ] Photocopy of your flight schedule
• [  ] Photocopy of your airline ticket receipt

[  ] MONEY: cash, credit cards, etc.
We recommend taking $200 - $300 along as travel money to cover incidental expenses, meals off of the mountain, etc.

[  ] LUNCHES/TRAIL SNACKS: You will need to provide your own lunch snacks while on the mountain. See Food Recommendations for suggestions and number of meals needed.

OPTIONAL ITEMS:
[  ] Journal
[  ] Ipod/MP3 player
[  ] Books
[  ] Crossword/ Sudoku puzzles

PROVIDED EQUIPMENT

RMI provides tents, stoves, cooking equipment, climbing ropes, climbing anchors, avalanche transceivers, avalanche probes and shovels, blue bags (for solid waste disposal) and other group equipment and technical hardware needed for the climb.

Every guide on your climb will carry rescue equipment, a first aid kit and repair kit. Each climb has two-way radios and a satellite phone for emergency contact.

GENERAL PACKING RECOMMENDATIONS

• When packing for airline travel try to pack your climbing backpack inside a duffel bag. This will keep it from getting torn and damaged.
• Make sure that all sharp points are covered. Crampon cases, point protectors and duct tape all work well to cover sharp objects.
• Two medium duffels are easier to manage than one large duffel.
• Use plastic zip ties to seal your zippers on your duffel bags since locks are not permitted due to TSA regulations.

PRE-TRIP CHECKLIST

[  ] Purchase travel insurance

[  ] Return Registration Packet to the RMI Office

[  ] Purchase or reserve equipment

[  ] Arrange flight to Mexico City

[  ] Be in the best shape of my life!