Entries from Mexico
March 7, 2016
Posted by: Geoff Schellens, Eric Frank
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Elevation: 12,000'
This morning we woke up, packed, and loaded into our van without coffee!! We made this bold move knowing that 40 minutes down the road we would be rewarded with perhaps the best breakfast buffet in Mexico. We ate our fill and loaded back in the van, now fully caffeinated, to drive onto Amecameca to resupply on water and fresh food. Here we also met our local guide, Alfreado, and our support team. After an hour we were back in the van winding up the mountain roads to Paso De Cortez and onto the Altzomoni Hut at the foot of Ixta. Our home in the clouds, at close to 13,000' the Altzomoni Hut is a great step in our overall acclimatization schedule.
Unfortunately the weather is cloudy and windy so we haven't yet been able to see Ixta; hopefully tomorrow. We are currently enjoying a delicious authentic taco dinner and discussing logistics of our hike to high camp tomorrow. Everyone is doing very well and having fun. Keep your fingers crossed for good weather for us and thanks for following along.
The RMI Mexico Volcanoes Team
RMI Guides Geoff Schellens and Eric Frank
On The Map
March 6, 2016
Posted by: Geoff Schellens, Eric Frank
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Elevation: 14,636'
The Mexican Volcanoes team got an early start this morning, and by 10am we were above the Mexico City fog and enjoying the mountains around us. A two-hour drive brought us to the high altitude resort of Malintzi, a collection of rustic cabins with million dollar views of the valley below.
Towering above Malintzi is the peak, La Malinche at 14,640ft. Recent storms have covered the upper flanks of the mountain with snow and as we hiked uphill this afternoon we noticed more and more snow. Eventually, around 13,300 ft, we felt that we had gone far enough and decided to head downhill.
Back in Malintzi we enjoyed an incredible dinner of carne asada.
Thanks for following along on our adventure.
RMI Guide Geoff Schellens
March 5, 2016
Posted by: Eric Frank, Geoff Schellens
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Elevation: 7,300'
After long journeys from all over the US we finally gathered at our hotel in Mexico City. Excitement and anticipation were high throughout the group as we discussed the upcoming trip. We then made our way through the noise Saturday night streets of Zona Rosa, Mexico City, to an authentic Mexican restaurant called, El Refugio Fonda. After a decadent meal, we picked our way back to the hotel to pack and get some rest before we set off on the first leg of our trip tomorrow. Thanks for following along with us here in Mexico.
RMI Guides Geoff Schellens & Eric Frank
January 23, 2016
Posted by: Solveig Waterfall, Billy Haas
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Elevation: 18,701'
Hello Everyone!
We are all back in Tlachichuca after a beautiful summit day on Orizaba. We awoke at midnight and were out the door by just after 1. The team did an excellent job of preparing and getting out of camp on time! With all he new snow in the area lately, we were able to put crampons on just above the Piedra Grande Hut which made the walking conditions a bit more efficient! We reached the summit at just after 9 am and enjoyed clear skies, calm winds, and relatively warm weather, considering it was one of the coldest climbs I've had down here.
We enjoyed nearly an hour of time on the summit and then carefully began our descent to camp. The upper mountain was a bit icy and we exercised careful footwork and precision focus on our walk down the steep and smooth slopes of the Jamapa to the glacial moraine at 16,000'.
Back in town, we were all excited for the delicious dinner the Reyes family provides, and quickly got our equipment packed and ready in order to fully enjoy our meal at this quaint and historic soap factory.
Today was the final day of our expedition, and we are all looking forward to heading home to family and friends!
Thanks for following along!
RMI Guides Solveig Waterfall Billy Haas, and the team
Audio transcription from Orizaba summit
Hi everyone! This is Solveig calling in from the top of Orizaba. The team and I are up here. It's a beautiful day- light winds and clear skies. Was a beautiful night as we climbed under a full moon. The team is doing well. We're going to take a few more minutes and enjoy yourselves and then start our descent. We will check in from Tlachichuca. Cheers.
RMI Guide Solveig Waterfall calls from the Orizaba summit!
On The Map
January 22, 2016
Posted by: Solveig Waterfall, Billy Haas
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Elevation: 14,000'
Hi everyone. This is Solveig calling in from the Piedra Grande Hut on Orizaba. Our team arrived around 3 p.m. We have beautiful skies and light winds; we're all really excited about our climb tonight. We are going to have a delicious pasta dinner and then tuck in early and get ready to go climbing. We'll touch base tomorrow when we return. Ciao.
RMI Guide Solveig Waterfall
RMI Guide Solveig Waterfall calls in from Piedra Grande Hut.
On The Map
Thursday, January 21, 2016
We are all enjoying our day off today. After getting some well deserved sleep most of the team spent the day drinking coffee, eating various types of mole sauce, and taking in the beautiful sights of this historic city.
Tonight we will gather for dinner and discuss the logistics for our departure to Tlachichuca tomorrow morning. The forecast looks great, and we are all excited about our next mountain...El Pico de Orizaba!
RMI Guides Solveig Waterfall, Billy Haas, and the team
January 20, 2016
Posted by: Billy Haas, Solveig Waterfall
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Elevation: 17,340'
Well, what a day. We went to bed last night to cold temps and high winds and by the time we woke this morning at 2 am the winds had calmed and the temps were on the rise. The climbing was tough right out of camp today, mixed snow and rock conditions up the Knees Route made for some challenging conditions. However, once we crested the "Knees" the roller coaster ridge line of Ixta made for some great climbing. Conditons for the rest of the climb were ideal and we enjoyed a great summit and descent. We really snuck the climb in today because on the way down from High Camp conditions began to deteriorate. We are all currently on a bus to Puebla, where we will be resting and sightseeing tomorrow before gearing up for our climb of Pico de Orizaba.
Cheers,
RMI Guide Billy Haas
On The Map
Hey this is Solveig and Team calling in from the summit of Ixta! It is a beautiful day, no wind, gorgeous and we are all happy!
RMI Guide Solveig Waterfall Calling in from the Summit of Ixta.
Hi everyone. This is Solveig calling in from high camp on Ixta. We're doing wonderful. Everybody just enjoyed a nice high camp meal and we are all tucked in getting ready for our summit bid tomorrow. We'll check in from the top. Ciao.
RMI Guide Solveig Waterfall
RMI Guide Solveig Waterfall calls in from Ixta High Camp.
January 19, 2016
Posted by: Solveig Waterfall, Billy Haas
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Elevation: 12,000'
Good evening from the Altzomoni Hut!
After a long drive, multiple vehicle transfers due to muddy washed out roads, and a little bit of extra walking, we are all getting some rest in preparation for heading up to high camp tomorrow.
It was a beautiful day with excellent views. We even had the good fortune of catching a glimpse of Popo erupting this morning on our drive! Everyone is feeling strong and excited to hit the trail in the morning.
We'll check in from camp tomorrow night!
Buenos noches!
RMI Guide Solveig Waterfall
On The Map
Happy to see everyone smiling and doing great! Good luck to you all…especially Tara and Karl ;)
Adios from Texas,
Erin
Posted by: Erin on 1/19/2016 at 6:49 pm
Looks like you’re having a great time and seeing some beautiful sights. Am enjoying following your blog and seeing the pics. Lynne Penrice
Posted by: Lynne Penrice on 1/22/2016 at 1:32 pm
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