Entries from Mexico
February 11, 2013
Posted by: Seth Waterfall, Solveig Waterfall
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Elevation: 14,636'
Hola! We're at La Malinche. Everything was pretty smooth getting out of the city this morning and we had great views of Ixta on the drive. Once we checked into out cabins at La Malinche we went for a great hike to acclimatize. 3.7 miles and about 3,500 feet up to a prominent ridge on the mountain. After a few pics we reversed course and headed toward the dinner bell. We'll check in again tomorrow.
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall
On The Map
February 9, 2013
Posted by: Seth Waterfall, Solveig Waterfall
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Buenos DÃas! Everyone has arrived on time in Mexico City and most importantly we've got all our gear. We had our first team meeting at the hotel where we got to know each other a bit and went over the basics of the next nine days.
After that we braved the large crowd outside that has gathered for a free concert in the Zocalo. It sure feels like the biggest city in the world tonight. We had a great dinner just down the street at Café Tacuba, complete with a mariachi band. A few of the guys are checking out the concert while the rest of us are back in the hotel. We're headed for the mountains bright and early tomorrow to start our acclimatization.
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall
Go Brandon!
Posted by: Sue Duncan on 2/10/2013 at 8:53 pm
Good job Branden Grooms. Enjoy Enjoy I’ll take a kilo of carne asada (sp) and some fried cheese.
Posted by: Herb Duncan on 2/10/2013 at 8:47 pm
Shhhh everyone is sleeping... We're all back in Tlachichuca and everyone has retired after our final team dinner. Today we climbed to the summit of Pico de Orizaba in fantastic weather, the best I've ever had on this mountain. Last night when I went to bed it looked like a storm front was moving towards us but when my alarm went off at 12:30am there wasn't a cloud in the sky and no wind to speak of either.
We made it from the hut at 13,990' to the 18,701' summit and back in twelve and a half hours which was a long enough day to ensure that after showers and dinner all the climbers headed for bed.
We all agreed that the last 8 days have gone by extremely quickly and that we've had some great climbs. Tomorrow we'll head back to Mexico City for our flights home.
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall
January 19, 2013
Posted by: Seth Waterfall
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Elevation: 18,701'
Hey, this is Seth checking in from the summit of Pico de Orizaba, tallest mountain in Mexico, fourth tallest in North America. Got the whole team with me. We've got a beautiful day. No wind up here, sunny skies, everybody's psyched. We're going to take a bunch of photos. Do some high fivin' then we'll check in once we peel back. Here's the shouts from everybody. [Team shouts!] They are very excited. It's just hard to breathe up here. We'll check in from high camp.
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall calls from the Orizaba summit
On The Map
January 18, 2013
Posted by: Seth Waterfall
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Elevation: 14,000'
Just a quick check in from Piedra Grande. Today was smooth as silk for our move to the hut on Orizaba. We left Puebla just after 8am and arrived at the Servimont compound at 10:15. That gave us plenty of time to pack and have a nice lunch. After that we loaded in the big 4x4 for the steep drive to the hut. We had great views of the mountain all day and everything seems to be coming together for a good climb tonight. We'll check in tomorrow morning, hopefully from the summit!
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall
On The Map
Eat until you get sleepy, sleep until you get hungry... That's been our program, pretty much, today. Zach took the record for late sleeping (10am) and Dave took the record for most cafe americanos (4 by my count). But Gerry, Brian and I were no slouches in the rest day department either.
We've just finished with dinner and while the rest day was great everyone is getting psyched for el Pico de Orizaba. Tomorrow we'll be headed up to high camp and with a bit if luck it'll be a summit for us early Saturday.
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall
We're all checked in at the Hotel Colonial in Puebla. If you're counting, that's less than 10 hours after standing on the summit of Ixta!
We got up this morning at 2:30AM under clear skies and no moon. The view of the city lights from Amecameca to Mexico City was really cool. The guys made quick work of getting ready and we started just after 3:30. The talus field leading up to the Ayaloco glacier was our first challenge but my guiding partner Alejandro stepped up with local knowledge on the ever-shifting route. He plotted the course to the toe of the glacier without issue. After a quick transition to crampons we dispatched with the climb up the Ayaloco. Once we crested the ridge the wind whipped up and it was parka time for most of us. Our only hold up of the day came after we had put the crampons back in the pack to walk the 'Arista del Sol'. We hit an unexpected section of ice a few hundred feet below the summit plateau and had to transition back to the spikes. Other than that it was smooth sailing for us right to the summit. The wind calmed to a light breeze for our pictures up top and we found a sheltered spot for a nice long break just below the summit.
The way down to high camp was completed in three stretches and to my surprise there was very little grumbling as we down climbed the talus. Kudos boys. Having made such good time on the climb we were able to enjoy some extra breaks on the walk down from high camp. The icing on the cake was when we were met by our super-driver, Rogelio, with tortas, chips, sodas and cervesas back at the trail head.
He tortas were good but they're just the tip of the iceberg for we are in Puebla, home of many delicious foods. The team is waiting for me, it's dinner time!
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall
Looks like a great time was had by all….awesome pics - especially the smiles on the faces post the climb!
Posted by: Caskie on 1/17/2013 at 10:12 am
January 16, 2013
Posted by: Seth Waterfall
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Elevation: 17,340'
6:21 a.m. from the summit of Ixtaccihuatl:
Hey this is Seth calling from the top of Ixta. I am up here with everybody. There is very little wind and it was a smooth climb. The team is taking a bunch of photos and enjoying the views. You can see all of the volcanoes today: Nevado de Toluca, Pico de Orizaba, La Malinche, Sierra Negra…and Popo is also out. It is a beautiful cloudless day with no wind. [lots of background cheering from the team] We will check in again from high camp later today.
Congratulations Team!
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall
On The Map
Quite a day!! The extended family is following.. every one is psyched for the team!
Congratulations!!!
Posted by: Laura on 1/16/2013 at 4:52 pm
January 15, 2013
Posted by: Seth Waterfall
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Elevation: 14,750'
Hello from high camp on Ixta! Everyone did great today, the tents are up and I'm about to start cooking dinner.
This morning we got up at 6:30 and had bacon and eggs for breakfast. After packing our gear we got a ride from our driver to La Joya, which is where the trail starts. It took us five hours to reach high camp with the big packs but we have plenty of time to relax before we go to the summit.
Hopefully the next time I check in we'll be standing on top of Ixta!
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall
On The Map
You’re making me tear up, Seth!
Soo thrilled!
Posted by: Laura on 1/16/2013 at 8:31 am
January 14, 2013
Posted by: Seth Waterfall
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Elevation: 12,000'
We're on Ixta! Well we're actually at the Altzimoni Hut but we did get up to 14,600' on Ixta today. That means we set new altitude records for the whole team. That's always cool.
The day started with an 8 am pick up from La Malinche. Our fantastic driver, Rogelio, took us to the best breakfast in Mexico at the Hotel Mission Tlaxcala. Very nice.
Then we hit the market in the town of Amecameca for some last minute food and water before driving to the Altzimoni Hut. After dropping our gear we set out for a hike. We took the same route that we will follow tomorrow and I dropped some water at our high point. We'll pick that up on the way through on our way to high camp and I'll check in again from there.
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall
On The Map
Congratulations Team El Futbol!
Gorgeous photos!
Dave..the SVA letter came.. all set!
Adios Amigos!
Posted by: Laura on 1/15/2013 at 6:49 am
You’ve all worked hard for this. You guys can do it!!!
Posted by: Julie Grooms on 2/12/2013 at 1:05 pm
Good luck guys. Take it all in!
Posted by: Jamie McShane on 2/11/2013 at 7:01 pm
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