Here’s a much tougher day! Don’t worry about booking a ticket in advance, you can just buy it when you land at the airport (in case your flight is delayed and you miss the bus). 1-hour journey to the southern foot of the Pico de Orizaba (at 4,200 m), beginning of hike. Ascienden a la cima del Pico de Orizaba para despegar y volar con sus parapentes The hut is called the  Piedra Grande Hut and has plenty of room for climbers to sleep. From the west it towers over the town of Tlachichuca in the form of a beautiful white cone. We hiked la malinche 2 days prior to help acclimatise. Also stick to the trails on the left when you are in the Labyrinth. Here are a few facts about the Pico de Orizaba climb: The closest city to Pico de Orizaba with an international airport is Puebla, but Mexico City is only about two hours further and has a lot more flight options. Yading Nature Reserve: The Ultimate Travel & Trekking Guide, A Guide To Visiting Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor. The most important thing is to be sure that you’ve got warm enough clothes (layers are your friend!) In Puebla, I recommend the Posada Vee Yuu hostel. Participants who are having a harder time at altitude and with less fitness will use the hike to the Grupo de los Cien Hut (15,470’) as an acclimatization hike. Pico de Orizaba is by no means an easy mountain. Pico de Orizaba, aka Citlaltépetl, is a stratovolcano and the highest mountain in Mexico. Most climbers fly into Mexico City – it just makes the most sense in most cases. Leaving the hut, you’ll follow an old concrete aqueduct to the base of a rocky and sandy slope. Unfortunately, I wasn’t successful in summiting Orizaba – but I did make it to within 100 meters of the top. Its size is very deceiving, and you can feel like you’re making very little progress without much to use as a reference. There are currently four official climbing routes to the summit of Pico de Orizaba. So how hard is it to climb Orizaba? Very tough hike, coming from sea level altitude definitely affected me. Weather on Orizaba can vary a lot, and staying up to date with the latest forecast is important. Goodluck with the climb , Your email address will not be published. At 5,636 meters, Pico de Orizaba is North America’s third tallest mountain after Denali in Alaska and Mt. Highly recommend. If you book or buy something using my links, I’ll make a bit of money at no extra cost to you. I’m confident that on my next attempt that I’ll make it, as I learned a lot during my first time. We were picked up at our Mexico City hotel and transported to the base of Malinche for a self-guided acclimatization hike. This will put you on the summit of Orizaba shortly after sunrise, and you’ll be back down to base camp for lunch! Summit at 6am. Pico de Orizaba is 5,636 meters or 18,491 feet making it the third tallest mountain in North America, and the tallest in Mexico. Climbing Pico de Orizaba: The Ultimate Mountaineering Guide. Pico de Orizaba was important in pre-Hispanic cultures, such as those of the Nahuatl-speaking Aztecs and the Totonacs. Let’s go over everything you need to know about the route. After lunch, you’ll be picked up by the 4wd jeep and brought back to Tlachichuca. Awesome!! Enjoy the gorgeous views as you ascend way up onto Orizaba. Typically, an ascent of the mountain will take two or three days (departing from the nearby town of Tlachichuca). This is extremely dangerous – the best way to avoid this is by turning back as soon as light AMS symptoms show. There was no real need for us to push towards an Ixta summit, when a … Make social videos in an instant: use custom templates to tell the right story for your business. First, take a bus back to Puebla, and then get another one the rest of the way to Mexico City. El Pico de Orizaba "Citlaltepetl" climbing Express 2 days itinerary 5,630 metres (18,491 ft). The slope angle of the Jamapa Glacier route is 30–45 degrees, which is pretty gentle for a snow climb.But if conditions are icy, the whole game changes. Costs will be higher if you opt for a guide or international outfitter. From starting point back to starting po… Looking east over the massive crater from the summit of Pico de Orizaba ... Drew and Dave disappear into the clouds during the return hike to Piedra Grande. Until I write my own guide, I’ll send you to the SummitPost page about it. The Jampa Glacier route is on ice for the upper portion of the route, whereas the South Route is on scree the entire way to the summit. For food, you’ll have to pick up some stuff in Tlachichuca and bring it with you to the base camp. Go prepared and acclimatize properly so that you can guarantee your summit, the altitude is brutal, but the view at the top is fantastic. And also for those who simply want to climb Orizaba, North America's third highest peak, as … This was probably due to some sections that go up and back down. 1:00 pm: Lunch at El Valle de los Muñecos. You could fly out of Mexico City this same evening (just be sure to leave Tlachichuca early in case there is traffic!). Rising to 5,636 meters (18,491 feet), Pico de Orizaba is Mexico’s tallest peak, and North America’s third tallest. The standard ascent route is along the Jamapa Glacier, The final ascent begins at the Piedra Grande Hut at 14,010 feet (4270 meters). Pico de Orizaba is a great mountain for people who are fairly new to mountaineering. I can vouch for the Cancholas, but I also have heard good things about Servimont. Pico de Orizaba North Face Trail is a 4.4 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Calcahualco, Veracruz, Mexico that offers scenic views and is rated as difficult. Endurance is important, and going on long hikes with a heavy backpack can help you train for this. The glacier is very steep and at this time of year it is crystallizing and there are many parts with slippery ice, this is the most difficult part of the ascent but it is worth the effort, the view from the crater and the summit in all directions is spectacular. For complete info on climbing La Malinche, check out its page over at SummitPost. The trail is primarily used for hiking and nature trips. Views are unbelievable! Spend some time taking in the sights and eating some delicious Mexican food. From Puebla’s CAPU bus station, take one of the hourly Tlachichuca buses. The north face is more technical and with ice is very dangerous a lot of fatalities each year. and well-fitting climbing boots. Going down the glacier was more difficult and slower, and in some sections dangerous due to ice and cracks. You can even find a tall building and spend some time going up and down their staircase. I stayed with the Cancholas and had a great experience. I completed La Malinche and did a hike in the Pico forest both at around 14k before to help acclimatize. Required fields are marked *. Both of those options have a ton of good reviews, and they are very experienced with helping climbers summit Pico de Orizaba. The drive up to the hut takes a good two hours. You’ll attempt to climb La Malinche (4,461 meters). Climb with an experienced RMI Guide, benefiting from the background, training, and expertise of our guides as you venture to higher altitudes. 5:30 pm: Sunset view, dinner and bonfire. The hike itself is fairly straight forward but with Pico de Orizaba’s altitude being 5636 meters or 18,491 feet, even after having hiked almost every other mountain we could find in Mexico (actually only 6 others) including Iztaccihuatl which itself sits at 5230 meters the altitude still smashed us. Depending on the time of year, the glacier can be very icy and slippery, or snow-covered and easy to climb. Tlachichuca has two well-established guest houses offering accommodation, gear rentals, and rides to the Orizaba base camp in 4wd vehicles. Climb with an experienced RMI Guide, benefiting from the background, training, and expertise of our guides as you venture to higher altitudes. Climbing on snow and ice is much more enjoyable than loose scree, which makes the Jampa Glacier route the most enjoyable climbing experience. Due to the dangers of climbing solo, I have to recommend climbing Orizaba with a partner. Pico de Orizaba is a great mountain for people who are fairly new to mountaineering. When climbing solo, you also won’t be able to know if you’re falling ill to a high altitude cerebral edema. It’s a beautiful mountain that offers great climbing and epic views – what more could a climber ask for! One of the most challenging parts of Orizaba is the length of its summit day. When coming down, I recommend tracking the trail so that you can follow it on the way down. I figured that the sun would come up soon and warm me up. According to our guides, the answer is an emphatic "It depends." Only the Jampa Glacier and South Route are commonly used, and the Jampa Glacier is by far the most common. If you’ve already acclimatized on another nearby mountain and are feeling good after arriving at base camp, it’s possible to attempt the summit the next day. The south face is the "easier" way to hike to the summit. The summit of Orizaba is always below freezing, so just because it is summer doesn’t mean that it will be warm. From Tlachichuca, the Piedra Grande Hut (base camp) is a two-hour drive on a very rough road. From Tlachichuca, you’ll get your first good views of the peak as it looms over the town. I also recommend picking up a local SIM card at the airport if you’d like to have some internet access during your trip. Let’s get right into it! Took 7 hours up and 4 coming down. You can’t really go wrong with either one of them. To climb Pico de Orizaba is to climb the highest peak in Mexico and the third highest peak in North America. The glacier starts around 4900-5000m and covers the upper aspects of the mountain. The town of Orizaba is worth a visit in its own right, though. Your email address will not be published. I took the steeper route up as I felt confident climbing it, but there were a few parts that were a bit more technical than I had expected. Pico de Orizaba is the fourth highest volcano in the Northern Hemisphere. My watch clocked in around 6500ft gained total from start to finish (hut was the starting point). While some groups choose to fully climb/summit Ixta as an acclimitization for Orizaba, we opted to simply do a half-day hike in order to conserve energy for our real objective: Pico de Orizaba. Depending on your skill level some guides may also add another day in order to review the necessary mountaineering techniques. There isn’t any public transit going up there, so you’ll need to hire a vehicle. The day will end at a hotel in the town of Amecameca. Create. Of course, there are tons of different gear combinations that will work on a mountain like Orizaba, so here I’ll give my personal recommendations based on my own research and experience. You’ll summit sometime in the morning, and can then descend back to base camp and get picked up for the drive back to Tlachichuca. In the past, people have managed to fall into crevasses on Orizaba, although it’s not clear where they were – certainly not on the most common path up the glacier. I climbed the peak unguided yesterday. My brother took diamox as he suffered a little with altitude on la malinche, I did not but I could not sleep the night of the hike & once we hit 5000m I struggled. I was roped up with a guide and crampons + ice axe are a must. Great hike, and as difficult as other reviews suggest. Take a 4wd car to base camp, and start preparing for the climb! They’ll arrange your transport to the base camp and provide you with room and board. Pico de Orizaba North Face Trail is a 4.4 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Calcahualco, Veracruz, Mexico that offers scenic views and is rated as difficult. Overnight, it hailed and rained really heavy. Some say this climb, though at a less elevation than Pico de Orizaba, is a harder climb. Summiting Mexico's highest peak on the Day of the Dead was quite an experience, however, we did miss out on some of the festivities in town. My climb was going great – my acclimatization plan had worked well, I had plenty of energy, and was climbing at a good pace. I chose the left (right going down) route on my descent, which was a good idea. Thank you Jacob for the info! I climbed in late October and had good weather. This day is pretty easy, just hang out in Puebla! Take off from the crater rim of central Mexico's Pico de Orizaba (5,630m) on a paraglider. There’s a hut at base camp, so you don’t need a tent unless you want to sleep alone or pitch a camp higher up on the mountain. Located on the border between the states of Veracruz and Puebla, Pico de Orizaba offers one of the most spectacular views of the Gulf of Mexico. Orizaba is a tough peak, and the best way to be successful in your attempt on it is to be as fit as possible. Pico de Orizaba volcano is a large active stratovolcano, Mexico's highest mountain and the … Season: you can climb this mountain in all the year, some people do prefer raining season because are better snow (from July to October) and several people do prefer dry season for more clear days (October to July) The journey should take about 5 hours in total. Warm, amazing quality, and very comfortable. 21-year old Canadian dude who loves to visit off-the-beaten-path places, climb tall mountains, and try delicious foods. Pico de Orizaba is a stratovolcano and the tallest peak in Mexico standing at 18,880ft. I checked the time on my phone, and it was still a lot earlier than I had thought – 4:45 am. Since I was acclimated to over 14,000′ on La Malinche, we would hike up towards the glacier the same day we drove up to the hut, essentially combining the two days. Spectacular views at the top. I decided that I didn’t want to try and push to the summit and wait around at the top for the sun to come up, as it would likely be even windier up there. The winds didn’t let down, and when I checked my phone again it was still only 5:30 am. Navigating through the Labyrinth is challenging, especially in the dark. It is located between the states of Veracruz and Puebla. Just check out the “Getting There” section, it’s exactly the way I did it. My friend and I are tentatively planning to hike the peak during spring break in March, 2021. On my next attempt, I’ll start my climb at around 2:30 am rather than 12:30 am. It’s important to have at least some previous mountaineering experience before attempting this climb. Landed where the climb started beside the Piedra Grande Hut at 4,278m on the north side of the volcano. The climb to the summit from the Piedra Grande Hut should take anywhere from 8 to 15 hours depending on fitness. I found this section easier to climb at night while the ground was still frozen. When I climbed Pico de Orizaba I used the Jampa Glacier route. From Mexico City, you should head to Puebla. The climb crosses a snowfield area and then ascends the glacier, which reaches an angle of 40 degrees near the top. Climbing Pico de Orizaba Among very high mountains, Orizaba is a relatively easy climb. Many guides will add a day of hiking before the trip in order to get everyone properly acclimatized. Mexico City is built on the ruins of an Aztec city. The Jampa Glacier is definitely the most straight-forward part of the climb, you basically just need to keep going up. At 5,636 meters, Pico de Orizaba is North America’s third tallest mountain after Denali in Alaska and Mt. There are three main sections to the Jampa Glacier route – the scree, the Labyrinth, and the Jampa Glacier. The best way to train for Pico de Orizaba is to climb and hike! Excluding flights, climbing Pico de Orizaba shouldn't cost any more than $500 if you climb independently with a local operator. This climb requires that you properly acclimatize before making your summit attempt, which requires a new level of patience that you may not be used to if you’ve only climbed at lower elevations. Expect to pay around $200 USD for accommodation, food, and transport. I estimate temperatures near the summit were around -15°C with the windchill, making it very cold to hang around without a belay jacket. The four official routes are the Jampa Glacier, the South Route, the Espolón de Oro, and the Direct Route. A slip would’ve been disastrous, so be careful and make sure that you know how to self-arrest. If all goes well, you’ll summit shortly after sunrise, and be back down to base camp for lunch. com for our accommodations and the lodging and transportation was fantastic. I kept climbing but took a few 5-minute breaks to wait for the sun. On the way down, things were much more slippery and I had to be very careful with my (tired) feet. Great quality crampons that will fit the G2 SM boots perfectly, Lightweight ice axe, all you need for Orizba. Nearing the top, the glacier becomes quite steep – maxing out at around 40 degrees or so. Sitting on the border of Veracruz and Puebla, the volcano is dormant but not extinct. The first few hundred meters of the climb are the least enjoyable. You should arrange the ride to the Piedra Grande Hut with your guesthouse in Tlachichuca. The loose sandy areas are more solidified at this time. The trail is primarily used for hiking and is accessible year-round. It was beautiful. Eruptions of Pico de Orizaba Volcano 1687, 1630, 1613, 1569, 1566, 1545-65?, 1537 About altitude. We continue to lead thousands of successful climbers to the top of Mexico’s highest peaks. If you’re not experienced with climbing through a glacier with crampons take a guide. You can also consider going with Servimont. Labyrinth below the glacier. Most ascents of Pico de Orizaba will take about 15 hours from the mountain hut to the summit and back.You will usually wake up and begin climbing by 1 a.m. in order to reach the summit by 10 a.m. and return to the starting mountain hut by 4 p.m. Runs from November to may and slower, and I are tentatively planning to hike to the Grande. Left when you are in the town Kilimanjaro in Africa glacier at 15,800′ towers over the of! 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