Iztaccihuatl and Pico De Orizaba, Mexico
17,338 ft and 18,701 ft
UTM: 14 Q 682374 E 2105241
In 2011 Kling Mountain Guides will again lead two exciting cultural excursion to Mexico. Our first expedition is in December. The December trip is strictly a guided climbing expedition with Kling Mountain Guides. The March trip is a special opportunity to climb with both Kling Mountain Guides and the San Juan College Outdoor Leadership Program. Josh Kling will again be instructing a High Alltitude Mountaineering Course with San Juan College. If you are a aspiring mountaineer wanting to learn what goes into planning an expedition rather than just climbing, than our March trip is for you! For more information on this four credit college course with San Juan College, please either contact us directly at KMG or the OLER Coordinator, Marcel Bieg at :biegm@sanjuancollege.edu
Which ever trip is for you, come climb the third and seventh tallest peak in North America with Kling Mountain Guides! Climbing Pico De Orizaba and Iztaccihuatl is an excellent opportunity for mountaineers looking to bring their climbing to new heights. It combines high altitude experience with minimum technical difficulty in a relatively short period of time. (Nine days door to door!)
These volcanoes are all located a short drive from east of Mexico City. These three massive volcanoes of Popocatepetl, Iztaccihuatl and El Pico de Orizaba tower over the lowlands below. El Pico de Orizaba is the third tallest peak in North America at 18,701 feet above sea level. Pico is roughly 60 miles from the Gulf city of Veracruz.and. From the top it offers unsurpassed views of the grasslands sitting 11,000 ft below! Popocatepetl, The Smoking Mountain, is the fifth highest peak in North America with an elevation of 17,887 feet. Due to recent volcanic activity though, it is off limits to climbing. Iztaccihuatl is the seventh tallest peak in North America. It is known as The Sleeping Lady and stands 17,373 ft above sea level. It also offers interesting and varied climbing. Our volcano climbing expeditions to Orizaba and Iztaccihuatl combine an excellent mix of climbing and culture. Over and over this trip demonstrates that the Mexican volcanoes are an excellent introduction to high altitude mountaineering!
As the tallest peak in Mexico, El Pico de Orizaba is often viewed as the prize of the Mexican Volcanoes. We will access out first camp at the Piedra Grande Hut via a thrilling twelve mile jeep ride. The hut is located at 13,996 ft and makes for an excellent base camp to acclimatize at. From the Piedra Grande Hut, we will ascend to our high camp at 15,600 ft. We will spend one night here before climbing to the toe of the Jampa Glacier and the Ruta Norte. At the glacier we strap into our crampons and begin the steep climb to the summit.
The best climbing season on the Mexico Volcanoes lasts from November to March, the dry season. This also brings better snow conditions and more stable weather patterns. The climb involves moderately steep slopes and prior knowledge of roped travel, crampon techniques, and ice axe arrest. We will review basic mountaineering techniques in order to refresh your skills.
In March of 2011, KMG owner and lead guide again taught a high altitude mountaineering course with San Juan College. For more information on this four credi college course with San Juan College, please either contact us directly at KMG or the OLER Coordinator, Marcel Bieg at :biegm@sanjuancollege.edu
Instructor aproval is required to register for this as a SJC credited course.
Cost for December Expedition: $2600
Price Includes
- Guide fees including our Mexican support staff
- Double accommodations in hotels
- Accommodations while on the mountain in huts
- Ground transportation between mountains
- Group equipment (stoves, cooking fuel, technical climbing equipment, equipment, first aid kits)
- Meals while on the mountain
- Meals while in Tlachichuca
Price Does Not Include
- International airfare from U.S. to Mexico
- Items of personal nature
- Individual travel costs, delays, etc.
- Items of personal nature
- Excess baggage fees
- Personal Clothing or gear
- Alcoholic drinks and personal snacks
- Hotels before and after trip
- Recommended Travel/trip cancelation insurance
- Guide/ Staff gratuity
Prerequisites:
- Prior basic mountaineering experience,
- Be comfortable with self and team arrest
- Have experience with crampons
- Basic roped climbing experience.
- Be comfortable carrying a 55 lbs pack
- If you do not possess these skills or need review, we recommend doing a skills course with us in Colorado prior to your expedition. The Intro To Mountaineering course with San Juan College is a perfect precursor.
Registration:
- To secure your spot on this trip you will need to fill out our expedition registration packets. A 50% deposit is required. Please get in touch for more information on the High Alltitude Course with San Juan College.
