Mexico’s Volcanoes: Hoch & Team Reach Summit of Orizaba
Posted by: Joe Hoch, Bailey Servais
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
'Un clima raro' -strange weather- has been the theme of our Mexico Volcanos trip.
Though it’s the ‘dry season’ we had a full winter ascent of Ixta, and as we pulled into high camp at Pico de Orizaba with a forecast of a clear calm sky, we instead were greeted by a dark cloud deck streaming over the mountain at what we estimated to be 40+ mph. Not ideal for a 18500ft volcano.
But Team Mexican Koala has proven quite hearty and as I poked my head out of the tent at 12am, a clear starry sky and a light breeze greeted me. Classic Orizaba!
We left camp with 6 of 9 climbers (something has been working through the group) and as we fought freezing winds and bone-chilling temps it looked like we would pull off a sunny summit!
Having not had a summit view yet, we spent almost 45 minutes on the Orizaba summit taking in the cloudless sky and expansive views of Ixta, Malinche and a sea of other Mexican volcanos. A perfect end to our week!
Congratulations team Mexican Koala-3 for 3 on summits, and a full week of Mexican adventure!
RMI Guide Joe Hoch
