RMI Blog - 10/06 - 4:44 pm PT

Buenos Dias blog readers! It was a cool, cloudy day here in Central Mexico. Sleep last night was not great but serviceable; nothing a hot cup of coffee and a nourishing breakfast couldn't fix

Today we traveled from El Centro Vacacional de Malinzi to La Joya at 13,000 feet. After making a quick pit stop in the village of Amecameca, we ascended the windy and pot-hole-ridden road to El Paso de Cortez while fighting back nausea. After checking into the national park, we continued onward and upward to La Joya where we set up camp, met our guide Morizio, had a delicious lunch graciously prepared for us by our local staff, and stretched our legs with another bushwhacky day hike. We also encountered more mountain dogs, which made at least one of us very happy.

En route to Amecameca, we caught our first glimpse of our second obiective, Ixtaccihuatl or Ixta, as well as her restless neighbor Popocatépetl or Popo; their upper slopes just barely visible above the clouds. Even from more than 20 miles away, their presence was palpable: dominating over a quarter of the horizon while still 10,000 feet above us,

"Seeing them for the first time made me ponder the Aztec legend, which gave the sibling Volcanoes their names, According to myth, Ixtaccíhuatl was a beautiful ‣princess who fell in love with the great warrior Popocatépetl, Upon learning of their affections, the emperor agreed told Popo he may only marry her if he went to war with his enemies and returned victorious. Popo agreed and embarked on a long campaign, promising his lover they would be married upon his return. However, Popo was not Ixta's only suitor. One day, a rival warrior told Ixta that Popo had died in battle having the intent of convincing her to marry him instead,. Overwhelmed with grief and anger, Ixta died of her sorrows shortly thereafter. When Popo returned, he brought her body far beyond the shores of Lake Texcoco, erected a funeral pyre and perished with his lover in his arms. Moved by their devotion, the Gods transformed their bodies into the massive mountains we know today. In Nahuatl, "Ixtaccihuatl' translates to "white lady," her long summit ridge bearing resemblance to the figure of her namesake lying peacefully on her back. Conversely, "Popocatépet!" translates to "the smokey one," his frequent eruptions representing the great warrior's wrath, strength, and restless energy.

Writing these words, I feel nervous and excited at the same time. Every step that I'lI take will be the highest l've ever been. I keep asking myself "Am I ready?", "Do I have what it takes to do this?" But at the end of the day, all that matters is giving it an honest effort and making it down safe and sound, Whatever happens tomorrow, meeting, hiking with, and getting to know my team members has already made this trip worth it so iBuena suerte a todos!

RMI Climber Benjamin Wolf