After an excellent climb with perfect conditions our team descended to Tlachichuca. It was hard to believe that all in the same day we could have climbed again by moonlight, this time looking at Popo and Ixta hit by the morning sun. It was a warm day and our team did a fantastic job handling the high altitude and moving securely in the rarified air. Again, our timing was ideal, just as we pulled into the hut to pack, the clouds rolled in and obscured the mountain. These were some of the best climbing conditions I have seen down here and the entire team appreciated the chance to stand on top in warm, windless weather.
Now we bid our farewells and look forward to the next time we all get to try our hand at climbing these sleeping giants. Though this trip will be tough to top, til then!
RMI Guide Jake Beren
Greetings from the top of Orizaba!
We had a beautiful day climbing up today. A beautiful moon to climb with, amazing shadows from Popo and Ixta and the team did super well.
So, we are psyched. We are happy we are up here. Pretty soon we'll start walking down. We will give a shout from Tlachichuca when we get down this afternoon.
It has been a great climb and we are going to keep it rolling.
RMI Guide Jake Beren
RMI Guide Jake Beren calls from the summit of Pico de Orizaba.
Hello this is Jake checking in from Mexico.
We are at Piedra Grande, the hut on Pico de Orizaba. After a day of rest in Puebla, we took off for Tlachichuca early this morning. After meeting with Dr. Reyes at his family's climber hostile we took four wheel drive vehicles up to the hut. We are turning in early to prepare for our climb tonight. It is a little cloudy right now but other than that conditions are pretty good. The peak comes out now and again and we are hoping things clear out for our climb tomorrow.
Wish us luck! We will call in tomorrow.
RMI Guide Jake Beren
RMI Guide Jake Beren checks in from the climber's hut on Pico de Orizaba.
Well it's been quite a day. This morning (technically speaking) we arose to a pretty full moon and gave climbing Ixta a shot. The past few mornings have had Popo's (Ixta's neighboring volcano and protector) smoky plume ascending straight into the sky. These "no wind" mornings are a treat to climb in and this morning was certainly a treat. Our team cruised the perfect conditions left by last month's storms and stood on top early this morning. We were able to see Orizaba in first light looming over Puebla where we now rest. Popo's aforementioned plume actually glowed red with the magma exposed in it's crater! I've never seen it do that before. On our descent Ixta's shadow stretched for miles and we pulled into camp seemingly just as a cold front made it's way to the mountain. Quite a day.
Now for a little R&R here in Puebla before heading to Orizaba.
RMI Guide Jake Beren
Good morning from the top of Ixtaccihuatl!
We are standing on the summit with the RMI Mexico’s Volcanoes team. We had a fantastic climb this morning, a huge moon and unbelievable cramponing conditions. The climb was smooth and we are up in great time. So we are just checking out the views of Puebla, Amecameca and Mexico City with the lights down below. Everyone did great.
We want to wish Fernando a very Happy Birthday and thank him for spending his birthday with us on the summit.
We’ll be checking in when we get down low.
RMI Guide Jake Beren
RMI Guide Jake Beren calls in from the summit of Ixtaccihuatl.
holloway you need to hurry up and get back. i haven’t been to the gym since you left. i need you here to carry my sorry butt. speaking of workouts, chase’s sister is really missing you. she has been so upset she hasn’t ate since you left. she is down to 468lb.
p.s. chase says to tell you you look like a baby back b**ch in that picture.
hope all is well, daniel
Posted by: Daniel on 3/7/2012 at 3:23 pm
WAY TO GO AUNT KIM!! ALL THOSE HOURS OF LOOKING LIKE A NERD ON THE STAIRMILL (WITH A BACKPACK) REALLY PAID OFF…
tell all your new friends they did a great job too :)
Hello, this is Jake with the RMI Mexico team. Everybody made up to high camp today doing well and climbing in good style. We have now set up camp, hung out, relaxed for a little bit and we're doing a little snow school review with Dan and Fernando before dinner. So all is well up here and we will be checking in tomorrow. Wish us luck. If this weather holds, then we're gonna go for the top tonight so we'll be checking in hopefully from up there. Alright. Bye.
RMI Guide Jake Beren
Greetings everybody!
We are at the Altzimoni Hut at the base of Ixtaccihuatl, where we will be heading out to climb tomorrow. All is well here. We've had clearing afternoon a little bit of cloud cover over Ixta right now but looks to be breaking up somewhat. So, with fingers crossed we'll go to bed (hoping for clear skies in the morning) and head up to our high camp tomorrow. The team is doing great. We had a nice stop in Amecameca to pick up some last minute items, cruise around town and sort of check out what was going on and see some sites we may not otherwise have visited in Central Mexico. We will call in from our high camp tomorrow.
RMI Guide Jake Beren
RMI Guide Jake Beren checks in from 12000 ft on Ixtaccihuatl.
Hello this is Jake Beren with the RMI Mexico's Volcanoes Team. We are down in La Malintze which is just to the east of Mexico City where we did our first acclimatization hike on La Malinche today. Everyone did very well and we got up to just under 14,000' with good weather and came back down to a big meal and tomorrow we will head in the way of Ixta by way of Amecameca and a big breakfast.
So, all is well here and we will check in tomorrow.
RMI Guide Jake Beren
RMI Guide Jake Beren checks in after the team's first acclimatization hike.
Off to a good start down here. Everyone is in, safe and sound and after a brief orientation we kept the good times rollin' with a solid meal at Cafe Tacuba and an early night of sleep. Tomorrow we start our acclimatization with our journey to La Malinche. More later from the mountains.
RMI Guide Jake Beren
Hello from Kikoti Camp,
We had a bit more leisurely start to our day today and we were on the road by 9:00 heading to Tarangire National Park. En route there was a huge downpour, but all the rain stopped by the time we reached the entrance gate. From there, we worked our way south, stopping at every opportunity to view the animals. After yesterday, it seemed like we were in a dry spell because nothing can really compare to the amount of animals you see in one day in Ngorongoro Crater. In Tarangire, you have to find them! The usual suspects were all present, but the day was coming close to an end and we had still not seen a leopard. Then our safari driver decided to take a little detour, and 15 minutes later we were stopped in front of a tree with a leopard resting on a branch about 10 feet off the ground. Our viewing of the "Big Five" was complete. The last sighting of the day was a baby elephant, just a week old, with his mother spraying water on the both of them to help cool off in the afternoon sun. It was incredible.
Now we are at the Kikoti Camp, sitting out on the porch, looking out over the African landscape and listening to all the sounds around us. We're going to take a short hike before dinner and go out and watch the sun set, and take a few customary "sun downers" to enjoy as the sun dips below the horizon.
Unfortunately, this adventure comes to an end tomorrow, and we start to make our way home. It has been a great trip and we have enjoyed it. Thanks to all of you who posted comments and gave your support for us safely reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro.
RMI Guide Jeff Martin & Team Simba Sita
Yay, Heidi and David! It has been so fun following your amazing adventures through this blog. Can’t wait to see you upon your return….travel safe! Smooches, Jules
Posted by: Julie Gregory on 2/23/2012 at 4:01 pm
What a besutiful sunset! Can’t wait to hear more details and see photos….hurry home Jim/Daddy - we miss you!! Safe travels home everyone. XOXO, P, j & c
I am jealous, as the weather on our trip was not so cooperative. Congrats to the team!
Posted by: Peter Rogers on 3/9/2012 at 11:33 am
Red hot Magma?
Posted by: Hannah on 3/8/2012 at 9:26 am
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