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A day wandering among the colonial walls of Puebla leaves us relaxed and ready. A short drive and we're in Tlachichuca. After what feels like a much longer drive, we're at Piedra Grande. The road into the mountains is scarcely maintained and yet constantly ridden. Reminiscent of Ixtaccíhuatl's trails, there are a great many random intersections, deep ruts, protruding rocks, and washouts. The locals clearly hold scant regard for instructive signage, and thankfully, our driver needs none. We have one of our favorite meals of the trip at camp at 14000' -- more meat, cheese, veggies, and tortillas. And then it's time for bed.
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By contrast, the 1 AM start feels reasonable. Still, the no-longer sleepers lament their rude departure from the cool and languid maw of REM sleep as they force down coffee and tea, oatmeal and cheerios. Dustin shares a vision of the world come to a white end. The would-be dreamers ascend through darkness, treading an old aqueduct, just a bit too steep to be an enjoyable trail, past random spray paint memorials, curiously abiding, and finally to the mouth of the Labyrinth. Weaving through this violent mess of a glacier's last destructive efforts, we finally make our way up and out to the current moraine, sandy and desolate. The Glacier lies above. Eerily still, devoid of the chaotic structures we associate with living glaciers, this mass of ice sits like a ghost on the mountain: a commemoration of a period of cooler Earth and accumulation of snow.
Hunched and hooded like dark penitents the climbers huff and struggle to raise each onerous step. Slowly the sun lights the land but shares no perceivable warmth. Our route takes us up the north side of the peak and we poor solar supplicants are left shivering in the gray penumbra. After a few false summits we reach the highest point of Pico de Orizaba, along the deep crater's rim. A few steps down the steep, dusty bank, the air is curiously still, and we settle in to glean what we can from the thin atmosphere and supplement with snacks and water from our packs.
A fine dinner and a better breakfast are gratefully consumed by our weary team back in the ex-soap factory of Servimont. Now we're headed home.
RMI Guide Will Ambler and team
New Post Alerts:
Mexico's Volcanoes November 8, 2025
Awesome Dustin!!!!!
Posted by: Dave Kestel on 11/18/2025 at 5:31 am
Posted by: Mike Walter, Robby Young, Alan Davis
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 14,200'
On The Map
Dave and Shane….. you guys are so close now. Great progress and great weather is seems.
May the Sun shine for you each day and the winds blow gentle.
Love,
Dad
Posted by: George Head on 5/31/2018 at 11:59 am
Dave and Shane…wow…almost there. I can’t believe you are almost at the summit. We can’t wait to hear ALL about this adventure. We hope you are all feeling well. Miss you to pieces. Have a great day!! Love, Mom and Ken
Posted by: Dean and Ken on 5/31/2018 at 7:01 am
Posted by: Dave Hahn
Categories:
On The Map
Adam and Jordan, thanks for the informative updates and photos. Team, congrats on a good day of training. Very pleased to hear the weather treated you well and that you are all in good spirits despite the virtual hangovers. As I write this I expect you are already geared up and headed out to summit Cotopaxi. You are all in my thoughts and I wish you a safe and awesome climb. I eagerly await news and photos of your adventure on the “Jewel”. Go team! Stay strong, stay safe!!
Jacquie
Posted by: Jacquie Byatt on 1/8/2018 at 1:18 am
Congrats Adam and Hank, so proud of you guys. Can’t wait to hear about it!
Posted by: Ned Gibson on 8/16/2017 at 10:41 am
Congratulations! So excited to hear you summited!
Posted by: Ann Boyd on 8/16/2017 at 10:24 am
Posted by: Brent Okita, Christina Dale
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
Congratulations to Chris Paskoff and the rest of the expeditioners on reaching the summit! What an experience and what a view!!
Posted by: Scott Paskoff on 6/30/2017 at 8:38 am
Posted by: Christina Dale, Nikki Champion, Peter Kesting
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 12,500'
Posted by: Tyler Jones, JM Gorum, Bryan Mazaika
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 14,200'
Tym, Tyler, and Team (Otherwise know as the 3 T’s)
It is fun and exciting to read about your progress and plans, daily. The pictures are wonderful. Food sounds good. What an amazing adventure! Good luck as you move onward and ever upward. All my best as you have bigger days ahead. And Tym, Satoshi says: $2562.00.
Love Mom
Posted by: Kristi Kennelly on 6/4/2017 at 7:13 pm
Amir, Tyler, and Team,
We’re all thinking of you guys and the wonderful adventure you’re all having !
Can’t wait to hear the stories when you get back!
René
Posted by: René on 6/4/2017 at 3:27 pm
Congratulations Peter and your climbing team on achieving your goal of summiting Mt. Rainier. !!
Mom and Dad.
Posted by: Mary Beth Torosian on 8/29/2016 at 6:23 pm
Congratulations Ben and Mary Jo!!! I watched the weather and was worried you wouldn’t make it because of the winds. So glad you did! Can’t wait to hear your stories! -Mom
Posted by: Kim Rasmussen on 8/28/2016 at 7:40 pm
Bett, you are inspiring. Congratulations on reaching your goal. Such determination. Can’t wait to hear about it.
Posted by: Peggy Meyer on 8/22/2015 at 8:21 am
Keep climbing Janet and Bet!! Thinking of you!
Posted by: Di on 8/22/2015 at 8:19 am
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