Most Popular Entries
February 22, 2020
Posted by: Eric Frank, Jenny Konway
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Elevation: 18,491'
Good morning. This is RMI Guide Eric Frank from the summit of Pico de Orizaba. We are enjoying the views looking out over the valley in Mexico. A little cloud cover is creeping Into The Valleys, but we are about 1,000 feet above it up here. It’s been a really nice morning of climbing, a little cold and a little windy, but we were able to get it done nevertheless. We are going to hang out for a few more minutes then get packed up and have a safe descent. Then we will go down and celebrate what's been a great week of climbing.
RMI Guide Eric Frank calls from the summit of Pico de Orizaba.
On The Map
March 7, 2020
Posted by: Dustin Wittmier
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Elevation: 18,491'
RMI Guide Dustin Wittmier and the Mexico Volcanoes team reached the summit of Pico de Orizaba, 18,491', early this morning. The team will return to Tlachichuca to spend the night and celebrate their great week of climbing.
Congratulations to the team!
After all of yesterday's excitement, the team gathered for a celebratory dinner followed by margaritas, then went to bed. We slept hard after a long day's work and greatly enjoyed the comforts of our Tlachichuca amenities. This morning we were awakened by the crows of many local roosters, letting us know it was time to head home. We drank our hot coffee and ate delicious frittatas, then loaded the bus and headed for the airport. We said our goodbyes and headed off to our gates, feeling like we'd been together in Mexico for much longer than just nine short days.
Thanks again for following along and we hope you've enjoyed sharing the journey with us!
March 4, 2020
Posted by: Dustin Wittmier, Taylor Bickford
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Elevation: 17,340'
Just before 6am today the Mexico Volcanoes expedition stood on top of Ixtaccihuatl. Yes, that is an hour before sunrise. You could say we left an hour too early or you can recognize that this group of climbers is strong and motivated. We battled a cold breeze all morning, but people put their heads down and persevered.
This time of year Ixta is dry, which makes climbing more difficult. The footing can be loose and we have all been thoroughly sandblasted. Needless to say it was an exhausting day. Within minutes of boarding the bus, more than half of the crew was asleep... a nap fueled by sandwiches y cervezas.
On The Map
Congratulations on a successful summit! Some challenging looking terrain the team had to pass through but looks like it was well worth it.
Posted by: Dan on 3/5/2020 at 9:18 pm
March 3, 2020
Posted by: Dustin Wittmier, Taylor Bickford
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Elevation: 15,430'
Following another fantastic Mexican culinary experience (breakfast tacos) we hit the trail from Altzomoni towards high camp on Ixta. Everyone arrived in good spirits and are settled in at camp. An early dinner tonight will set us up nicely to get some rest and have an alpine start tonight.
Conditions on the mountain are dry and the weather is breezy. We are all feeling optimistic about tonight's climb. Hopefully we will be calling from the summit early tomorrow morning!
On The Map
February 18, 2020
Posted by: Eric Frank, Jenny Konway
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Elevation: 15,430'
Our day started with a 7am wake-up call, followed by hot coffee, eggs and some of the best papaya we'd ever had. While we enjoyed our breakfast, we took in the view, as Popocatepl put on a show for us, spewing large clouds of ash and smoke into the morning sky.
We finalized our packing, loaded our gear into the van and headed to the trailhead to start our hike to high camp. The team did a great job, arriving at high camp in good spirits and in good time. After setting up tents and getting moved in, we all took a well deserved break before coming together for dinner. Once we'd had our fill of soup and quesadillas, we discussed our plan for tomorrow's ascent, said good night and headed to bed.
Wish us luck as we head out tomorrow for our hopeful summit of Ixtaccihuatl!
February 19, 2020
Posted by: Eric Frank, Jenny Konway
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Elevation: 17,340'
Hi, this is RMI Guides Jenny Konway and Eric Frank calling in from the summit of Ixtaccihuatl with a full team. We reached the summit at 7:45 this morning. We are hanging out, taking some photos and we'll head back down soon. The team is psyched.
RMI Guide Jenny Konway calls from the summit of Ixtaccihuatl.
On The Map
March 2, 2020
Posted by: Dustin Wittmier, Taylor Bickford
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Elevation: 13,100'
Our attempt on La Malinche yesterday was turned just above treeline, but we still attained our goal of getting some mileage and elevation in. The National Park Police were stopping all groups from continuing, citing recent weather trends (afternoon thundershowers). My assessment of the weather differed from theirs, but their stern faces projected a certain air of authority.
The team is on the road again this morning, this time from the La Malinche resort to Altzomoni. On previous trips with the same bus driver, Augustín, there was a Shania Twain album stuck in the CD player. However, that problem has been rectified and this morning we are getting re-acquainted with 90's and early 2000's hip hop and R&B.
We will make a quick pit stop in Amecameca for snacks and water before heading to the Paso de Cortes. The anticipation is growing for our first big objective, Iztaccíhuatl (Ixta). Given the weather we have observed for the past couple of days, it appears to be shaping up for a great climb!
On The Map
DAY | WORKOUT | TOTAL TIME | DIFFICULTY |
1 | Daily Dozen | 12 min. | Recovery |
2 | Daily Dozen + 40 Minute Hike | 52 min. | Medium |
3 | Daily Dozen / Rest | 12 min. | Recovery |
4 | Daily Dozen + 40 Minute Hike | 52 min. | Medium |
5 | Daily Dozen / Rest | 12 min. | Recovery |
6 | Daily Dozen + 2 Hour Hike | 132 min. | Medium |
7 | Rest | - | Recovery |
Total | 4 hrs 44 mins |
I’d like to see the next few weeks of the training program. I realize that there are no shortcuts to the top, but I had been doing 30 to 60 minute hikes with a 45 lb pack for months before starting the Fit to Climb program, and need to speed up a few weeks to meet my climbing date.
Posted by: Mike Forsyth on 5/23/2017 at 1:00 pm
Ayman,
Great question. If you are limited by terrain, you can use a treadmill on an incline as a tool. I would suggest trying to find a variety of activities though to keep you motivated. Other options could include stadium stairs (lots of laps) or lots of laps of a small hill. We’ve heard of folks training with lots of laps of old garbage dumps, road embankments, etc. A treadmill on an incline will help build the muscles that you use to step uphill, but every step is nearly the same. By getting off of the treadmill and outside, grass or any off pavement terrain will make each step different, building your balance muscles as well. Also, it’s important not to forget about the downhill: half the climb will be downhill, which is a different set of muscles, and the treadmill doesn’t do a lot for those. Good luck!
Posted by: RMI Team on 11/3/2016 at 12:05 pm
Deja Vu, guess what a bought today—road bike. :))
Posted by: Mary on 10/19/2014 at 6:05 pm
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