From - Sun Nov 21 11:38:04 1999 Path: typhoon.nyu.edu!newsfeed.nyu.edu!news.maxwell.syr.edu!nntp2.deja.com!nnrp1.deja.com!not-for-mail From: Rodulfo Araujo Newsgroups: rec.climbing,rec.backcountry Subject: Re: Pico de Orizaba question Date: Fri, 19 Nov 1999 02:14:10 GMT Organization: Deja.com - Before you buy. Lines: 75 Message-ID: <812bpg$paq$1@nnrp1.deja.com> References: <38339868.43548FF5@thecia.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: 200.23.255.180 To: irka@thecia.net X-Article-Creation-Date: Fri Nov 19 02:14:10 1999 GMT X-Http-User-Agent: Mozilla/4.7 [en] (Win95; I) X-Http-Proxy: 1.0 x32.deja.com:80 (Squid/1.1.22) for client 200.23.255.180 X-MyDeja-Info: XMYDJUIDrodulfo_araujo Xref: typhoon.nyu.edu rec.climbing:225044 rec.backcountry:289031 In article <38339868.43548FF5@thecia.net>, Vladimir Smirnov and Irina Libova wrote: > We are planning to climb Mt.Orizaba via Chichimeco Ridge. It is considered a technical one. Expect ice climbing. I have not made bt the last portions, ascending from Piedra Grande until high Chichimeco camp. But here's some input. > We want to start from the town of Coscomatepec, take a taxi to > the village of Potrero Nuevo and further until the road ends), Hacienda Xametla is your most likely starting point. Try to hire mules to take you up to 4,000m (1 day, 1st camp). > then hike to North Glaciers via Chichimeco Ridge, climb Mt.Orizaba > via the standard route What a waste! If you are climbing Chichimeco, either keep going up on the glacier parallel to the normal route or, even better, do a little traverse to the left and climb the East glacier (40-45 deg angle, one very minor 55 deg step). The views are spectacular from this side. > and walk down to Piedra Grande hut and > further to the town of Tlachichuca, from where we take the > bus back to Mexico City. The itinerary and schedule is as follows: Descending to Hidalgo is nice, but the hike from Hidalgo to Tlachichuca, IMHO, is not worth it (I've done it). You see houses all the time. From Hidalgo you may get a raid to Tlachichuca or even to the main highway. > Dec.24. Bus from Mexico City to Coscomatepec, > taxi to the end of the road; > hike as far as we can I don't believe you'll get too far this day. Let's say that you get to Cosco. > Dec.25-27. Approach via Chichimeco Ridge to North Glaciers. Typically: 1st night @4000m (mules can makew it there), just at the base of Chichimeco volcano. 2nd night at the base of the glacier (flat surface for campers), around 4,800m. You will still have one slack day. > Dec.28. Summit Camp in summit? You can summit and be in Hidalgo or Tlachichuca the same day. > Dec.29. Down to Piedra Grande and further as close to Tlachichuca > as possible. > Dec.30. Bus from Tlachichuca to Mexico City. > > Now come the questions: > > 1. Is this a realistic plan? What is the least realistic part of it? > Has anyone here tried the Chichimeco route? Lots of walking. Technical climb (ice cascades). Timewise there are 2-3 slack days in you schedule, which is fine. I strongly recommend the East face or the continuation of Chichimeco side of glacier as opposed to merging to Jamapa route. > 2. We've read that one can get malaria from mosquitos in certain parts > of Mexico. Is Mt.Orizaba region one of these? Nope. Too high. Regards Rodulfo Araujo Grupo de los Cien Mexican Mountaineering & Backpacking Federation Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.