Garry Peasland - 333504

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Awards Completed

ML
Member Of

International Trekking Record

Details

Date : 27/03/2016

Duration : 8+ hours

Style : Group Member

Type : International Winter Quality Mountain Day

Weather : Clear - sunny - good visibility

Wind : No wind

Camping Type : Bothy/Shelter

Nights Camping : 1

Mountains :

Flagged :

Description

Summiting Malinche and Iztaccíhuatl were in preparation for the crescendo of our International Expedition to summit Pico Orizaba (at 5636m) otherwise know as Citlaltépetl.
We camped over night in a mountain hut to allow us to have an Alpine start at 2am of Pico Orizaba and a further nights acclimatization. Being woken in the night a number of times to scampering mice made me smile...
The route was to take us up the South side, a well trodden scree path, although at 2am it is difficult to know how worn the path is, with a descent of the snow covered glacier.
The alpine start is needed to ensure we are safe when we are ascending a rocky bounder field higher up the mountain where loose rocks fall once the ice begins to melt during the midday sun - making accents very dangerous at midday, a race against time to ensure you ascend this section in the morning.
The route was relentlessly up and up as a stand alone volcano - Pico de Orizaba is an impressive Stratovolcano - more of your typical looking volcano.
Pico de Orizaba is approx - South-East of Mexico City and is the highest mountain in Mexico, third highest in North America after Denali of the United States and Mount Logan of Canada. and highest Volcano in North America.
Our summit was Midday - a very emotional summit for the group - breathing at altitude whilst ascending was difficult, with a further 5 hours to descend - a totaling a 15 hour day mountaineering.
Equipment used - crampons, touring-axe, climbing helmets, walking poles.

Area : Mexico

Location

Marker
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