Mexico Volcanoes

December 8-17, 2000

You'll notice there are no summit shots on Orizaba. I got altitude sickness and had to come down. Attempted to go too high too fast. In retrospect it probably wasn't a good idea to come from sea-level and be sleeping at 13,000 ft on our second night in Mexico, especially for an old guy like me. Nonetheless, it was a great adventure. I still reached a personal altitude high. We got to see a volcano erupt (Popo). Met some great people; both Mexicans and climbers from all over the map. I climbed with Doug Barnes, from Tennessee, who I hooked up with through the Internet and he proved to be a great traveling companion and friend.

Doug on trail to La Malinche in La Malintzi National Park

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Doug at treeline (about 13,000 ft) with La Malinche in background

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Doug on summit of La Malinche, 14,640 ft with Pico de Orizaba in backround

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Me on summit of La Malinche with Popocatépetl, 17,887 ft (left) and Iztaccihuatl, 17,342 ft (right) in backround

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Town plaza in Tlachichuca

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Tlachichuca scene

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Tlachichuca right outside Senor Reyes compound

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Pico de Orizaba (also known as Citlaltépetl), 18,406 ft, from Hidalgo

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Piedre Grande base camp on Orizaba

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Piedre Grande hut from the top of the aquaduct

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Doug and Josh pose at Piedra Grande

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