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Just got back from a great trip to Mexico's Volcanoes. We paralleled our friends Richard and Rick for some of the trip and managed to share the summit of Orizaba together on a clear, warm, and windless day. Rick was kind enough to take a few summit photos of my group. Congratulations on a couple of great climbs guys!  Group summit photo. These guys did a great job. Many had not been this high before. Not only did they climb Orizaba and Iztaccihuatl in great style they raised over $40,000 for Big City Mountaineers.  Summit of Orizaba November 12, 2010. Left to right: Richard Piotrowski, Kurt Wedberg, Rick Graham
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Hey Kurt, Just wanted to throw out a BIG THANK YOU to you for the things you did for Rick and I to make our trip that much better!
I'll have a little more to say in a few days... (or better yet, maybe Rick the ex High Altitude Rookie, will prepare a TR.) I shot nearly 20GB of photos, many of which will need some Photoshop to make them viewable. (Hypoxia seems to make working the controls on a big camera a little more difficult. Disappointed at how poorly the 7D works on full auto.)
For the moment, I can't believe how fatigued I feel since arriving home.
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Hi Kurt,Richard,and Rick,
Congratulations!!
Richard,
Are you making an excuse to buy a new camera?
Looking forward to your photo album.
Shin
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Hola WPSMB, This one’s for GigaMike   Everything went very smoothly and we tagged all 3 volcanoes as we had planned. Big big thanks to RichardP for organizing this great trip.  Thanks to Roberto “El Oso” Flores, Luis, and Maribel for making our stay in Mexico extra enjoyable and handling the all the driving thru-out Mexico…..Ah Ya Ya  Special thanks to Miguel Cortes (the excellent host at the Izta hut) for giving us superb beta on all the Mexican volcanoes and extra insight on the local culture. Last, but not least, big thanks to Kurt for sharing some outstanding grub with us and sharing his experiences with us to make our little Mexico adventure extra special. I’m still adding captions and uploading photos of the pyramids and Mexico City, but here’s some photos for the time being…… La Malinche photos http://grahamcracker.smugmug.com/2010/Mexico-Volcanoes-Nov-6-14-2010/14671311_48czo#1092154434_syQ9dIzta photos http://grahamcracker.smugmug.com/2010/Mexico-Izta-Nov-8-10/14674756_Zksnt#1092585031_q8Zc6Orizaba photos (hey Richard, your SPOT track indicates that we didn’t hit the actual Orizaba summit…..looks like we’ll have to go back to correct that  ) http://grahamcracker.smugmug.com/2010/Mexico-Orizaba-Nov-11-12/14677771_f78XQ#1092768594_cuGekCheers, RickG ps, I’d highly recommend this trip to anyone wanting to get a new high point or just enjoy some spectacular scenery up on the Mexican Volcanoes…it’s all muy bueno! pps, yeah Richard, I’m also extra tried today even after sleeping for most of Monday. Any attempt at a TR will take a few day…..at least.
Last edited by graham; 11/16/10 04:23 PM.
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Orizaba photos (hey Richard, your SPOT track indicates that we didn’t hit the actual Orizaba summit…..looks like we’ll have to go back to correct that ) I don't own a SPOT but maybe there is a way to correct Richard's SPOT. Would be a bit easier...  Congrats, Rick & Richard! And Kurt & team! Awesome pix. I didn't know Orizaba had such a beautiful ridge. I look forward to seeing it myself.
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Hypoxia seems to make working the controls on a big camera a little more difficult. Richard, Kurt and all - I am glad you guys had great time. Thanks for the postings. Congratulations. Richard, " Dull Brains" at high altitude is an interest of mine. Since the Orizaba summit altitude is very similar to the upper Khumbu and base camp Everest, here is a quote from a famous 1952 Swiss climber about "dull brains". " I do not know if the brain can acclimatize itself, but I had the feeling that it would be a mistake to organize a chess tournament on the Khumbu." Rene Dittert, Forerunners to Everest, page 80
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looks awesome, i'm already signed up for november 2011! so far! but looks like it will be worth the wait!
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Orizaba photos (hey Richard, your SPOT track indicates that we didn’t hit the actual Orizaba summit…..looks like we’ll have to go back to correct that ) I don't own a SPOT but maybe there is a way to correct Richard's SPOT. Would be a bit easier... Congrats, Rick & Richard! And Kurt & team! Awesome pix. I didn't know Orizaba had such a beautiful ridge. I look forward to seeing it myself. Thanks everybody. I think what RG was hinting at is that we (me) may do this as an annual thing (Two in a row make a tradition, right? Three would confirm it.) (And the convenience of this trip makes a trip to Nepal (which is what I'd really like to do next autumn) seem like one of the hardest things ever.) If we stick to a similar schedule (although I'd like to keep it to two peaks next year), we can get Orizaba on 11/11/11! Details will probably not be known for a few months, but if anybody else (MC?) is interested, post a reply. I'll be posting a few of my RG favorites from the trip this evening. I don't know that the whole album will ever see the light of day (a monitor).
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I like the photos...Richard and Graham and also Kurt & Team - congratulations.
I would be interested in a trek to those volcanos....11 11 11
Tracie
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Yes, congratulations to everyone! Looks like a great time had by all. Enjoyed seeing all your pics and reading your posts.
Richard, I'm surprised to hear you say you'll go back, but can try and understand the Nepal dilemma. If you do go back I'd love to join you in your "tradition". Count me in.
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Hi Looks like another great trip! I could make it to hut 19 if it stays at that angle . I had planned to join the Baldy hike on Friday but meeting with the New Inyo District Ranger and the Mount Whitney District Ranger , on the agenda is SAR's and parking and general overview of the Portal. Have a great hike Thanks Doug
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 It's got a gate like Baldy... After sleeping at 9800' on day 1 RG felt no effects of the altitude...  At 14,600' on day 2 and he still wasn't feeling any ill effects...  It's crowded just like Baldy. Part of the planning was to try and climb La Malinche on a weekend day. Boy, did we get our wish! In addition to the many Mexican mountaineers who love to climb this mountain, this was the day the Sky Race happened, and there were 500 to 600 participants along with plenty of spectators. The winner finished in 2:00. The record is 1:30. RG and I climbed it in 3:00 and completed the round-trip in around 5:00 at a leisurely pace. An excellent way to start the trip!  Popo in front of Popo. We spent two days climbing and descending Ixta with this black dog that RG named after the volcano on the other side of the valley. This photo was taken while we were returning to the hut after an acclimatization hike to 15,700'. RG was still feeling no ill effects on day 3.  RG on the lady's belly.  RG on the summit of Ixta. 17,200' and still no ill effects on day 4. I was having minor stomach problems.
We climbed Ixta in about 7 hours with a one hour break at Hut 19, waiting for sunlight. We finished the round-trip in a little over twelve hours.  The only photo of mine that I've found that shows "The Bear". Roberto Flores Rodriguez, aka Oso, did all of the logistics planning and implementation for us. I can't say enough about how smooth things worked for us. Thinking of nothing but putting one foot in front of the other is a lot easier when you don't have to worry about all the other things that need to happen on a trip like this.
A few comments about the choice: You won't go wrong using Sierra Mountaineering International, Servimont, Summit Orizaba, or Orizaba Mountain Guides. The choice of OMG was made because Oso's was the only agency in Mexico that was willing to handle all of the logistics. One company recommended that we do the driving ourselves and another refused to make arrangements other that at their own compound.  Miguel between RG and I. Talk about forming a friendship instantly. Hanging out with Miguel was COOL!  Pre-dawn climbing on Orizaba.  RG on Orizaba's crater rim. [img] http://piotrowski.smugmug.com/photos/1093994011_iuQL2-M.jpg[/img] RG on the summit of Orizaba. 18,400'+ and he finally complained of a bit of a queasy stomach. One amazing performance Rick! [img] http://piotrowski.smugmug.com/photos/1093995312_NJ8Qa-M.jpg[/img] RG on the summit of Orizaba with the "pyramid shadow" in the background. We had a really good day on Orizaba. Sub-five to the summit, around two hours on the summit and about two-and-a-half down. We were back in town by 1:30 in the afternoon.
For reference, see the photo below from last year. The second wish in planning this trip was that Orizaba would have more snow at this earlier time of year. Mission Accomplished! and then some. The cross was under the snow on the summit. Kurt said this is the best that he can remember. [img] http://piotrowski.smugmug.com/Internatio...078_vPb58-M.jpg[/img] RG, glad you came along on this trip. Outstanding performance and it was fun chasing you around for a week of volcano climbing. Kurt, thanks again for your hospitality and advice. Miguel, we'll meet again and do some trekking/climbing together. You made the stay at Ixta a lot more fun than it would have been. Maribel, thanks for taking care of us before and after our climb of Orizaba. We'll meet again, I'm sure. Oso, you've got a customer for life. Thanks for making the climbing seem so easy. Looking forward to taking it down a notch, or two, next year...
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Richard, Rick, that sure looks to be a great adventure and gorgeous climbing! Richard, that's 2X for you for Orizaba, right? Now that you've got the connections in-country, should we be looking for triple digits in the future?  Congratulations R&R!
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Thanks RP. Can I “borrow” that summit shot of me WoHooing on Orizaba? I need a good obit shot Here’s Richard and Roberto “El Oso” Flores In the cabin before our hike up La Malinche  The stomach queasiness subsided once the ham&cheese sammie kicked in....the Cheetos & Coke also helped  Orizaba summit Nov-2009 sans snow (RP's photo)  Orizaba summit Nov-2010 under about 8 feet of new snow (you can see the tip of the summit cross) It had snowed ~Nov3 when Topical Storm “Richard” (no kidding, "Richard") came thru from the Gulf of Mexico  Here's Richard classic Orizaba summit shot 
Last edited by graham; 11/18/10 05:45 PM.
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That is good stuff Love the photos. I'd really like to try to do those volcanoes.
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Rick, I'll send you a copy of the original (along with any other you may want). I should have an album put together some time tonight.
BTW, you wouldn't happen to have a close-up photo of the Grubby Griengo? (I'd hate to thing I put up with the good luck beard for nearly two weeks with no documentation of it.)
BTW II, you've got some nice shots in your albums.
BTW III, it looks like we've got at least three for next year. I'm going to work Shin over this weekend. He'll probably have the flight booked by Sunday. That would make quatro.
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Details will probably not be known for a few months, but if anybody else (MC?) is interested, post a reply. BTW III, it looks like we've got at least three for next year. I'm going to work Shin over this weekend. He'll probably have the flight booked by Sunday. That would make quatro. Cinco.
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