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Alaska Airlines has apperntly started a short-term fare war...
LAX - MEX round trip under $370.
IYK - MEX via UAL dropped by nearly $100.
A reminder of the dates: 11/02/12 - 11/12/12 (for those of us who have Veterans' Day off. (It OK if you have to head home on 11/11/12.))
Another reminder is that you need a flight in to MEX that arrives by sometime near 3:00pm. It's a long drive to the first "hut."
Doug suggested that there might be a few more people who are interested in going. The places we're staying allow for as big a group as we want this to be. Express any interest here...
A reminder of the peaks:
- LaMalinche
- Nevado de Toluca
- Pico de Orizaba
- (possibly) a tour of Sierra Negra (slipped up there somewhere)
Cost still to be determined, but last year was approximately $650 with a guide on all three volcanoes.
Those of us with the extra day may try for one more...
Last edited by Richard P.; 01/11/12 06:25 PM. Reason: BTW: if you purchase at Orbitz, they have a price guarantee.
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And if you don't like Ricahrd I'm leading the 2013 Team!
LOL Sorry RP couldn't resist!
Yeti
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#1: We'll turn the fiddle into a violin and let somebody take it down in '13 to play some melancholy music as you start to whine about wanting to go home...
#2: This is Scully who's leading the trip in '13. I'd make sure there is a strong co-ordinator playing second fiddle... to take over when he doesn't show...
Sorry, I couldn't resist either...
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Ha, so #3 make sure whoever is going with Uncle RP has very very thick skin, and maybe some Yeti Hair to go over that thick skin....
BTW Please take good care of my Dad this weekend.
Yeti
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Hey Scully, I'd think you know your Dad better than this by now... He's coming up to make sure I don't hurt myself. My name is Richard The Gimp right now with that recovering left hand, but I'm on an obsessive / compulsive mission right now and he wants to help.
This is why I like the man so much... Always watching out for others.
BTW: you should tell (and I was going to capitalize that) you're wife you're going to get Orizaba out of your system this year, so that you can climb it with your Father.
Last edited by Richard P.; 01/12/12 01:15 AM.
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Scully is pulling a Scully in '13...
If you have any interest, we've got a few people heading down for 11/03/12 - 11/11/12 and have room for more.
I've lost track of who-all was originally interested, so grab my e-mail from my profile if you don't remember it and let me know please.
Peaks are:
Nevado de Toluca (Summit Ridge Traverse, for some, hopefully)
La Malinche
Sierra Negra (Astronomical Observatory, so it's a drive-up to 15k'+)
Pico de Orizaba.
We're (I'm) skipping Izta this year because I've had enough of it, but I'm not a dictator (and can force myself to do it again if need be), so if most of the group wants it on the schedule, we can add it and subtract Malinche and Sierra Negra.
I'm still working the schedule with OMG (Oso - The Bear in English). As soon as I have it finalized, I'll publish it.
Cost for nine days (including all meals on the volcanoes): $680. This will drop some if we get more people, but may increase some if a climbing guide is needed. (Oso and I will make that decision.)
The only other detail that has to be met is that you must arrive in Mexico City by around 3:00pm on 11/03/12. It is a long drive to Toluca... Last year we had the most outstanding sunset as we drove up to the villa where we stayed. Don't want to miss that!
Heard SMI isn't going to be down there this year... will miss seeing KW and the rest of his crew.
IMG is going down the following week.
Last edited by Richard P.; 08/09/12 02:33 AM. Reason: BTW: I booked a flight on Volaris today for $310.
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Richard if there is still space on this trip I would love to join you guys. Let me know..
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Bring Tracy too.
I've got some "plans" that we'll have to talk about... one involves a modified double.
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Here's the schedule as of now (meaning subject to change):
Day 1 (nov 3) Arrive in Mexico city, drive to Nevado de Toluca cabin
Day 2 (nov 4) Toluca summit day!! and Nevado de Toluca cabin
Day 3 (nov 5) Sightseeing and transfer to Malinche cabins, dinner.
Day 4 (nov 6) Malinche summit day!! and transfer to Tlachichuca. Hotel and dinner.
Day 5 (nov 7) Breakfast and transfer to Sierra Negra trip. Hotel and dinner.
Day 6 (nov 8) Transfer to Piedra Grande hut.
Day 7 (nov 9) Orizaba summit day!! return to Tlachichuca, Hotel and dinner.
Day 8 (nov 10) Transfer to Teotihuacan Pyramids and later Mexico city to Hotel Maria Cristina..
Day 9 (nov 11) Go home
Last edited by Richard P.; 08/09/12 05:51 PM. Reason: Added the Schedule as of now...
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Okay we are working on her pass port now .. Modified double ????? Send me an e-mail explaining .. We are headed back down Sunday night for a midnight try for our goal finishing on Monday , Maybe we need to hold off?????? Let me know ...
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Not Whitney... down there.
I'll PM you.
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Richard, thanks for the invitation to join the Mexico team, but you guys who stay permanently acclimatized will hit the slopes running, arriving in Mexico City one day, summitting 15k the next. It would take me a few days to ramp up, coming from sea level about the most aggressive thing I have ever done on day one is Minaret Summit to Two Teats and back
Do I understand that all these are going to be day trips, no tents? I assume lightweight strap on crampons and not heavy cumbersome double boots and step-ins?. I still don't have full quad recovery yet so this would be a factor. My "speed" up and down is about the same. You can see I am still considering, but must be realistic. Harvey
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Doc, the list of peaks has been set so that those who want to tag multiple Volcanoes over the week can, but the primary purpose is to aid the acclimatization process. (Although Malinche after Toluca is a little bit odd - we're doing that because of the transportation logistics.)
What Oso calls the cabin at Toluca is actually a huge Villa with a central fireplace that was just outstanding for hanging out and getting to know each other better. It's at 12K+, so that could be a tough first night. (None of us had any issues last year and everybody had a great time getting to the summit of Toluca.)
La Malinche is one of Mexico's Olympic Training Centers and has very nice accomodations. One of the reasons I put it back on the list this year is that it is just too cool seeing Olympic caliber athletes motoring up and down Malinche. It is a tough downclimb, so I might recommend that you pass on this one to preserve the knee.
At Tlachichuca, we will be staying in a motel that is fairly nice. Meals will be with Maribel (She and her husband run another Orizaba Guiding company and provide the 4WDs that we'll use to get up to the Piedra Grande Hut.) She and her assistants are outstanding cooks.
Yes, all 3 of the climbs (Sierra Negra is a drive-up at 15K+.) will be day-climbs. The reason I like to do it this way is that my first trip up Orizaba, I spent 3 days at the hut and was way more than ready to get away from it. With the acclimatization that we get (plus a little help from Diamox) during the week, it is fairly easy to get up Orizaba in a reasonable amount of time.
BTW: if you (or anybody else who participates) would prefer to stay at the 16K' camp, I can talk to Oso and get it planned.
Oso is one of the most respected Mountaineers in Mexico and he and his staff rank up there with the best in the world at making expeditions enjoyable. One of the great highlights of last year was getting a summit photo with him on top of Orizaba.
Seriously, please do come along.
Edit (Adding gear answers): Two years ago, Rick Graham never pulled his axe off of his pack. Last year, I didn't either.
I also probably would have done Orizaba with MicroSpikes, but like listening to KW tell me to put a helmet on, I listened to Oso when he said "Crampons on." Light aluminum ones.
I got away with wearing the HiTec Altitudes with a VBL last year even though it was colder than any of the previous climbs I had done down there. Most of the climbers were wearing insulated leather, some with plastics.
Last edited by Richard P.; 08/15/12 04:59 PM. Reason: Added gear comments.
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Hi Harvey - I think you should go. It is a wonderful trip and Oso takes such good care of his clients and sets a reasonable pace for the summit. Orizaba truly is his mountain, like Baldy is Shin's. I did not get in a lot of altitude before I went last year and had no issues - low dosage Diamox a few days before and stopped taking it when I got to Mexico. The scenery is beautiful, the people you will meet are all fantastic. I would go again this year if I could get the time off of work.  I had my regular, insulated leather boots on (yes my feet were cold but just on Orizaba). None of these hikes are longer in length than the Whitney main trail. PS Thank you for the wonderful TR of your post-knee surgery trip. I and so many of my friends have knee problems, and it's an inspiration to read of your success and determination.
Last edited by Tracie B; 08/15/12 08:45 PM. Reason: Harvey's story
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Thanks Richard, this helps. Tracie I appreciate the kind words.
When we went to Orizaba in 1997 I think my leather Montagna boots weigjed 6 lbs each. Ugh . I have not used my plastic doubles since 2004 in New Zealand. Whitney round trip last week was about 17 hrs actual hiking time, although part of it was with 26 lb pack because of one nighter. I have to be realistic about my age 61,slowness and the others in the group. Won't everyone else be blazing faster?
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No.
We're purposely staying at the Toluca villa a second night so that there is no defined turn-around time for the climb. I would like to do the Summits Traverse, so obviously, I'll want to move a little faster on Toluca. You can pick who you want to climb with and I'm sure Oso will be "sweeping" at the tail end to make sure no one gets left behind.
Because there really isn't any terrain that a skilled mountaineer can't handle un-roped on any of these mountains, others can go at their own pace if the choose to. (The option to rope up for Orizaba will be there though and if some decide they would prefer a rope, Oso will probably be the lead on the rope and I'll be un-roped as the sweeper behind.)
You were doing way better than 1 mph... we did about .6 mph up the MR on Saturday.
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Getting very close to a yes decision
email sent to you Richard.
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Doc, there aren't very many non-climbing days when I do this twice in-a-day:
WooooooooooHooooooooooooo!!!!!
Although I might head up for a THREE-PEAT of Five Fingers this afternoon to celebrate Jim's accomplishment! Now, that's a 3x that I can handle (I hope) No sweat.
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Richard, thanks for your call.
Count me in.
I'll bring up the rear with old guys like Doug. hahahahaha
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Glad to hear it.
We've got you, Doug, Davey, Tracy and myself confirmed so far.
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