Pico de Orizaba — Local services in Puebla

It was a very nice hike I did with my dog on 31st of March 2024.

Upfront : I recommend you to be a bit in a good shape, since the hike is quite challenging in it's steepness. (It can reach up to 87% of steepness).

[Since there is a lot of garbage, please make sure 1) to not ad any more and 2) to pick some up].

Even though, hiking up I saw a couple of hikers coming down, they told me I was crazy going in shorts and t-shirt and only regular hiking shoes... Indeed they were fully equipped with ice pitons and crampons, hiking sticks and stuff.

However, I started at 6 in the morning at the campsite of Valle de Encuentro. I went without a guide. But my dog.

We managed to be up at the refugio Gomar within 2hours and made it the top for about noon (total 6hours hiking up, and 4h from the refugio).

After the refugio Gomar the hike gets challenging since the ground is very loose, bigger and smaller stones. I found no way being indicated and just went the way I thought was smartest : kept left handed hiking over the big rocks, preventing you to lose grip and sliding.

Arrived on the top, I put on some clothes, bonnet and scarf, wind was blowing ice cold and resting cools your body down. We stayed for almost 2 hours and didn't see any other soul, except an emerald colored hummingbird which was really surprising. We had lunch and waited the clouds to disappear — in vain. However, it was ver quiet and peaceful.

Getting down was very fast, within 40 minutes we went from the Peak to the refugio Gomar, sliding and surfing on the gravel. One more 70 minutes back to the Valle de Encuentro campsite.

The night before was quite peaceful and cold (freezing — had ice on the windshield in the morning).

In the night some people with jeeps showed up and drove around a bit crazy without real purpose and parked the way I had their lights waking me up.

You can light a bonfire and cook on it (will be cheaper and faster than on gas). The guards of the telescope we're shining with bright torch's at us in the night, without...

Viva Mexico! One of the most impactful hikes we've done - the tallest peak in Mexico. Standing tall at 18,491 feet (5,636 meyers) this is a surprisingly accessible hike, i.e. took us ~13 hours (7.5 hours up and 5.5 hours down)

This hike starts at Refugio de Piedra Grande which is just shy of 14k feet altitude - a popular option to get acclimated and rest before the hike up to the summit. This is a public use space (like a dorm), and common to see many groups share this space for cooking meals and rest for the evening.

Gear - You will need crampons and some experience with icy, alpine terrain. At keast half the hike time, around 6-7 hours, is with crampons for the glacier - this is tough on your calves on the way up, and on your knees on the way down. With temperatures dropping to -16C in the night, make sure you have the necessary insulation and multiple layers. Polarized sunglasses essential for when the sun is up, and all the snow reflecting it right back into your eyes.

Hydration - Extremely important to make sure you have 1-2 liters of water, electrolytes or other ways of hydrating. Pro tip: Take a lightweight, insulated bottle with hot water inside, in case you get chilly along the way - I promise you'll fall in love with it, when you need it.

Experience- Magical. You'll see a lot of interesting things along the way, shooting stars, beautiful sunrise, the mountain's shadow as a perfect pyramid, and incredible views from the top, Popocatepetl in the distance, looking down the crater of a volcano. Absolutely beautiful on a clear day, and above the clouds and mystical on other days!!

Overall, this is definitely an intense workout, but certainly very... very rewarding. Listen to your body, respect the mountain and experience this majestic mountain!! Thank you Pico...

One of the most beautiful above-the-clouds volcano mountains. The South Route of Pico de Orizaba does not require a guide or advanced mountaineering skills; however, it is physically very challenging due to the significant elevation gain over a short distance, especially beginning at Refugio Fausto González. From its base at the parking, the ascent to the summit of Pico de Orizaba involves 1,500 meters of elevation gain, which can take about 4 hours for those who are fit.

All of this comes with an out-of-this-world, almost airplane-like view of distant mountains and the majestic Popocatépetl on fire — along with other volcanoes such as La Malinche and the Sierra Negra.

The best period to attempt the climb is during the dry season, around November–December, when there is less snow and clearer skies to enjoy the out-of-this-world views. Outside of this period, there is still not much snow at lower altitudes, making the route generally snow-free until around 5,000 meters. Ice axes are not required; however, crampons are necessary, because near the summit there may be...