Pico De Orizaba Climbing Season

You've probably heard of the majestic Pico de Orizaba, the highest peak in Mexico. It stands approximately 18,500 feet and towers over the little town of Tlachichuca. Pico de Orizaba draws mountaineers, both beginners and experts, to its summit from all over the world. Not only is the glacial ascent great training, but the lack of required permits and fees make Orizaba a popular destination for novice and expert climbers. The presence of facilities for lodging and dining are also sufficient. There are also available guides to help you on your trek.

Mountain climbing in Pico de Orizaba is not the same as going on vacation and hitting the beaches as soon as you get off the plane. Climbing the mountain and successfully reaching the summit needs a lot of preparation; you need to take the time to plan your trip, get your equipment ready, and book your accommodations. The first thing you need to do is to be aware of the best time for climbing Pico de Orizaba, especially if you're traveling from across the globe.

Experienced travelers and expert mountain climbers profess to say that the best time to climb Pico de Orizaba is between the months of November and March. This is Mexico's dry season and the earlier you climb the mountain, the better your chances for reaching the summit. Many mountaineers flock to Pico de Orizaba during this time so that they can practice high altitude glacier travel, in order to get better at their craft. In fact, Orizaba is a popular training ground for climbers training for Mt. Everest. If you climb Orizaba out of season, the weather becomes quite unpredictable, bringing cold, strong winds. There is also the possibility that crevasses (deep fissures in the glacier) may be opened, making the trip to the summit even more dangerous.

Another timing consideration is during the day of your climb. Most experienced mountaineers (those that have glacier trekking experience and are physically fit) can handle the trek to the summit in 6 to 10 hours and back to their hut in half that time. This is exceptional timing and is usually planned to begin as early as pre-dawn, or what mountaineers call the "alpine start". Though beginners may find the timing a bit inconvenient if you're not used to being up so early. The reason for heading out so early is simple: when the sun comes out, it heats up the ice and snow on the mountain and causes some rocks, ice and snow to fall on unsuspecting climbers. The objective is also to make good time when climbing the mountain so that the team can come back down before nightfall.

The bottom line is this: climbing Pico de Orizaba depends on your capacity and your goals. If the point of climbing Pico de Orizaba is for further training, possibly in strength and endurance against harsh weather conditions, then climbing it even in the wet season is possible as long as you take the necessary precautions. During the peak season however, even beginners can take advantage of the skills of their guides and even learn from the experience of other experienced climbers as they associate with them at base camp or even in the city. It's a good idea to climb the mountain with other mountaineers as the shared experience will leave a lasting impression and create unforgettable memories.