To bad my partner was sooooo sick... not enough chile sauce to kill those nasty bacteria I assume !
Great sunset over the valley and terrific views of Popocatepetl
tombcronin - Jan 14, 2008 6:11 pm Date Climbed: Jan 4, 2008
Up and Down
Great climb but be prepared for two down sections before the final summit. Only needed crampons. Didn't need axe or rope.
I climbed Ixta via the Ayoloco Glacier in 2004. We carried our bivy gear up and descended the standard route. There was a fantastic taco stand at the base too.
devnull4 - Jan 10, 2008 2:01 pm Date Climbed: Jan 19, 2007
Which is the summit?
Amazing climb - and long. And which was the summit point? We went to three different points that were all the same elevation!
Kenneth.alone - Jan 3, 2008 9:26 pm Date Climbed: Jan 15, 2007
Smoke and sulfer
I had beautiful day on the mountain after four awful days of wind and snow. The wind shifted and i got hit with Popo's smoke and sulfer, almost puked for an hour straight.
Walked to all "three" summits just to be sure!
MountainHikerCO - Dec 29, 2007 10:04 pm Date Climbed: Jan 27, 1994
La Arista del Sol
My reasoning on doing Izta instead of Popo was: it would be easier to find someone to go to Mexico again to climb Popo! Of course I didn't know Popo was going to become active again later that year. Hopefully Popo will settle down while I'm still young enough to climb it. In the meantime I will do Izta again!
bighornmonkey - Dec 25, 2007 9:18 am Date Climbed: Nov 25, 2006
Done...
Nice climb... we climbed in 3 days then went to Orizaba for a 2fer. Great weather and awesome views of smoking Popocatepetl.
Moogie737 - Dec 12, 2007 1:20 pm Date Climbed: Dec 4, 2007
La Joya TH
With ten others members of the Orem, UT, Serac Mountaineering Club, reached the wind-swept summit on a day of hard-core winds, unrelenting and sometimes vicious. Still, the experience was enjoyable in spite of a fall on the trail by one member during the ascent and one individual getting lost on the descent. By eleven p.m. all were back, safe and sound. We had camped at the "hut" and everyone was at the summit in less than 4 hours. This was our acclimatization hike for the attempt later in the week on Orizaba. We all reached the summit of Orizaba two days later.
Great climb with my buddy Frank:) We were dropped off by a cab and starting hiking immediately. We ended up setting up camp around 13,500+ feet. Moved camp the following day to 15,000ft and the hut. We only saw one other guy on the route - which was really nice. The following morning we went for the summit and only met one guided group on the top from Cali (small world)! Then hiked all the way out and were lucky enough to find a VERY nice younger couple to give us a ride out:)
Shirley Lam - Jul 26, 2007 4:17 pm Date Climbed: Nov 25, 2006
I was surprised...
by how many locals just walk up this thing as if it were a bump in the road! Although it's crowded on the weekend, the bonus is the lady selling beer and tacos at the trailhead...
tlogan - May 21, 2007 2:28 pm Date Climbed: May 20, 2007
Aritsa del Sol
Had another enjoyable climb of Izta... as always my luch held out and the weather was god despite the season. I had forgotten both how heavy a climb this was, and how enjoyable... an incredible mountain to say the least with plenty to offer in terms of mountain experiences.
doumall - Apr 5, 2007 6:14 pm Date Climbed: Mar 31, 2007
Visually Simulating Scree Slog
A stark contrast to Orizaba in terms of terrain. 24 hours on the mountain with my girl Debbie. Tent camped 100m up the trail from La Joya on a bench amidst grazing cattle. 3:15am to 8:10am summit the next morning. Delicious $1 tacos from a stall at La Joya after the climb were priceless. Glacier is dying; no technical gear was required in the conditions we found. We never even took our axes off or our crampons out of our packs. A brief class 3 scramble was enjoyable and seemed unavoidable. Orizaba, Teotihuacan and Mexico City urban and historic districts were also part of this trip.
shanahan96 - Apr 3, 2007 1:03 am Date Climbed: Mar 27, 2007
first high mountain
this was an incredible experience! jamie nellis and i spent three days climbing this wonder for acclimization purposes, and every moment of it will be stored in my mind for a very long time.
climb iztaccihuatl when she's covered in snow, the scree wasn't too pleasant to say the least.
jamie
Mescalito345 - Mar 11, 2007 1:24 am Date Climbed: Dec 27, 2006
Arista del Sol
On December 27, we woke up early and attempted a day-hike to the Ixta summit. It was a very interesting climb involving rock scrambling, cramponing, hiking up steep scree slopes, etc. Class 3 rock scrambling seemed strange while wearing plastic boots at an elevation of around 16,000 feet. After reaching a false summit in mid-morning, we looked down on the "belly glacier". We stopped to put on crampons and headed across the glacier. After crossing the glacier, we took off our crampons and made the final push to the summit (17,300 feet).
From the summit, we took some pictures of Popocatepetl (17,900 feet) erupting. Popo has been off-limits for several years due to its frequent eruptions.
1mvertical - Jan 22, 2007 7:20 pm Date Climbed: Jan 19, 2007
La Arista del Sol
Climbed in a day from La Joya after tons of acclimatization on Orizaba. We did the same thing weeds19 did, tagging at least 4 high points. GPS showed same altitude +/- 2 meters on all high points. This was a long day...
weeds19 - Jan 11, 2007 7:16 am Date Climbed: Dec 31, 2006
Ayoloco Glacier
We came in from La Joya carrying many liters of water and spent a night at the Ayoloco Hut before attempting the climb. We awoke in the morning to a cloud-obscured route and decided to sleep a little longer. After another hour the clouds lifted and we headed out and up onto the Ayoloco Glacier and perfect snow conditions. A couple hours later we had navigated to the three summit areas and felt satisfied that we had stood on the highest ground!
Dave S - Jan 8, 2007 7:57 pm Date Climbed: Dec 31, 2006
Ayoloco Glacier
Great way to spend New Year's Eve! Spent the night prior at the Ayoloco Hut, climbed the glacier then joined La Arista del Sol to the summit. Spent another night in the hut (and witnessed the fireworks all across Mexico City at midnight for the New Year's celebration) and then hiked out on New Year's day for some great tacos in La Joya while waiting for our ride:)
Sharon - Dec 22, 2006 4:08 am Date Climbed: Feb 6, 1990
Arista del Sol
Steve & Craig went on to summit while I was stuck at 14,436 ft/4400m with AMS. Blech! But-- the view was spectacular from the saddle we camped at: hut #3, summit, Popo, Amecameca, Puebla, Orizaba. Mexico City's lights filled the entire valley at night: major boulevards identifiable. No rope taken or needed. Crampons not used. Huts filthy.
A great warm-up for Orizaba. I thought this one was harder with all the false summits. Make sure you get a good deal on the taxi ride up there, we payed the equivalent of 20 bucks for all four of us.
Fabrice.Rimlinger - Jan 15, 2008 6:39 am Date Climbed: Jan 3, 2008
La joyaTo bad my partner was sooooo sick... not enough chile sauce to kill those nasty bacteria I assume !
Great sunset over the valley and terrific views of Popocatepetl
tombcronin - Jan 14, 2008 6:11 pm Date Climbed: Jan 4, 2008
Up and DownGreat climb but be prepared for two down sections before the final summit. Only needed crampons. Didn't need axe or rope.
utclimber - Jan 12, 2008 7:38 pm
Ayoloco GlacierI climbed Ixta via the Ayoloco Glacier in 2004. We carried our bivy gear up and descended the standard route. There was a fantastic taco stand at the base too.
devnull4 - Jan 10, 2008 2:01 pm Date Climbed: Jan 19, 2007
Which is the summit?Amazing climb - and long. And which was the summit point? We went to three different points that were all the same elevation!
Kenneth.alone - Jan 3, 2008 9:26 pm Date Climbed: Jan 15, 2007
Smoke and sulferI had beautiful day on the mountain after four awful days of wind and snow. The wind shifted and i got hit with Popo's smoke and sulfer, almost puked for an hour straight.
Walked to all "three" summits just to be sure!
MountainHikerCO - Dec 29, 2007 10:04 pm Date Climbed: Jan 27, 1994
La Arista del SolMy reasoning on doing Izta instead of Popo was: it would be easier to find someone to go to Mexico again to climb Popo! Of course I didn't know Popo was going to become active again later that year. Hopefully Popo will settle down while I'm still young enough to climb it. In the meantime I will do Izta again!
bighornmonkey - Dec 25, 2007 9:18 am Date Climbed: Nov 25, 2006
Done...Nice climb... we climbed in 3 days then went to Orizaba for a 2fer. Great weather and awesome views of smoking Popocatepetl.
Moogie737 - Dec 12, 2007 1:20 pm Date Climbed: Dec 4, 2007
La Joya THWith ten others members of the Orem, UT, Serac Mountaineering Club, reached the wind-swept summit on a day of hard-core winds, unrelenting and sometimes vicious. Still, the experience was enjoyable in spite of a fall on the trail by one member during the ascent and one individual getting lost on the descent. By eleven p.m. all were back, safe and sound. We had camped at the "hut" and everyone was at the summit in less than 4 hours. This was our acclimatization hike for the attempt later in the week on Orizaba. We all reached the summit of Orizaba two days later.
Sara_Matisse - Aug 11, 2007 11:14 am
Ayoloco GlacierGreat climb with my buddy Frank:) We were dropped off by a cab and starting hiking immediately. We ended up setting up camp around 13,500+ feet. Moved camp the following day to 15,000ft and the hut. We only saw one other guy on the route - which was really nice. The following morning we went for the summit and only met one guided group on the top from Cali (small world)! Then hiked all the way out and were lucky enough to find a VERY nice younger couple to give us a ride out:)
Shirley Lam - Jul 26, 2007 4:17 pm Date Climbed: Nov 25, 2006
I was surprised...by how many locals just walk up this thing as if it were a bump in the road! Although it's crowded on the weekend, the bonus is the lady selling beer and tacos at the trailhead...
ahaass - Jul 23, 2007 10:15 pm
ahaassGreat experience! Fantastic Weather.
tlogan - May 21, 2007 2:28 pm Date Climbed: May 20, 2007
Aritsa del SolHad another enjoyable climb of Izta... as always my luch held out and the weather was god despite the season. I had forgotten both how heavy a climb this was, and how enjoyable... an incredible mountain to say the least with plenty to offer in terms of mountain experiences.
doumall - Apr 5, 2007 6:14 pm Date Climbed: Mar 31, 2007
Visually Simulating Scree SlogA stark contrast to Orizaba in terms of terrain. 24 hours on the mountain with my girl Debbie. Tent camped 100m up the trail from La Joya on a bench amidst grazing cattle. 3:15am to 8:10am summit the next morning. Delicious $1 tacos from a stall at La Joya after the climb were priceless. Glacier is dying; no technical gear was required in the conditions we found. We never even took our axes off or our crampons out of our packs. A brief class 3 scramble was enjoyable and seemed unavoidable. Orizaba, Teotihuacan and Mexico City urban and historic districts were also part of this trip.
shanahan96 - Apr 3, 2007 1:03 am Date Climbed: Mar 27, 2007
first high mountainthis was an incredible experience! jamie nellis and i spent three days climbing this wonder for acclimization purposes, and every moment of it will be stored in my mind for a very long time.
climb iztaccihuatl when she's covered in snow, the scree wasn't too pleasant to say the least.
jamie
Mescalito345 - Mar 11, 2007 1:24 am Date Climbed: Dec 27, 2006
Arista del SolOn December 27, we woke up early and attempted a day-hike to the Ixta summit. It was a very interesting climb involving rock scrambling, cramponing, hiking up steep scree slopes, etc. Class 3 rock scrambling seemed strange while wearing plastic boots at an elevation of around 16,000 feet. After reaching a false summit in mid-morning, we looked down on the "belly glacier". We stopped to put on crampons and headed across the glacier. After crossing the glacier, we took off our crampons and made the final push to the summit (17,300 feet).
From the summit, we took some pictures of Popocatepetl (17,900 feet) erupting. Popo has been off-limits for several years due to its frequent eruptions.
Here are some pictures from the trip:
http://pkuroda.smugmug.com/gallery/2320804#12137853
1mvertical - Jan 22, 2007 7:20 pm Date Climbed: Jan 19, 2007
La Arista del SolClimbed in a day from La Joya after tons of acclimatization on Orizaba. We did the same thing weeds19 did, tagging at least 4 high points. GPS showed same altitude +/- 2 meters on all high points. This was a long day...
weeds19 - Jan 11, 2007 7:16 am Date Climbed: Dec 31, 2006
Ayoloco GlacierWe came in from La Joya carrying many liters of water and spent a night at the Ayoloco Hut before attempting the climb. We awoke in the morning to a cloud-obscured route and decided to sleep a little longer. After another hour the clouds lifted and we headed out and up onto the Ayoloco Glacier and perfect snow conditions. A couple hours later we had navigated to the three summit areas and felt satisfied that we had stood on the highest ground!
Dave S - Jan 8, 2007 7:57 pm Date Climbed: Dec 31, 2006
Ayoloco GlacierGreat way to spend New Year's Eve! Spent the night prior at the Ayoloco Hut, climbed the glacier then joined La Arista del Sol to the summit. Spent another night in the hut (and witnessed the fireworks all across Mexico City at midnight for the New Year's celebration) and then hiked out on New Year's day for some great tacos in La Joya while waiting for our ride:)
Sharon - Dec 22, 2006 4:08 am Date Climbed: Feb 6, 1990
Arista del SolSteve & Craig went on to summit while I was stuck at 14,436 ft/4400m with AMS. Blech! But-- the view was spectacular from the saddle we camped at: hut #3, summit, Popo, Amecameca, Puebla, Orizaba. Mexico City's lights filled the entire valley at night: major boulevards identifiable. No rope taken or needed. Crampons not used. Huts filthy.
Partners: Steve Reynolds, Craig Grossman
renogurt - Oct 5, 2006 2:02 am
HelloA great warm-up for Orizaba. I thought this one was harder with all the false summits. Make sure you get a good deal on the taxi ride up there, we payed the equivalent of 20 bucks for all four of us.