This was a long day. We were told that the Arista route could be done in one long day. So we arrived at 8:30 am and tried to ascend via Ayoloco and the back via Arista. One of our partners bailed at the Ayocolo hut, we continued and finnally summited around 4pm. The glacier is very small, maybe 150m at most, and not very steep either (40-45 Degrees). It was very cloudy and hard to see the route along the ridge, so we decended the Ayoloco and were back at the trailhead around 9pm. We though we were stuck but luckily a truck was leaving the area and we hitched a ride back to Amecameca.
Route Climbed: Arista del Sol Date Climbed: 23 Mar 2005
Got a ride in a taxi up to La Joya from Ameca and stayed the night. Next day packed everything I had up to the hut in 2.5 hrs and then went on to the summit in another 2. Stayed the night at the hut to acclimatise better and headed on out to Tlachichuca. It was pretty windy up top, but very little snow and I never had to use crampons.
Route Climbed: La Arista del Sol Date Climbed: March 2004
Good climb. Had to hike out to Paso de Cortez because our taxi driver said it would a lot more to come pick us up at the end of the climb. So we told him not to pick us up, hiked out, and got a free ride down to Amecameca.
Route Climbed: La Arista del Sol Date Climbed: February the 6th, 2005.
Went from Altzomoni to the Grupo de los Cien refuge on our first day. The big packs made the hike anything but a joke. The hut was packed, so the area around ended looking like a tent jamboree. Second day was Saturday night, complete with a group of drunks singing (they didn'have good voices, and they didn't know the song's lyrics), firing fireckrackers, and a storm howling and pumping dust inside he sleeping bags, tents, cloths, etc. The morning brought some ice, freezing rain, fog and more wind. Out of the probably 100 or 120 climbers, only six of use made a bid for the summit. Made it to the Knee (5000 meters), and decided no to risk it no more. The conditions were horrible, it was a white-out, and it was very cold. I am very pleased with having reached my first 5000 meters elevation. Pico de Orizaba was waiting for me in only two more days.
Route Climbed: Normal - Arista del Sol Date Climbed: December 11, 2004
Beautiful weather, long trek. Amazing views of Popo.
Stayed at Altzomoni hut (very nice - must get keys at Paseo de Cortes).
Ayoloco hut still around. Republica de Chile hut does not exist. If climbing normal route, only option is Albuge de los Cien which is a tin covered structure which is overcrowded and dirty. Many camp but the entire area is a mess. don't expect to sleep inside the hut. better options are camping before the hut or up at the feet.
You must bring all your water with you making the first part of the climb a bit tough. I was planning on a 2 day tour (1st day from Altzomoni to Albuge de los Cien and then summit next day) and carried up 9 litres of water plus other food and gear. Ended up summitting in one day but was glad for the water anyway. I found some trustworthy locals to watch my big pack while I hit the summit. Otherwise, leaving behind gear can mean trouble especially on a weekend.
Compliments to a local climber, the original "pecho" summit is down off the first summit (with larger cross and other markings) across another glacier valley and the closest you can get to the "head". There is a smaller, cross here which may be snow covered. It is only about 10 - 15 minutes more but well worth it. From here you can see the ice wall route from the "head". Both "pecho" summits are after the Pico de la luna and Pico del Sol.
Locals report that climbing the "head" is suspect due to robberies, etc. starting the climb from San Rafael as that area of the national forest is not guarded.
Route Climbed: La Arista del Sol Date Climbed: October-23-2004
I finally reached the elusive summit of Izta on my third attempt, this time with gorgeous weather. Snow was present from just below the knees all the way to the summit and it was in good condition. We had great views of Popo, Orizaba, Malinche and Nevado de Toluca.
Route Climbed: Arista del Sol Date Climbed: Oct. 17 2004
Beautiful day... slept a grand total of 0 hours the night before... with 75 camped in and around the hut we were woefully unprepared and paid for it dearly.
The next morning while fighting exhaustion, diarrhea and stomach cramps we left at 4:30 and I somehow made it up to the rodillas in an hour and a half and from there on was relatively smooth sailing... a beautiful day, beautiful mountain and a marvelous sunrise... even Popo gave a little hiccup.
The snow was very firm, styrofoamy and was easy to work up and down in... though you could tell I was one of the few who felt that way... one of the advantages to living in a wintery haven for most of my life I suppose...
I truly love this mountain it offers so much to the eye and for an alpine experience... Orizaba is more one dimensional... simply up and up and up.. Izta has it all!
Route Climbed: Ayoloco Glacier Date Climbed: February 19, 2004
Left the Ayoloco Hut at 3:30 am and summitted at 7:15 am. Beautiful Day. The glacier was in terrible condition so we mainly stayed to the left through many gulleys and rock. We barely touched foot on the glacier. No affect of altitude at all. Drank lots of water. Perfect acclimitization climb!
We did not see anyone else the entire day (not even from the normal route). It only took couple of hours to descend. We packed and headed back to La Joya and on to Orizaba!
Route Climbed: La Arista del Sol Date Climbed: 27Jan 04
We had beautiful weather. Left La Joya at 0200 under clear sky. Before the dawn it was cold and found us on the snowfields above the hut.
We only crossed two glaicier areas, the belly and the crater to the summit. Conditions were completely dry. A storm a few days later blanketed all the high peaks in the region with a white coat.
It took us 13+ hours roundtrip due to an teammate getting injured at 17,300 on the way down.
Route Climbed: Ayoloco Glacier Date Climbed: November 24, 2003
What a beautiful mountain!!! We arrived on November 22, and camped just below La Joya. The following day we carried to 14,400 feet on the high route to the Ayoloco Hut. Our summit day was hampered by weather, but we did manage to make it to the top of the Ayolodo Glacier at 16,600 feet!!! The white lady is more beautiful in person than I had ever imagined.
Route Climbed: La Arista del Sol Date Climbed: November 2000
Oh well, it can be done in a day but its a long haul especially those ups and downs on the return. Good weather and such a beautiful place up there on the glacier.
Peak_Bagger - Sep 9, 2005 5:14 pm
Route Climbed: Ayoloco Date Climbed: Jan 26 2005This was a long day. We were told that the Arista route could be done in one long day. So we arrived at 8:30 am and tried to ascend via Ayoloco and the back via Arista. One of our partners bailed at the Ayocolo hut, we continued and finnally summited around 4pm. The glacier is very small, maybe 150m at most, and not very steep either (40-45 Degrees). It was very cloudy and hard to see the route along the ridge, so we decended the Ayoloco and were back at the trailhead around 9pm. We though we were stuck but luckily a truck was leaving the area and we hitched a ride back to Amecameca.
Oscar Rangel Correa - May 7, 2005 5:10 pm
Route Climbed: Route of teyotl Date Climbed: jul 1998Good experience in my couse of middle mountain, the Teyotl to be down of the head of Iztlaccihuatl
patascent - Apr 6, 2005 4:26 pm
Route Climbed: La Arista del Sol Date Climbed: January 30, 2003Day climb from La Joya because the mid mountain hut was too nasty to sleep in.
bc44caesar - Apr 1, 2005 12:43 pm
Route Climbed: Arista del Sol Date Climbed: 23 Mar 2005Got a ride in a taxi up to La Joya from Ameca and stayed the night. Next day packed everything I had up to the hut in 2.5 hrs and then went on to the summit in another 2. Stayed the night at the hut to acclimatise better and headed on out to Tlachichuca. It was pretty windy up top, but very little snow and I never had to use crampons.
GlennMerrill - Feb 27, 2005 8:04 pm
Route Climbed: La Arista del Sol Date Climbed: March 2004Good climb. Had to hike out to Paso de Cortez because our taxi driver said it would a lot more to come pick us up at the end of the climb. So we told him not to pick us up, hiked out, and got a free ride down to Amecameca.
joseguzman58 - Feb 10, 2005 3:58 pm
Route Climbed: La Arista del Sol Date Climbed: February the 6th, 2005.Went from Altzomoni to the Grupo de los Cien refuge on our first day. The big packs made the hike anything but a joke. The hut was packed, so the area around ended looking like a tent jamboree. Second day was Saturday night, complete with a group of drunks singing (they didn'have good voices, and they didn't know the song's lyrics), firing fireckrackers, and a storm howling and pumping dust inside he sleeping bags, tents, cloths, etc. The morning brought some ice, freezing rain, fog and more wind. Out of the probably 100 or 120 climbers, only six of use made a bid for the summit. Made it to the Knee (5000 meters), and decided no to risk it no more. The conditions were horrible, it was a white-out, and it was very cold. I am very pleased with having reached my first 5000 meters elevation. Pico de Orizaba was waiting for me in only two more days.
jweidman - Jan 10, 2005 3:54 pm
Route Climbed: La Arista del Sol Date Climbed: 18 Nov 2002Climbed solo after Kenny turned back. Bad weather and near white-out near top. Ended up being a very long day.
sdespins - Dec 21, 2004 5:10 pm
Route Climbed: Normal - Arista del Sol Date Climbed: December 11, 2004Beautiful weather, long trek. Amazing views of Popo.
Stayed at Altzomoni hut (very nice - must get keys at Paseo de Cortes).
Ayoloco hut still around. Republica de Chile hut does not exist. If climbing normal route, only option is Albuge de los Cien which is a tin covered structure which is overcrowded and dirty. Many camp but the entire area is a mess. don't expect to sleep inside the hut. better options are camping before the hut or up at the feet.
You must bring all your water with you making the first part of the climb a bit tough. I was planning on a 2 day tour (1st day from Altzomoni to Albuge de los Cien and then summit next day) and carried up 9 litres of water plus other food and gear. Ended up summitting in one day but was glad for the water anyway. I found some trustworthy locals to watch my big pack while I hit the summit. Otherwise, leaving behind gear can mean trouble especially on a weekend.
Compliments to a local climber, the original "pecho" summit is down off the first summit (with larger cross and other markings) across another glacier valley and the closest you can get to the "head". There is a smaller, cross here which may be snow covered. It is only about 10 - 15 minutes more but well worth it. From here you can see the ice wall route from the "head". Both "pecho" summits are after the Pico de la luna and Pico del Sol.
Locals report that climbing the "head" is suspect due to robberies, etc. starting the climb from San Rafael as that area of the national forest is not guarded.
See trip report for more details.
Ramos - Nov 2, 2004 10:50 am
Route Climbed: Arista del Sol Date Climbed: May 5 2004This climb was of two days, we camped in the knees, whe got to the summit at 6:00 am
pacojgarza - Nov 1, 2004 2:11 am
Route Climbed: La Arista del Sol Date Climbed: October-23-2004I finally reached the elusive summit of Izta on my third attempt, this time with gorgeous weather. Snow was present from just below the knees all the way to the summit and it was in good condition. We had great views of Popo, Orizaba, Malinche and Nevado de Toluca.
It turned out to be a long slog due to our large group (28 people) from Monterrey, México, but it was well worth it.
This hike is far more enjoyable than Orizaba and I wouldn`t hesitate to do it again.
ripper333 - Oct 20, 2004 10:34 pm
Route Climbed: arista del sol Date Climbed: dec 2001one push from la joya. late start and one long
day. coolest thing ever neighboring popo was
puffing away while on the summit of izta.
tlogan - Oct 17, 2004 7:27 pm
Route Climbed: Arista del Sol Date Climbed: Oct. 17 2004Beautiful day... slept a grand total of 0 hours the night before... with 75 camped in and around the hut we were woefully unprepared and paid for it dearly.
The next morning while fighting exhaustion, diarrhea and stomach cramps we left at 4:30 and I somehow made it up to the rodillas in an hour and a half and from there on was relatively smooth sailing... a beautiful day, beautiful mountain and a marvelous sunrise... even Popo gave a little hiccup.
The snow was very firm, styrofoamy and was easy to work up and down in... though you could tell I was one of the few who felt that way... one of the advantages to living in a wintery haven for most of my life I suppose...
I truly love this mountain it offers so much to the eye and for an alpine experience... Orizaba is more one dimensional... simply up and up and up.. Izta has it all!
mxclimber - Sep 16, 2004 11:38 am
Route Climbed: La arista del sol Date Climbed: April 4 2004nice weather reached the summit at about 9
amcfarre - Jul 15, 2004 5:11 pm
Route Climbed: Normal Date Climbed: Feb 12, 2004I enjoyed this climb far more than Orizaba. Much more interesting and with great views of Popo.
Lots of pictures at:
http://mcfarren.info/adam/outdoor/courses/mexico2004/
esugi - Feb 28, 2004 6:08 pm
Route Climbed: Ayoloco Glacier Date Climbed: February 19, 2004Left the Ayoloco Hut at 3:30 am and summitted at 7:15 am. Beautiful Day. The glacier was in terrible condition so we mainly stayed to the left through many gulleys and rock. We barely touched foot on the glacier. No affect of altitude at all. Drank lots of water. Perfect acclimitization climb!
We did not see anyone else the entire day (not even from the normal route). It only took couple of hours to descend. We packed and headed back to La Joya and on to Orizaba!
Haliku - Feb 3, 2004 10:38 pm
Route Climbed: La Arista del Sol Date Climbed: 27Jan 04We had beautiful weather. Left La Joya at 0200 under clear sky. Before the dawn it was cold and found us on the snowfields above the hut.
We only crossed two glaicier areas, the belly and the crater to the summit. Conditions were completely dry. A storm a few days later blanketed all the high peaks in the region with a white coat.
It took us 13+ hours roundtrip due to an teammate getting injured at 17,300 on the way down.
mtnfoto - Jan 21, 2004 1:52 pm
Date Climbed: Jan 1976 and Feb 1993Lots more snow the first time I did it. Guided three clients in '93.
marke - Dec 11, 2003 5:59 pm
Route Climbed: Ayoloco Glacier Date Climbed: November 24, 2003What a beautiful mountain!!! We arrived on November 22, and camped just below La Joya. The following day we carried to 14,400 feet on the high route to the Ayoloco Hut. Our summit day was hampered by weather, but we did manage to make it to the top of the Ayolodo Glacier at 16,600 feet!!! The white lady is more beautiful in person than I had ever imagined.
--Mark, Scott, Nate
Brice Neugebauer - Aug 30, 2003 9:30 am
Route Climbed: Arista del Sol Date Climbed: 12 Feb 2003-
dharmadog - Aug 3, 2003 10:40 pm
Route Climbed: La Arista del Sol Date Climbed: November 2000Oh well, it can be done in a day but its a long haul especially those ups and downs on the return. Good weather and such a beautiful place up there on the glacier.