docrst - Feb 16, 2014 11:19 pm Date Climbed: Feb 10, 2014
Summit February 2014
We spent the night at the Centro Vacacional and left at 6:45AM the next morning starting at the gate which is only 50 meters from the resort gate. As stated elsewhere, you ascend the well defined path passing the road several times as the trail becomes a bit steeper. Eventually you will follow the road for 100 meters to the ovious start of the trail proper. The ascent then get s teep for awhile until you hit treeline and see the summit. Here we found the best route was to head to the right aiming for a prominence on the ridgeline and then following the ridgeline to the summit. Lots of use trails in the high grasses, all of which are okay and avoid the tedious talus and scree on the face of the summit. It took us 4 hours to summit and 2.25 hours on the descent. Great views of Pico and Popo/Ixta.
bcrowell2 - Jan 12, 2014 10:47 am Date Climbed: Jan 1, 2014
perfect acclimatization hike
I did this hike multiple times to acclimatize for Izta. Very enjoyable.
Joerg Marretsch - Dec 11, 2013 1:58 pm Date Climbed: Nov 28, 2013
Standard Route
Perfect Acclimatization hike for Pico de Orizaba. Awesome views to the surrounding volcanoes.
B-Grooms - Mar 24, 2013 12:01 am Date Climbed: Feb 10, 2013
Acclimation hike
I did not summit La Malinche just because there was no objective to summit. I hiked up to 13,500 ft and slept overnight at the huts back at 10,000. La Malinche served only as part of the acclimation process for Ixtaccihuatl and El Pico de Orizaba of which were summited during the rest of my week there. Great climbs and La Malinche helped in the precess.
adwh - Oct 9, 2012 7:02 pm Date Climbed: Oct 8, 2012
OCT 2012 SUMMIT NOTES
Great hike. Challenging but not overwhelming or particularly dangerous. Left DF at 5:30am on a Monday, got there at 8:15. The road up to the trail head is closed all the time now, so you have to leave your car at the little resort, which is safe. It took about 1:45 to get to the trail head on an easy trail. Pretty steep from there. Took us 4:40 to summit, with no breaks; 8:00 hours round trip with a 20 minute break. Near the top we were in clouds and it was windy and about 40 degree, but there was no snow. Trail was straightforward except above the tree/grass line, where the hard rocky terrain make it hard to figure out. Visibility was only about 100 meters. In general a very beautiful forested trail + beautiful rocky summit. Recommend going in Nov. when visibility should be better. My climbing partner was a total amateur, age 37, in moderate shape, and she had no trouble summiting, though she does live in Mexico City, so was somewhat acclimatized.
Park rangers indicated someone got lost up there and died in Sept. 2012.
Daria - Sep 22, 2012 2:41 pm Date Climbed: Dec 25, 2011
Acclimation
Nice summit! Swirling clouds abound, sort of lord of the rings vibe up there. Nice views of orizaba from there. Tons of locals climbing too on christmas day. Wonderful dinner that night at the restaurant located within the campgrounds/cabins.
cab - Mar 5, 2012 2:24 pm Date Climbed: Feb 26, 2012
Standard Route
Used this mountain as a warmup for Izta and Orizaba which we climbed later in the week. There were probably 300 people or so on the trail on this day which didn't exactly make for a wilderness experience, but a nice acclimitization hike anyway.
We left the road a little after coming out of the trees and went straight up the slope rather than following the road/trail to the left. This route is highly recommemded for the ascent, but follow the road/trail for the descent which is sandy and quick.
Bill562 - Jan 15, 2012 10:05 pm Date Climbed: Jan 8, 2012
Malinche
With Blair F
graham - Nov 17, 2010 4:57 pm Date Climbed: Nov 7, 2010
Great warm up hike
We took about 3 hours to hike up and about 2 to get down. We watched the Skyline Racers run up & down this thing. The 1st runner did the round trip in 2 hours even....very impressive
ncst - Jan 26, 2010 11:20 am Date Climbed: Jan 22, 2010
From San Juan Ixtenco (east face)
Climbed from San Juan Ixtenco. Five hours from the trailhead (ranger station). Nicer view of the crater from this side. Ice on top, didn't need crampons going up as this is the east face. But needed them to go down the west face to the centro vacacional. To much trash after the Christmas holiday. Many people eager to 'touch snow'. Two people carried down on a stretcher that down after the slipped on the ice.
jmitch421 - Dec 14, 2009 3:14 pm Date Climbed: Dec 7, 2009
Don't call off the dogs
Climbed up with the company of 5 local dogs (they came all the way to the summit). Gave em a small piece of my cliff bar n they never left. Nice hike through the pine forest, and nice views. I stayed in the cabins at the park. Although checkout is kinda early at 1 so I just took my stuff and left the key in the door. Met Senad and his friend and Livingston on the summit.
Senad Rizvanovic - Dec 13, 2009 2:27 am Date Climbed: Dec 7, 2009
Great hike
Great hike prior to Orizba. Great mountain.
sergejf - Nov 22, 2009 4:54 pm Date Climbed: Aug 28, 2005
La Malinche
Fun climb with friends - I'm going to post a more detailed report elsewhere on this site.
ScottyP - Oct 22, 2009 10:22 pm Date Climbed: Nov 18, 2008
Great Tacos
Great tacos at the base. And the cabins are quite cozy as well!
logikal - Sep 21, 2009 4:14 pm Date Climbed: Jan 4, 2009
Acclimation Climb
Used this as an acclimation climb for Pico de Orizaba. Beautiful views of orizaba, izta, and the active volcano popo.
Cheeseburglar - Aug 21, 2009 1:02 pm Date Climbed: Mar 4, 2008
I went up twice as a day trip from Apizaco. Reached the clouded top from the resort in three hours the first time. Met some nice people from Puebla on the top, they gave me a ride back to Apizaco. I went up the alternate route the second time, in August. A lot of people up there, it was the last weekend of the summer holidays, great weather all day with a thunderstorm at 5pm when I was in the collectivo back to Apizaco.
I got a late start, having camped on the flanks of Orizaba the night before and having climbed Sierra Negra that morning. I ended up racing to the summit in under 2 1/2 hours, arriving just in time to see the sun set on top of Popo. I managed to make it down to the car without using my headlamp, although I'm not quite sure how. Beautiful area, especially once you get above treeline.
Lips74 - Feb 3, 2009 4:53 am Date Climbed: Jan 4, 2009
Long Day
Climbed with Grampahawk and Winding along with 3 others. Started at 3AM and was on the summit ridge for sunrise. We took our time with plenty of breaks and rests. I found it very similar to a Colorado 14er with this being harder while still easier than Whitney in a day. The huts at the bottom are nice.
Grampahawk - Jan 12, 2009 4:45 pm Date Climbed: Jan 4, 2009
Buena Vista
Very smoggy at the lower levels. This made it impossible to take a clear summit photo looking down into the valley below. But we did get some great shots of Pico de Orizaba,Popo, and Izta peeking up above the clouds.Very dusty trail. We did this as a "tune up" for Pico de Orizaba. I agree with "wingding" about schlepping too much gear. If I go again I've got to fit everything into one pack and a small duffle.
docrst - Feb 16, 2014 11:19 pm Date Climbed: Feb 10, 2014
Summit February 2014We spent the night at the Centro Vacacional and left at 6:45AM the next morning starting at the gate which is only 50 meters from the resort gate. As stated elsewhere, you ascend the well defined path passing the road several times as the trail becomes a bit steeper. Eventually you will follow the road for 100 meters to the ovious start of the trail proper. The ascent then get s teep for awhile until you hit treeline and see the summit. Here we found the best route was to head to the right aiming for a prominence on the ridgeline and then following the ridgeline to the summit. Lots of use trails in the high grasses, all of which are okay and avoid the tedious talus and scree on the face of the summit. It took us 4 hours to summit and 2.25 hours on the descent. Great views of Pico and Popo/Ixta.
bcrowell2 - Jan 12, 2014 10:47 am Date Climbed: Jan 1, 2014
perfect acclimatization hikeI did this hike multiple times to acclimatize for Izta. Very enjoyable.
Joerg Marretsch - Dec 11, 2013 1:58 pm Date Climbed: Nov 28, 2013
Standard RoutePerfect Acclimatization hike for Pico de Orizaba. Awesome views to the surrounding volcanoes.
B-Grooms - Mar 24, 2013 12:01 am Date Climbed: Feb 10, 2013
Acclimation hikeI did not summit La Malinche just because there was no objective to summit. I hiked up to 13,500 ft and slept overnight at the huts back at 10,000. La Malinche served only as part of the acclimation process for Ixtaccihuatl and El Pico de Orizaba of which were summited during the rest of my week there. Great climbs and La Malinche helped in the precess.
adwh - Oct 9, 2012 7:02 pm Date Climbed: Oct 8, 2012
OCT 2012 SUMMIT NOTESGreat hike. Challenging but not overwhelming or particularly dangerous. Left DF at 5:30am on a Monday, got there at 8:15. The road up to the trail head is closed all the time now, so you have to leave your car at the little resort, which is safe. It took about 1:45 to get to the trail head on an easy trail. Pretty steep from there. Took us 4:40 to summit, with no breaks; 8:00 hours round trip with a 20 minute break. Near the top we were in clouds and it was windy and about 40 degree, but there was no snow. Trail was straightforward except above the tree/grass line, where the hard rocky terrain make it hard to figure out. Visibility was only about 100 meters. In general a very beautiful forested trail + beautiful rocky summit. Recommend going in Nov. when visibility should be better. My climbing partner was a total amateur, age 37, in moderate shape, and she had no trouble summiting, though she does live in Mexico City, so was somewhat acclimatized.
Park rangers indicated someone got lost up there and died in Sept. 2012.
Daria - Sep 22, 2012 2:41 pm Date Climbed: Dec 25, 2011
AcclimationNice summit! Swirling clouds abound, sort of lord of the rings vibe up there. Nice views of orizaba from there. Tons of locals climbing too on christmas day. Wonderful dinner that night at the restaurant located within the campgrounds/cabins.
cab - Mar 5, 2012 2:24 pm Date Climbed: Feb 26, 2012
Standard RouteUsed this mountain as a warmup for Izta and Orizaba which we climbed later in the week. There were probably 300 people or so on the trail on this day which didn't exactly make for a wilderness experience, but a nice acclimitization hike anyway.
We left the road a little after coming out of the trees and went straight up the slope rather than following the road/trail to the left. This route is highly recommemded for the ascent, but follow the road/trail for the descent which is sandy and quick.
Bill562 - Jan 15, 2012 10:05 pm Date Climbed: Jan 8, 2012
MalincheWith Blair F
graham - Nov 17, 2010 4:57 pm Date Climbed: Nov 7, 2010
Great warm up hikeWe took about 3 hours to hike up and about 2 to get down. We watched the Skyline Racers run up & down this thing. The 1st runner did the round trip in 2 hours even....very impressive
ncst - Jan 26, 2010 11:20 am Date Climbed: Jan 22, 2010
From San Juan Ixtenco (east face)Climbed from San Juan Ixtenco. Five hours from the trailhead (ranger station). Nicer view of the crater from this side. Ice on top, didn't need crampons going up as this is the east face. But needed them to go down the west face to the centro vacacional. To much trash after the Christmas holiday. Many people eager to 'touch snow'. Two people carried down on a stretcher that down after the slipped on the ice.
jmitch421 - Dec 14, 2009 3:14 pm Date Climbed: Dec 7, 2009
Don't call off the dogsClimbed up with the company of 5 local dogs (they came all the way to the summit). Gave em a small piece of my cliff bar n they never left. Nice hike through the pine forest, and nice views. I stayed in the cabins at the park. Although checkout is kinda early at 1 so I just took my stuff and left the key in the door. Met Senad and his friend and Livingston on the summit.
Senad Rizvanovic - Dec 13, 2009 2:27 am Date Climbed: Dec 7, 2009
Great hikeGreat hike prior to Orizba. Great mountain.
sergejf - Nov 22, 2009 4:54 pm Date Climbed: Aug 28, 2005
La MalincheFun climb with friends - I'm going to post a more detailed report elsewhere on this site.
ScottyP - Oct 22, 2009 10:22 pm Date Climbed: Nov 18, 2008
Great TacosGreat tacos at the base. And the cabins are quite cozy as well!
logikal - Sep 21, 2009 4:14 pm Date Climbed: Jan 4, 2009
Acclimation ClimbUsed this as an acclimation climb for Pico de Orizaba. Beautiful views of orizaba, izta, and the active volcano popo.
Cheeseburglar - Aug 21, 2009 1:02 pm Date Climbed: Mar 4, 2008
Good eatin'The restaurant at the trailhead is really good.
ncst - Jul 25, 2009 4:48 pm Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2009
July 22 and August 15, 2009 - both routes -I went up twice as a day trip from Apizaco. Reached the clouded top from the resort in three hours the first time. Met some nice people from Puebla on the top, they gave me a ride back to Apizaco. I went up the alternate route the second time, in August. A lot of people up there, it was the last weekend of the summer holidays, great weather all day with a thunderstorm at 5pm when I was in the collectivo back to Apizaco.
paisajeroamericano - Apr 10, 2009 6:48 am Date Climbed: Jan 22, 2009
VoludoI got a late start, having camped on the flanks of Orizaba the night before and having climbed Sierra Negra that morning. I ended up racing to the summit in under 2 1/2 hours, arriving just in time to see the sun set on top of Popo. I managed to make it down to the car without using my headlamp, although I'm not quite sure how. Beautiful area, especially once you get above treeline.
Lips74 - Feb 3, 2009 4:53 am Date Climbed: Jan 4, 2009
Long DayClimbed with Grampahawk and Winding along with 3 others. Started at 3AM and was on the summit ridge for sunrise. We took our time with plenty of breaks and rests. I found it very similar to a Colorado 14er with this being harder while still easier than Whitney in a day. The huts at the bottom are nice.
Grampahawk - Jan 12, 2009 4:45 pm Date Climbed: Jan 4, 2009
Buena VistaVery smoggy at the lower levels. This made it impossible to take a clear summit photo looking down into the valley below. But we did get some great shots of Pico de Orizaba,Popo, and Izta peeking up above the clouds.Very dusty trail. We did this as a "tune up" for Pico de Orizaba. I agree with "wingding" about schlepping too much gear. If I go again I've got to fit everything into one pack and a small duffle.