I do a lot of winter hiking, but it's in the Adirondacks. I can practice a lot of skills here, such as climbing steep slopes in winter, self-arrest, etc. But of course we don't have glaciers. I'm wondering if it's necessary to have familiarity with crevasses and self-rescue techiques to climb Orizaba. In the accounts I've read, there seems to be little danger from crevasses. What technical skills do you need, assuming you have the ability to climb to such an altitude? What are the greatest dangers?
A related question: What technical gear do you need, in the way of crampons, boots, ropes, helmet, etc. I'd like to know what boots are recommended.
Finally, I wonder if anyone has done the Ruta Sur. I am thinking of trying this route, because, judging from Secor's book, it is a bit less dangerous and less traveled.