Pause and Reflect

Today I realized it's been 3 weeks since I returned from Orizaba and longer than I'd like in order to post a new update to the ole blog. Seems like a bit longer due to settling back into normal life of teaching classes for ESRI, a trip south to visit Karen, and skiing at A-Basin. How's the saying go - the only constant is change. True, true...

Folks have asked about the trip details -- I'm planning a "Brown Bag" presentation for coworkers this week to discuss the highlights. Interestingly enough, when I typically finish any trip report, folks tend to ask me what's next. Honestly I haven't thought about it much other than mountains on my 2008 14er list that Patrick, Alan and I will be discussing in the coming months. Too much snow in the high country at the moment to give it any serious thoughts.

But I do have to say that Orizaba presented a wonderful challenge not only in setting a new personal altitude record but also exposing me to just a small bit of international mountain climbing. If this truly translates to bigger mountains around the world, I don't know. Denali in Alaska is of interest but that's yet another level beyond anything I've done so far AND the success rate is abysmal. Killimanjaro is also of interest too - I'd like to see the glaciers on her before they melt. Aconcagua in western Argentina is another that is a strong possiblity as well but due to $$ of these trips realistically only 1 per year - unless I win the lottery! The positive of Orizaba is I geared up with stuff I could use on future trips. Perhaps a trek to base camp at Everest to just to see the monarch of all mountains - still no interest ever in climbing that one...

So what is next for me? Plan to hike with Alan and a "new" climber tomorrow on Longs Peak, have dinner with friends Friday night, plan to volunteer at a 10 mile race next Saturday, climb Mt. Silverheels with Alan and Patrick next Sunday, teach a new class "solo" next Monday, see Karen in 2 weeks, run a 1/2 marathon in May...really just live and enjoy life! As folks know, that means stay busy!

Climb On Friends!

Robert

Orizaba Success!

At 7 AM January 26, 2008, our team successfully summited Pico de Orizaba east of Tlachichuca, Mexico, after leaving our high camp of 15,100' to the crest of the Orizaba caldera at 18,490'. After nearly a week of acclimatizing increasing altitudes from Mexico City to Tlachichuca to the Piedra Grande hut to our final high tent camp, the team took five hours in the early morning hours navigating "The Labyrinth "rock/cliff band to the Jamapa Glacier. There, the slope gradually increased from 10-30 degrees to a high of 50-60 degrees near the upper rock formation affectionately known as "The Sarcophagus!" Team members were roped together via a 100-meter climbing rope, equipped with plastics boots, crampons and ice axes.

Smelling whiffs of sulfur, we neared the summit at sunrise and were treated with incredible views of the Mexican plains to the east and west of the summit. To the west, the shadow of Pico de Orizaba formed a perfect pyramid shadow that perhaps the Aztecs used as a model for their pyramids hundreds of years ago. We stayed on the summit for about 20-30 minutes to take pictures, offer congratulations to fellow team members, and take in the accomplishment. With wind chills easily below zero, we began a tight rope descent upon the glacier. Three hours later, we were back at high camp to rest, drink water, break down camp for the return to Piedra Grand hut and Tlachichuca that evening. Cold cervezas greeted us at Senor Reyes climbing compound and after a hard nights rest, we traveled back to Mexico City. Some boarded flights back home that day while others remained for a day or two to tour this old city of 20+ million residents.

For detailed dispatches, please visit http://www.alanarnette.com/dispatches/live/index.php What an incredible experience with close friends and the "high point" of my climbing career! Climb On!

El Orizaba Cuatro!

Or to the Spanish challenged (myself included) - the Orizaba Four! Our intrepid team leaves for Mexico City in a little over 3 days and I thought it good to introduce you to the team. Essentially, we're a team of many things. We are weekend warriors, friends, father's, big mountaineer's, homebrewers, ultra marathoner's, engineer's, instructor's, retired(?), and men with a climbing addiction.

In the photo on the far left is Scott Olmer - ultra marathoner extraordinaire. I've known Scott for nearly 10 years and over that time, we've backpacked and/or hiked 14ers in Colorado, gone on too many hut trips to count, enjoy a good cigar from time to time, and enjoy the finer Colorado micro brews weekly at the Southern Sun Brewpub in Boulder. Scott is a natural athlete and excels in 50/100 mile races a couple times of year - crazy!

In the next photo is the remainder of the team. From left to right is Robert ("The Goat") LeClair, Patrick ("The Navigator") Vall, and Alan ("Big Pappy") Arnette.

I first met Patrick on our Rainier trip in July 2004 and got to know him well over the years on numerous 14er hikes. Patrick owns his own veterinarian practice in Woodland Park, CO, has a wonderful family of 4 children, a very understanding wife (Shannon), and a slight obsession with THE University of Ohio State - this presents a problem at times when he sees a "University of Meeechigan" hiker on some of our summit attempts. Patrick is a very strong yet smart hiker and provides his GPS expertise to our group during the summer climbing seasons. He has written numerous trip reports on SummitPost (http://www.summitpost.com/) and is a great friend.

Alan, "Big Pappy", Arnette is our hiking/climbing guru. I first met Alan back in 2001/02 through my former spouse and our mutual interest in mountains lead to many hikes in the Colorado high country. Alan has traveled the world in search of mountain peaks to climb, breathed the rarefied air above 25,000', and was the instigator of the 2004 Rainier trip. He provides a wealth of information about mountaineering to both Patrick and I - we're constantly learning more about the topic through his patience and guidance. Orizaba is the final preparatory climb for Alan - he's planning to return to Mt. Everest in April/May 2008 as part of his "Memories are Everything" campaign to raise awareness and donations for the Cure Alzheimers Fund.

So there you have it - the "client" team for Orizaba 2008. I look forward to challenge of Orizaba as well as sharing the summit with some very good friends - it will be an experience! Climb On!