Iztaccihuatl
Tour Details
Iztaccihuatl (5,215 masl): (Mountaineering) Iztaccihuatl (in náhuatl: Iztac, «blanco» (white); cihuatl, «mujer» (woman) “White Woman”). It has this nickname due to its shape of a sleeping woman and for an old Nahuatl myth. It is the 3rd highest peak in Mexico with an altitude of 5,215 m.a.s.l. It's considered a high altitude mountain and in order to ascend it, we strongly recommend first ascending 4,000 m.a.s.l. mountain. We will drive from CDMX until we reach the registry offices in Paso de Cortés, once registered we will drive to the camping area. Upon arrival we will do a 2 hour acclimatization walk, when we return the camp will already be set up with the dining tent with the food ready to eat around 15 hrs so we can rest at 16 hrs and receive the brief hike for the next day's summit. Before sleeping, the guides will review your physical condition and check your equipment. In the morning we will wake up at 1 am to have breakfast and start the hike to the summit. The Iztaccihuatl, besides being a beautiful volcano it also shares the view with the spectacular Popocatepetl, a huge active volcano of 5,400 m.a.s.l being the 2nd highest peak in Mexico.
- Sunglasses 100% UV
- Toque and Buff
- Headlamp
- Inner Gloves
- Waterproof Gloves
- Sunblock
- Sleeping Bag (-7°C)
- Sleeping Pad
- Thermal T-Shirt
- Thermal Pants
- Hiking Pants (Softshell)
- Polar Jacket
- Waterproof Jacket (Hardshell)
- Down Jacket
- Polyester Hiking Socks (2 pairs)
- Mountaineering Semi-automatic Boots
- Hiking Shoes
- Backpack (45 L)
- Water Bottles (2 L)
Day 1
- 8:15 Meeting Point
- 8:30 Depart to Iztaccihuatl
- 11:30 Arrival to Paso de Cortés Register Office
- 12:00 Arrival to “La Joya” Base Camp
- 12:15 Acclimatation Hike
- 15:00 Dinner
- 16:15 Physical condition and gear assessment
- 17:30 Sleeping Time
Day 2
- 00:00 Time to wake up
- 00:15 Breakfast
- 01:00 Start the ascent up to the summit
- 16:00 Travel back to Mexico City
Climbing Rating Systems
Beginner | Advanced Beginner | Intermediate | Advanced Intermediate | Advanced
Yosemite Decimal System
Commitment Grade:
- Grade I: Up to three hours.
- Grade II: Three to five hours.
- Grade III: Five to eight hours.
- Grade IV: Ten to fifteen hours, generally at least 5.7
- Grade V: Overnight on the route.
- Grade VI: Multiple days of hard technical climbing.
- Grade VII: Remote big walls climbed in alpine style.
Difficulty (CLASS): Uses numbers one through five.
Class 1 : Easy trail walking.
Class 2: Hiking on more difficult trails.
Class 3: Scrambling, using hands and feet.
Class 4: Scrambling with exposure. Rope should be used.
Class 5: Technical rock climbing. Further broken down as 5.0, 5.1, 5.2 to 5.9. At 5.10 it is subdivided into 5.10a, 5.10b, 5.10c, 5.10d, 5.11a up to 5.15d.
Class 6: Aid Climbing. Using equipment to climb and hang off of, rather than body movement on the rock. This class is further broken down by numbers preceded by the letter “A”.
- A1: Easy aid. No risk of a piece pulling out.
- A2: Moderate aid. Solid gear that’s more difficult to place.
- A2+: 10-meter fall potential from tenuous placements, but without danger.
- A3: Hard aid. Many tenuous placements in a row, 15-meter fall potential, could require several hours for a single pitch.
- A3+: A3 with dangerous fall potential.
- A4: Serious aid. 30-meter ledge-fall potential from continuously tenuous gear.
- A4+: Even more serious, with even greater fall potential, where each pitch could take many hours to lead.
- A5: Extreme aid. Nothing on the entire pitch can be trusted to hold a fall.
- A6: A5 climbing with belay anchors that won’t hold a fall either.
French Alpine System
In contrast to the Yosemite Decimal System (described earlier), the French alpine system evaluates the overall difficulty of a route, taking into consideration the length, difficulty, exposure, altitude and commitment-level, number of difficult pitches and how sustained they are, and quality of rock, snow and ice. It is world-wide recognized and it is often used to grade mountain climbs.
- F: facile (easy). Rock scrambling or easy snow slopes; some glacier travel or easy uphills; often climbed ropeless except on glaciers.
- PD: peu difficile (slightly difficult). Routes may be longer at altitude, with snow and ice slopes up to 45 degrees. Glaciers are more complex, scrambling is harder, climbing may require some belaying, descent may involve rappelling. More objective hazards.
- AD: assez difficile (fairly difficult). Fairly hard, snow and ice at an angle of 45–65 degrees, belayed climbing in addition to a large amount of exposed but easier terrain. Significant objective hazard.
- D: difficile (difficult). Hard, more serious with rock climbing at 5.5 up to 5.7 (YDS), snow and ice slopes at 50–70 degrees. Routes may be long and sustained or harder but shorter. Serious objective hazards.
- TD: très difficile (very difficult). Very hard routes, at this grade are serious undertakings with high levels of objective danger. Sustained snow and ice at an angle of 65–80 degrees, rock climbing at grade 5.8 up to 5.10b with possible aid, very long sections of hard climbing.
- ED1/2/3: extrêmement difficile (extremely difficult). Extremely hard, exceptional objective danger, vertical ice slopes and rock climbing up to 5.10a to 5.12b, with possible aid pitches.
- ABO: Abominablement difficile (abominable). Difficulty and danger at their limit.
Mountain environments can be harsh and unforgiving but when conditions are right, there is no more serene or authentic natural environment. Many mountaineers feel a deep connection with the mountains and develop unmatched feelings of achievement as a result of their accomplishments. Getting to the top of a mountain often tests a person both physically and mentally so it’s no wonder accomplishments become very significant for many mountaineers. As a result, experiences and connections in the mountains can be deeply personal. Mountaineering skill development is best done by spending time in the mountains.