is the only peak in Mexico to ever see skis This is especially true recently since the other big volcano “Popo” has been erupting and even diverted our flight Pico de Orizaba is also the highest volcano in North America and the 3rd highest peak in North America and I (Ryan Turner) timed our trip precisely when Orizaba had been hit by two tropical storms the week before on the north side from its 18,500-foot summit to a bit below 17,000 feet the only snow found on the mountain is on the Jamapa glacier; and even then Despite the storms we only expected to be able to ski the Jamapa We only planned to boot up on the steep Jamapa and hike in the volcanic rock below But upon descending into the airport in Veracruz on the Gulf Coast we could already see the volcano snow covered several thousand feet down to the cloud deck Most folks base their operations out of Tlachichuca This small Mexican town gives a clear glimpse of the northwest side of the mountain and the steeper side of the Jamapa From here one can appreciate it is the 7th most prominent peak in the world So a variety of companies in Tlachichuca offer a shuttle service in old beater trucks to the refugio which also has a hotel in Tlachichuca for before and after the expedition The operation is a bit confusing since it is run by a guy called Joaquin The prime season for snow cover from tropical storms tends to be at the end of October This is also the week leading up to Día de los Muertos This means getting sleep in town is a bit difficult due to the non-step firecrackers all night we pass many local goat herders who run the area near the farms Joaquin has tried to take a tractor up to patch the road We started on an acclimatization hike up to the snow line which we found to be at a bit below 15,000 feet We planned on doing another acclimatization hike day As we climbed to 15k we found the tropical storms had laid down a heavy (although maybe only 6 inch) layer of snow over the volcanic rocks It had quickly turned to corn at the top under the powerful Mexican sun The snowline also appeared like it would rapidly rise We also found the tracks of the two Ecuadorians the locals were talking about who had just skied it from the summit down to the first high camp Tomorrow looked like it would be a stellar day We thought camping up here would be quieter than town But some of these firecrackers are near military ordinance level and create a boom even up at the 14,000-foot camp we could hear many of the local hiker parties leaving at around 12 a.m They prefer to be off the glacier when it is still firm as we preferred the glacier to soften up a bit One of the main hazards of the Jamapa glacier is the icy steeps at the top We got back on the snow and stashed the approach shoes around 14,000 feet We climbed the boot pack up to the labyrinth typically a long scramble through loose volcanic rock We could see the Ecuadorians had picked a descent line through the labyrinth near the boot pack we could still hear some booms from the celebrations up here at 16,000 feet too We reached the top of the labyrinth around sunrise We had a smooth low-angle climb to the Jamapa Here is where we would have saved some time if we had brought the skins it gets steeper and the altitude gets real The first half of the glacier is at a moderate angle and then gets steeper and higher Lots of reports talk about icy steep 45-50 degree slope angles at the top of the glacier I brought the pole inclinometer and found the 30-35 degree angles to be in line with Caltopo (despite claims the Mexican topos aren’t accurate) The final push beyond 18,000 feet is a real “take a few steps and take a breather” type of climb we had to break for the awe of the crater and its depth and size Other volcanoes like Rainier likely have craters just as vast those craters are filled to the brim with snow hiding their vastness There is a final push to the true summit along the crater rim We hit several false summits along the rim The true summit at 18,500 feet is exhausting Orizaba is a round enough summit that we were able to ski off the true summit but had to traverse back into the main up route on the Jamapa The first few turns and traverse are on the steep northwest aspect visible from Tlachichuca; it is a real no-fall zone into the rock field below I radioed back to the rest of the team on the summit to ski the first pitch with an ice ax and their toe pieces locked The rest of the descent into Jamapa was about finding the sweet spot between the still icy slopes on the northwest face and the tiger stripes and rime from the wind on the northeast the slope angle mellows out and the snow is in the full Mexican sun The cover in some of the thin spots had already disappeared from our ascent in the morning it was also some of the best snow of the day the snow was similar but created a fun maze of mini chutes to ski through It really became a puzzle to find the local aspects of the terrain to keep skiing We finally hit our approach show cache at 15,000 feet From here we could see some tempting cookies-and-cream slopes below to the refugio but this was getting into the fantasy realm Elle found another patch to get us down another 100 feet The last 1000 feet to the refugio was on approach shoes We had made it down 3,600 feet (more than the vertical drop of most American resorts) in Mexico Orizaba can be a real ski mountaineering experience The usual window around Día de los Muertos makes it an extra special experience Ryan Turner is a Tahoe-based backcountry skier and peak high pointer with a passion for exploring remote terrain and classic lines a shimmering snow-covered peak that dominates the horizon for hundreds of kilometers At 5,640 meters (18,504 feet) El Pico de Orizaba is Mexico’s tallest mountain and the third highest in North America Those who live on its flanks say the only way you can fully appreciate the beauty of Orizaba is to circumnavigate the volcano on foot a few of them have established the sort of route that trekkers love: difficult One of the pioneers who developed the Orizaba loop is Victor Vivero Amadeus and friends have worked on connecting several already established tracks to create what they call La Circumvalación I asked Amadeus to describe his most recent trek along The Pico de Orizaba loop “Our group met at a place appropriately called El Valle del Encuentro (the Meeting-place Valley) located in Pico de Orizaba National Park on the South Face of the volcano located in a big valley close to a small hill from which you have great views of both el Pico de Orizaba and the Sierra Negra Volcano where the Large Millimeter Telescope (the biggest of its kind in the world) is located The trekkers fell asleep in the shelter at 9:00 p.m We needed to start very early so we’d be sure to reach the next refuge before dark So we waited another hour and started walking at about 2:30.There had been a race in this area recently so there was reflecting tape on the trees making it easy to follow the trail in the dark but you can always use Wikiloc to follow a route at night “For the first seven km the land was flat and here is where we got our rhythm but as we reached the top of the opposite end especially eagles and here you can also find rattlesnakes “ dwarf rattlesnakes.” They are only 50 to 80 cm long I’ve also seen tiny teporingos or volcano rabbits They’re endemic to Mexico and so small they weigh only half a kilo (one pound).” where water pours out of two caves and freezes in the winter “Now we were on the Northeast Slope of the volcano,” Amadeus told me “and here we filled our canteens with this water we had covered about half the first day’s march.” you have to cross another canyon called La Barranca del Río Jamapa named after the river created by the runoff from the volcano’s Jamapa Glacier we had to traverse a sandy space called Arenal and then at about 6:30—after covering 27 kilometers in 17 hours—we reached our second mountain refuge No sooner did we get there than the weather turned bad The Piedra Grande refuge is on Pico de Orizaba’s North Face and is used by many climbers heading for the peak Amadeus and friends had started out very early in the morning to make sure they would get bunks in this shelter “At the bottom we came to the most dangerous part of the whole trek This barranca is only 500 meters wide but it took us maybe two hours to cross it.” a long area of grassy meadows over 3,800 meters high “I think we enjoyed the very best views of Pico de Orizaba and from here we could also see Popocatepetl From this point the party had only nine kilometers more to go a pass 4,330 meters above sea level and the highest point of the entire loop we arrived back at our starting point on the South Face so we spent about 10 hours on our second day but the distance we covered was only 13 kilometers “In those two days we walked 40 kilometers and got to see all the faces of North America’s third-highest peak views that very few have ever observed or photographed John Pint has lived near Guadalajara, Jalisco, for more than 30 years and is the author of A Guide to West Mexico’s Guachimontones and Surrounding Area and co-author of Outdoors in Western Mexico. More of his writing can be found on his website ADVERTISE WITH MND COMMUNITY GUIDELINES Subscription FAQ's Privacy Policy Mexico News Daily - Property of Tavana LLC Details: cache-fra-eddf8230042-FRA 1746520424 3398585806 2024 at 3:25 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Luis Guzman Alvarez was charged with aggravated DUI causing death (DuPage County State's Attorney's Office)VILLA PARK IL – A drunken-driving suspect has been arrested in connection with Sunday's death of a man in a crash in Villa Park The victim was identified as 69-year-old Jose Orizaba Charles Road approaching the traffic signal at Villa Avenue according to a news release from DuPage County prosecutors Orizaba entered the intersection on a green light ran the red light on Villa and crashed into Orizaba forcing the victim's car into a gas station parking lot Officers removed Orizaba from his car using the Jaws of Life and was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead a few hours later Guzman Alvarez was taken to a hospital and then released Guzman Alvarez's blood-alcohol level was .374 officers said they found two small open bottles of Jose Cuervo a small bottle of premixed margaritas and a small bottle of premixed daiquiri in his car Police said Guzman Alvarez was speeding 46 mph in a 30 mph zone when he crashed Guzman Alvarez was 100% avoidable," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in the release "I offer my sincerest condolences to Jose Orizaba’s family and friends as they grieve and attempt to adjust to their new lives without the love and friendship Jose once provided As I have said countless times in the past With ride-sharing services available with just the touch of a finger at any time day or night there is absolutely no reason to drive after you have been drinking." DuPage County Judge Joshua Dieden denied prosecutors' request to jail Guzman Alvarez before the trial the suspect will be fitted with a secure continuous remote alcohol monitoring device Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Pico de Orizaba National Park is one of the most important protected areas in central Mexico The park spans 19,000 hectares (47,000 acres) is home to a pine forest with endemic species as well as the country’s highest volcano at 5,636 meters (18,491 feet) and supplies water to many communities in the states of Puebla and Veracruz The protected natural area currently faces several threats a fire devastated almost 250 hectares (620 acres) of paramo alpine shrubland and forests of oyamel fir (Abies religiosa) and highland pine (Pinus hartwegii) a species that grows at elevations above 3,000 m (9,800 ft) the office that manages the national park classified this forest fire as the most intense observed since 2020 The forest fire in Pico de Orizaba National Park began on Feb before reaching Encuentro Valley in Pico de Orizaba said poorly controlled agricultural burning was the cause of the fire which spread rapidly due to strong and dry winds Preliminary data showed 40% of the burned areas were inside the park boundaries though this is still being verified by Mexico’s National Forestry Commission (CONAFOR) as it carries out an assessment of the total damage members of the national park’s two fire brigades including communal landholders and local farmers and personnel from CONAFOR and the National Guard were involved in fighting the fire They worked more than 18 hours during the first days of the fire to help with mitigation-related tasks in hard-to-reach areas while community members donated food and supplies for the firefighting brigades Oseguera said this year is expected to be abnormally dry so residents and tourists are being asked to take extreme precautions with the use of firewood in the forest area The last serious fire that swept through the region was in 2020 when COVID-19 lockdown restrictions were still in force fires burned 450 hectares (1,100 acres) of the national park and killed two people: Guillermo Gustavo Chávez president of the Atzitzintla communal land commission president of the communal land monitoring council Since then the area hasn’t experienced any more fires of such intensity The national park’s environmental management program lists five rivers that originate high on the slopes of the Pico de Orizaba volcano: the Blanco All are part of the wider watershed formed by the Jamapa and Papaloapan rivers while their distributaries feed into the Balsas River Basin which benefits Tehuacán Valley in the state of Puebla Tlachichuca and other urban and rural areas in the region Within the national park’s area of influence defined as a band that radiates out 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the park boundary lie 23 communities from five municipalities in Veracruz and 17 communities from three municipalities in Puebla Communal landholders from the communities closest to the area where the fire occurred say they’re concerned that the fire destroyed trees more than 30 m (100 ft) tall which they say will affect the water supply in their region municipal president of Atzitzintla in Puebla told Mongabay Latam that the fire was atypical; previous blazes had never been seen lapping at a tree canopy 30 m high can no longer grow fast in the wake of fire damage with important water sources that stem from the Pico de Orizaba volcano This could exacerbate the already intensifying pressure on water sources in the region given how the glaciers here are also diminishing further threatening communities’ water supplies Since 2021, the Veracruz Agency for Communication and News (AVC Noticias) has documented the retreat of the northern glacier atop Pico de Orizaba, at an altitude of more than 5,000 m (16,400 ft). In an investigative report had lost 71% of its surface area between 1958 and 2017 The restoration of the area where the fire occurred is another issue that worries communal landholders as it’s located on a hard-to-reach hillside which will make it difficult to carry out the work required Some trees will take more than 10 years to grow The park management lists other species that can be found in the national park Pico de Orizaba National Park already faces threats from illegal logging invasive species and agricultural encroachment with the latter stemming from the 40 communities in eight municipalities living just outside the park boundaries CONAFOR considers the natural area a critical forest zone Data from the Global Forest Watch platform show that the park lost 70 hectares (173 acres) of tree cover between 2001 and 2021 work is needed beyond recovering the fire-affected area; for example a screwworm infestation impacting the forest will also need to be tackled Puebla state’s Ministry of the Environment is encouraging the area’s communal landholders to organize themselves in carrying out a forest cleanup program to rid the forest of both pests and possible fuel for forest fires Official figures from the National Commission of Natural Protected Natural Areas (CONANP) show that between 2015 and 2020 67 fires were recorded in Pico de Orizaba National Park affecting around 3,400 hectares (8,400 acres) of which 500 hectares (1,200 acres) were forest land The worst fires were recorded in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic with 1,147 hectares (2,834 acres) of forest impacted Most of this damage was the result of uncontrolled agricultural-related fires and illegal logging the Pico de Orizaba National Park director said 16 fires damaged 515 hectares (1,273 acres) of land in 2022 as many fires were surface fires that didn’t raze entire trees The number of fires in the area that year was slightly lower than the annual average for such events Forest fires have greater impacts beyond those that are immediately visible They can leave soils more prone to erosion trees more vulnerable to pests and disease 20 and 24 in Pico de Orizaba was one of the first events of the forest fire season that began in January and was expected to be intense due to the dry conditions in the country 500 forest fires had already been recorded across Mexico with 10,275 hectares (25,390 acres) damaged The total figure is 36% higher than during the same period in 2022 the central region of Mexico had the highest number of fires the state of Mexico and Veracruz have the highest number of events This story was reported by Mongabay’s Latam team and first published here on our Latam site on Feb The “fortress conservation” model is under pressure in East Africa as protected areas become battlegrounds over history and global efforts to halt biodiversity loss Mongabay’s Special Issue goes beyond the region’s world-renowned safaris to examine how rural communities and governments are reckoning with conservation’s colonial origins and trying to forge a path forward […] 43,000+ global companies doing business in the region 102,000+ key contacts related to companies and projects news and interviews about your industry in English Bad weather stranded a group of 12 climbers last Saturday on Orizaba (5,636m) Searchers swept the mountain for several days had left from Atzitzintla on the southern side of the mountain They got into some kind of trouble around 5,100m Reports suggest that they lost their way in bad weather and became separated In fact, six climbers managed to make their way down on Sunday while one managed to reach Tlachichuca after traversing to the far side of the mountain Rescuers found three other survivors and Jessica N.’s body that day Helicopters and ground rescuers searched both the south and north sides of the volcano for three days since guide Luis Flores was reported missing. Patrols didn’t know whether Flores might have retraced his steps or gone down the other side of the mountain. A spokesperson for the Civil Protection Corps in Puebla state said that they were even considering checking the mountain’s northeast face The speculation ended last night when they found Flores’ lifeless body at 4,600m and rescuers were unable to move his remains right away They expected to carry it down the mountain today Civil Protection officials also confirmed that one member of the group As for the survivors, some were later admitted to the hospital with bruises, hypothermia, and frostbite. Andrea Hernandez, 41, was transferred to Guadalajara Hospital yesterday with frostbitten fingers Orizaba (Citlalteptl in the local Nahuatl language) is an active volcano between the Veracruz and Puebla regions It is the third-highest peak in North America after Denali and Mount Logan and is the seventh-most prominent peak on Earth Its climb is a straightforward uphill hike in good conditions, but that can quickly change in case of bad weather. Four people died on the mountain just last August The upper sections above 5,000m feature steep slopes up to 35º on snow and ice It’s most typically tackled between November and March Angela Benavides graduated university in journalism and specializes in high-altitude mountaineering and expedition news She has been writing about climbing and mountaineering adventure and outdoor sports for 20+ years Angela Benavides spent time at/worked at a number of local and international media She is also experienced in outdoor-sport consultancy for sponsoring corporations Sign up to receive ExplorersWeb content direct to your inbox once a week Orizaba is the highest mountain in Mexico and the third-highest in North America Here’s the equipment that helped me and my team make it to the summit We grazed on rehydrated Kung Pow chicken and watched a storm roll in with high winds and heavy rain and a quick ascent from sea level to 14,000 feet Even experienced mountaineers suffer when rushing to altitude Pico de Orizaba, aka Citlaltépetl, is a stratovolcano and the highest mountain in Mexico Sitting on the border of Veracruz and Puebla Our goal was to climb a route on the north side of the mountain from Piedra Grande Hut to the summit crater The climb rises 4,500 feet from base camp to the summit progressing through an icy maze called the Labyrinth and finally slogging up the 35-degree glacier to the top Fortunes improved the second night when I heard my GPS device buzz: a pair of texts from my mom She sent a revised weather report predicting a partly cloudy forecast the next day This was the nudge we needed to prepare for a summit bid After hours of marching through freezing rain and battling to keep fingers warm the sun rose and the clouds started to part we would’ve been less comfortable and safe Here are the key pieces of gear I used to climb Orizaba there is a lot of moisture to keep at bay on Orizaba I chose the Mountain Hardwear Gore-Tex Exposure/2 Jacket to keep me dry and the wind at bay To celebrate its 25th anniversary, Mountain Hardwear launched the Exposure/2 Gore-Tex series. Within that collection this is a burly 3L Pro Gore-Tex burly Gore-Tex outer layer that’s ideal for rugged alpine conditions and long days in the wet and cold The Pro jacket and bib combo have a color scheme that harkens to the brand’s heritage and design that looks into the future for materials and quality The Exposure/2 shells kept the team warm and dry Under your shell, you will need insulation to keep warm. I chose the Mountain Hardwear Super DS Stretch Down The Super DS is the perfect middle layering piece a warm layer that breathes well and stretches with your movements This makes it great for any activity with tools or poles I wore the DS for the entire climb and was pleasantly surprised how warm and dry I stayed in temps around 10 degrees I’ve used many different alpine boots, and none have fit better than the Mont Blanc GTX I’ve used them on long traverses and big-mountain summits without a single blister The old adage “function over form” is something I follow devoutly. The caveat is if you can have both, definitely take it. To me, Stance makes the best socks on the market The brand’s warmth-to-weight ratio is impressive I wear them exclusively — they’re that good This runs the gamut from trips to the grocery store to climbing high-altitude peaks Even in suboptimal weather, my InReach Mini was able to send and receive messages I use this capability to provide comfort to friends and loved ones at home when I don’t have service when weather is both temperamental and critical for success my Garmin turns into one of the most important pieces of gear I own It helps me get real-time updates on weather and snow conditions With a preference for versatility, I chose the Black Diamond Snaggletooth crampons for the Orizaba climb they’re my top choice for most technical alpine routes because they’re stable Our route through the Labyrinth and across the Jamapa Glacier included mixed conditions and even some rock making these burly spikes the perfect complement to my mountaineering boots A simple stainless steel head and aluminum shaft make up my favorite ice axe, the Raven It was my first mountaineering tool and to date has climbed dozens of peaks with me without an issue Attached with webbing and a carabiner to my alpine harness it’s a bit heavier than some of the newer and lighter ice tools The Actik runs seemingly forever While I watched others on the team change batteries with frigid hands I typically set it on the middle setting of the variable lighting options which is good enough to comfortably see everything around me the headlamp is great for a variety of outdoor activities By: 4:30 am on May 6 The San Francisco Public Library is considering plans to construct a new branch at 100 Orizaba Avenue in Ocean View. The Preliminary Project Assessment review has been published by San Francisco Planning Department giving insight into what city staff considers important issues for the project The new project will replace the neighborhood’s existing library at 345 Randolph Street also the smallest library in the SFPL system San Francisco Public Works Bureau of Architecture is managing the planning and design The new building will cover around 10,000 square feet with the floor plan built around existing trees The project will include bicycle parking on-site illustration by San Francisco Public Works Bureau of Architecture “we would maintain as much of the site’s character as possible while also providing necessary public services and amenities for the area Both the building and landscape designs respond to and take cues from the existing open space areas and accentuate the significant mature trees on-site the landscape design creates inviting and cohesive outdoor spaces that complement and enrich the building’s program and architecture.” There will be two outdoor reading courts at the rear of the building to be surrounded by the existing mature trees The upper reading room would feature an elevated wood deck and seating terraces The 42-foot tall new building will span around 31,700 square feet The third floor will be dedicated to administrative space illustrations by San Francisco Public Works Bureau of Architecture The assessment considered three key issues for planners to consider The property is located within the Vision Zero High Injury Network a program to design safer streets and end traffic fatalities Plans for the new library will include pedestrian safety improvements from nearby streets The second issue is Brotherhood Way and the Open Space Plan The San Francisco County Transportation Authority is researching the prospect of realigning Brotherhood Way and Sagamore Street to maximize pedestrian safety Considering the potential for SFCTA’s plans city staff suggest the project siting be redesigned to be compatible with the future road The third point is to co-locate public facilities so that the library can be a center for local community needs. City staff recommends connecting with the Office of Resilience and City Planning, the Department of Real Estate, SFMTA, Public Works, and the Recreation and Parks Department Including so many public services in the library is part of a broader trend toward having the library function as a primary civic institution for a neighborhood 100 Orizaba Avenue and the neighborhood context as part of the SFCTA Brotherhood Way plan image by San Francisco Public Works Bureau of Architecture City plans indicate they are considering using conventional steel or mass timber for the project frame City records show that the property sold in 2008 for $548,000 Construction is estimated to cost around $30 million lasting two years from groundbreaking to completion Once construction is finished for 100 Orizaba Avenue the future of the existing library on Randolph Street has not been determined It could be retained as a public building for a new civic function though documents show that the sale of the property is being considered Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates Like YIMBY on Facebook Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews The M-Line extension and planning has not moved anywhere and the real hurdle is to get the M-Line to Daly City BART The interchange at brotherhood way is a 1952 cloverleaf nightmare and they ignored it in the prior transit planning for 19th Ave and the SFMTA/SFCTA connectivity issues bi-county between SF and Daly City The congestion here will drastically worsen with the Parkmerced SFSU-CSU and Stonestown build out projects and changes along Sloat Blvd towards ocean beach The use of this thoroughfare will become gridlock And when children cross to this location its a super hazard highway Why not focus on the parking lot across from the Winston branch on 19th Make a decent sized library for the district scaled to the needs of the community and turn the older branch to a childrens branch library only See new library in Walnut Creek you need a larger facility with green space that is useable not the measley looking space shown… ga('send', 'event', ‘Robert ‘Becker, 'Impression', 'https://sfyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/desktop-ad.jpg', { nonInteraction: true }); ADVERTISEMENT ga('send', 'event', 'SF YIMBY', 'Impression', 'https://sfyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/sfyimbyadnews.jpg', { nonInteraction: true }); ga('send', 'event', 'SF YIMBY', 'Impression', 'https://sfyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/sf-yimby-dot-com-graphic.jpg', { nonInteraction: true }); Follow on Instagram © COPYRIGHT New York YIMBY LLC Be one of the first to try our new activity feed The wind was driving hard across the glacier whipping spindrift into my eyes in staccato bursts high on the summit cone of Pico de Orizaba (18,491 feet) We had been slogging through over a foot of snow since just above 15,000 feet where climbers enter a perplexing jumble of boulders and cliff bands known as the Labyrinth The snow thinned out higher up on the summit cone and shrouds of fog blanketing the mountain I talked with the sole other climber sleeping at the refuge and we agreed it’d be best to stick near each other on our ascent “So much for climate change,” I muttered moronically leaning hard on my axe and pausing to suck in air my exhaustion compelling me to momentarily join the company of imbeciles worldwide who use any instances of cold weather as inerrant proof of the “climate change hoax.”  We were climbing in the rainy season and it was a hell of a day to summit but of course the occasional snowstorm hitting a mountain has nothing to do with the rapid recession of its permanent ice masses Orizaba’s glaciers have shrunk as much as 95 percent in the last century with many no longer existing in any form whatsoever We aren’t talking about a remaining lifespan of decades though will likely be completely gone in a handful of years to climb Orizaba before the mountain is irrevocably changed Mexico historically harbored three glaciated peaks within its borders: Iztaccíhuatl (17,160 feet) Popocatépetl (17,802 feet) and Pico de Orizaba (18,491 feet) the latter also referred to as Citlaltépetl (“Star Mountain,” in the native Náhuatl) the trio of volcanoes held a little over two dozen glaciers between them The glaciers on Popocatépetl (colloquially known as “Popo”) were declared extinct in the early 2000s (a glacier is generally referred to as “extinct” when the ice no longer has enough mass to move under its own weight) Iztaccíhuatl (Izta) only has one official glacier remaining with an expected lifespan of a year or two Within a year Pico de Orizaba may be the last glaciated summit in Mexico The day before my ascent, I spoke with Dr. Gerardo Reyes of Servimont the premier guiding company running trips up Orizaba His family-run outfit is based in Tlachichuca a small town of 7,000 nestled just to the west of the mountain Servimont is the oldest existing mountaineering service in Mexico and Reyes and his family have been guiding on Orizaba and the other Mexican volcanoes for four generations His grandfather began leading trips up the mountain in 1932 Reyes and his three sons now continue the tradition with Servimont operating out of a colonial compound that also houses an extensive mountaineering museum containing a host of 19th-century memorabilia the first official climbing register for the mountain who first climbed Orizaba when he was 15 years old has summited more than 30 times for rescues alone He’s lost count of the times he has stood atop the peak but estimates the number at easily more than 100 Orizaba is both the tallest volcano and third tallest mountain in North America Both Popo and Izta are among the highest mountains on the continent With the shorter duo of peaks only an hour by car outside of Mexico City and Orizaba not much further (200 km as the crow flies) all three mountains are extremely accessible for international climbers Despite their elevation, none of the three mountains require anything more than crampons and a piolet for their standard routes. Though they have minimal crevasse and avalanche danger, rescues and deaths occur every year. Of particular note, a slab avalanche in 1993 killed four climbers embassy staffer was killed on the mountain in 2018 Reyes noted that the majority of accidents are a result of sheer inexperience The mountain attracts many novice climbers and often individuals with no climbing experience whatsoever “People come here thinking it is a hike and try to go without a guide,” he said there has been concern online about crevasses opening on the mountain due to the melting glacier But from talking with Reyes and based on my own experience it seems these concerns are overblown assuming one stays on route and climbs from the north so always use caution if attempting a summit alone.) but the trek itself can easily be done in six to 10 hours from the hut at Piedra Grande (13,900 feet) While it’s true that Orizaba sees scores of climbers during the traditional trekking season (November to March) and the off-season offers a decidedly different experience Given that all three mountains are several thousand feet higher than anything in the contiguous United States they offer a unique opportunity for aspiring North American mountaineers to trek at high altitude on snow and ice without having to deal with any technical pitches of ice or rock and without having to shell out thousands on an international expedition accessible high-altitude mountains in the world It also offers a relatively safe opportunity to climb a glaciated peak at significant elevation alone with mellow route-finding and minimal crevasse danger Orizaba won’t be Orizaba as we know it much longer According to a National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) study published in 2015 Orizaba’s glaciers shrunk 90 percent from 1958 to 2001 alone Of the original nine glaciers on the mountain for which the standard route on Orizaba was named University of Zurich glaciologist Christian Huggel told Reuters in 2007 that Izta’s glaciers have shrunk 70 percent since 1960 and that decline has only continued in the 14 years since with upwards of 50 percent loss of glacial area between 2003 and 2019 according to an AAR study (see below) Though the standard glacier route is a mere trek the mountain used to hold a handful of more technical sections including a 10-pitch WI3 The Serpent’s Head None of these routes have formed in recent years “Orizaba will be a rock climb.” By his estimate the remaining two glaciers on the peak won’t just be technically “extinct,” but completely gone from the peak in 10 years There are no measures ecologically that can reverse it fast enough The surrounding forests are burned each year there are a lot of cattle and sheep around the mountain There are no programs to extend the forest to lower levels to help attract or keep humidity and cool temperatures [on the mountain].” “When I began climbing Orizaba as a teenager,” he said “from the base camp (13,900 feet) we would reach the edge of the glacier in an hour Then you put your crampons on and go to the summit it takes four to five hours to reach the edge of the glacier.” The depth of the glacier has shrunk to a quarter of what it once was—it is now only 10 feet deep in many spots “The glacier has left the moraine in very bad condition,” he added exposing treacherous fields of scree and talus “It’s impressive how fast we are losing it.” While the number of American climbers has remained steady of late Reyes noted that the number of European climbers attempting Orizaba has dropped dramatically in recent years (pre-COVID) but surmised it could be because the worth of an Orizaba summit may have changed in the eyes of some There are a number of theories as to the glacier’s shrinkage, most obviously the overall warming of Earth’s atmosphere, which is hitting equatorial regions harder and faster. An extensive 2019 study published in the journal Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research noted summit temperatures on both Izta and Orizaba are now at or above melting points regularly throughout the year “the atmospheric transport of air pollutants from the Mexico City basin is correlated with the retreat of the glacier and it is possible that pollution plays some role in glacier loss,” the study noted the peak’s Occidental and Suroccidental glaciers which once extended down to an altitude of 4,930 m (16,175 feet) had receded up to 5,310 m (17,421 feet) in 2019 The researchers also found that the Glacier Oriental lost over 50% of its mass between 2003 and 2018 Not only are Orizaba and Izta’s glaciers the only ones remaining in Mexico the AAR reported that they’re also “the only permanent ice masses at this latitude (20 degrees N)” anywhere in the world What’s happening in Mexico is not unique: Glaciers are disappearing worldwide especially fast on equatorial peaks like Orizaba The consequences reach far beyond climbing On the approach to the climbers’ hut at Piedra Grande despite this being the “rainy season” in Mexico The now-extinct Jamapa Glacier represented a source of water for many communities in Puebla and the neighboring state of Veracruz which goes on to empty into the Gulf of Mexico south of Veracruz Its loss has had a catastrophic effect on the water supply for these communities with local leaders estimating major water shortages will occur within the next 20 years as the remaining glaciation on the peak continues to shrink “The retreat of such glaciers could cause the loss of microbial diversity that is endemic to these environments,” noted the AAR report The loss of Orizaba’s glaciers is a tragedy for everyman mountaineers worldwide Most peaks at this elevation are incredibly costly and inaccessible for the average individual require a wealth of technical knowledge and equipment have costly permits and guiding requirements Picking my way up the glacier to stand on the rim of Orizaba’s caldera the entire summit covered in snow and ice glistening under the dawning sun… It was an incredible moment will have a very different experience on Mexico’s tallest mountain Although Pico de Orizaba is a dormant volcano, it is not extinct and may erupt in the future. At 5,636 meters above sea level, Citlaltepetl is North America’s highest volcano and third-highest mountain, the world’s 4th highest Volcanic Seven Summit This Star Mountain is also the world’s second-most prominent volcanic peak and the third highest peak in North America after Denali and Mount Logan The inactive volcano is the world’s 16th most isolated peak located approximately 110 kilometers to the west of the port city of Veracruz making Mexico the world’s 20th highest country The Star Mountain is the easternmost stratovolcano of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt The extinct Sierra Negra volcano is located approximately six kilometers southwest of Pico de Orizaba The cooling ridges (lava flow levees) are also visible on the sides of the volcano with the prominent ones located on the cone’s southwest flank Pico de Orizaba is the source of several rivers with the annual average temperature falling below -2 degrees Celsius The lava steadily flowed out of the volcano Although Pico de Orizaba is a dormant stratovolcano It erupted every century from the 12th to the 19th century The volcano’s most violent eruption may have occurred in 6710 BC recording a Volcanic Explosive Index (VEI) of five The summit crater is 300 meters deep and has a surface area of 154,830 square kilometers Citlaltepetl is one of Mexico’s three volcanoes covered by an ice cap and consists of the country’s largest glacier known as Gran Glacier Norte The southern and southeastern snow melts much faster than the snow on other parts of the volcano due to the solar radiation The glacier forms mainly on the north and northwest faces because of low temperature The Gran Glacier Norte forms on the volcano’s northern side and contains nine glaciers The nine named glaciers extend 3.5 kilometers from an elevation of 5,650 to 5,000 meters and cover about 9.08 square kilometers The Jamapa Glacier is distinct and has influenced the mountain region’s geomorphologic evolution It extends northwest for 2 kilometers from an elevation of 4,950 meters the glacier divides into two tongues that terminate at 4,640 and 4,650 meters several people have reached Pico de Orizaba’s summit including Alejandro Doignon and Martin Tritschler photos and original descriptions © 2025 worldatlas.com Authorities in Puebla have confirmed the death of a man who led an expedition to climb the Pico de Orizaba volcano last Saturday The death of a woman was previously announced while another man remains missing on the dormant volcano The Puebla Civil Protection agency said on the X social media platform on Wednesday morning that search and rescue teams had located the body of Luis Flores Gómez He was the guide for a group of 11 mountaineers from Jalisco who scaled Mexico’s largest peak in cold weather last Saturday The death of a woman identified as Jessica N The Civil Protection agency said that Flores’ body was found 4,600 meters above sea level on Tuesday night Rescuers were unable to retrieve it due to a lack of light but will bring the body off the mountain on Wednesday They will also continue searching for a mountaineer who remains missing five days after the expedition began the group of mountaineers reportedly lost their way due to bad weather when they were descending the 5,636-meter-high Pico de Orizaba last Saturday Nine members of the group made it off the volcano on Sunday although some of them had symptoms of dehydration and the early stages of hypothermia That left three of the group unaccounted for two of whom have now been confirmed to have died The fatalities come just six months after four mountaineers fell to their death on Pico de Orizaba which straddles the states of Puebla and Veracruz the stratovolcano is the third highest mountain peak in North America after Denali (Mount McKinley) in Alaska and Mount Logan in Canada With reports from Milenio and Excélsior Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. Climbers fall while scaling southern slop of Mexico’s tallest mountain I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Four Mexicans fell to their deaths while climbing the Pico de Orizaba – the country's tallest mountain The climbers reportedly fell while scaling the southern slope of the 5,675-metre-tall mountain located in south-central Mexico The mountain is also known by its indigenous name Citlaltepetl Two of the climbers were from the neighbouring state of Veracruz, and one from Puebla and Orizaba each, the civil defence office of Puebla said. The fourth body was recovered on Monday. Photos distributed by the office showed rescue workers trying to recover the bodies down from a loose, rocky apron below an even steeper slope above the snow line. "The mountain search and rescue group and the support of the Red Cross were used for the recovery of the bodies and their descent," the authorities wrote on X, previously known as Twitter. Puebla governor Sergio Salomon offered his condolences to the families of the climbers. People from the civil defence office are coordinating with the municipality and the Red Cross, he said. Pico de Orizaba is the highest mountain in the country and the tallest volcano in North America where accidents at peak are not uncommon. In 2015, two mummified bodies of mountaineers were found, who were reportedly buried by an avalache in 1958, while trying to ascend the north face of Pico de Orizaba. A member of the US diplomatic mission died while climbing the mountain in 2018, the embassy in Mexico said. In November 2017, another American climber died and seven others were rescued on the mountain. Meanwhile, a Mexican climber named Perla Tijerina spent 32 days at the top of the mountain earlier this year as part of a dare. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies FILE - Mexico’s highest peak and the third highest in North America rises above the morning mist as seen from a Mexican Navy aircraft on a volcano monitoring mission in Mexico authorities said two people died and another remains missing on Pico de Orizaba Authorities in the central state of Puebla said late Tuesday that rescuers had found the body of a guide who was leading an ascent of the 18,619 feet (5,675 meter) volcanic peak Another person from the 12-member climbing group died earlier on the peak which is also known by its Indigenous name Citlaltépetl The guide’s body was found at an altitude of about 15,000 feet (4,600 meters) and was being brought down from the mountain on Wednesday But the state interior department said the search continues for another climber from the group who was still missing The state civil defense office said the group had started up the mountain on Saturday but lost their way amid difficult weather conditions and four others were rescued on the mountain and since 2015 rescuers and climbers have found at least three mummified bodies in the snow there They apparently were climbers lost in a 1959 avalanche Embassy in Mexico said a member of the U.S diplomatic mission died while climbing on the mountain another American climber died and seven others were rescued on the mountain to announce that the FECOMBOX Mexico Congress will take place in that beautiful and historic city on June 20 as it has caused and generated great interest to have this particular event in this city representing the Mayor of Orizaba and  Juan Manuel Diez Franco underlined and emphasized  the strategic importance and significance of the Congress and the municipal support for this event The President of the Boxing Commission of Rio Veracruz spoke about the vital necesity  of Boxing Medicine and invited everyone to attend this very important event For more information contact Doctor José Abraham Jarquin Gómez, General Coordinator portmedicine1957@hotmail.com Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy A mountain climber by the name of José Luis Díaz Morales was found dead on Pico de Orizaba on Tuesday Díaz Morales was the last of three missing mountain climbers to be located after a summit expedition turned deadly on Saturday, Feb. 17. Nine of the 12-person crew descended safely, while a total of three climbers, including the group’s guide is Mexico’s highest peak and the third-highest point in the Americas at 5,636 meters is a popular summiting goal among experienced mountaineers Cold weather conditions and low visibility caused the climbers to lose their way while descending the mountain on Feb a climber by the name of Pablo alerted authorities that the group had lost several members initiating a 10-day rescue effort by the Mountain Aid and Rescue Brigade of Mexico Puebla Civil Protection authorities and the municipal police of Atzitzintla The body of Díaz Morales was located near a base known as Espinazo del Diablo or “devil’s backbone,” some 4,910 meters above sea level Authorities delivered his body to the Forensic Medical Service in Ciudad Serdán for autopsy and to transfer the body of 57-year-old climber to his native Jalisco Authorities had previously located the bodies of Jessica N. All were members of a mountain climbing group based in the state of Jalisco Several of the nine survivors are still recovering from dehydration and hypothermia This month’s tragedy on Orizaba is not the first time climbers have fallen victim to the perilous peak According to statistics by newspaper El Sol de Puebla 17 mountaineers have died on Pico de Orizaba since 2015 With reports from Milenio and El Sol de Puebla snowcapped volcanoes offer a guided challenge to mountain climbers pushing for new altitude goals recipient of the Spanish “Silver Broom” award for its cleanliness It really was a site to behold: clear and modern stoplights and street indications many of which had explanations of why the names had been given in the first place As the birthplace of Francisco Gabilondo Soler (famously known as the singer Cri-Cri) the city center is filled with well-maintained statues from his songs (some admittedly fairly racist — clearly not all cultural cornerstones from the 30s and 40s have aged well) The Alameda park was filled with an assortment of sturdy playgrounds made from recycled material — even one for dogs Another kid-friendly park features life-sized dinosaur statues and is definitely worth the visit if you can keep the inexplicably-placed giant crucifix from scaring your heathen children There’s a river walk that doubles as a zoo with an impressive number of animals cable cars that seem to float over the city as they travel back and forth from the center to a nearby mountain and plenty of tourist information placed throughout the city My own city of Xalapa could certainly learn a few things from Orizaba While ambitious projects are often started enthusiastically here A handful of streets in and around my neighborhood were torn up completely in what seemed like less than a day and have stayed that way for the better part of several months which is a problem in a city with an average rainfall of 1,587 millimeters a year but it seems we forget that a city is a living thing is that urban planning is controlled by a hodgepodge of entities But as anyone who’s worked in a large organization knows when several branches are in charge of one area things tend to slip through the cracks and misunderstandings about what things are whose responsibility abound Corruption is obviously also part of the problem as evidenced by the abundance of half-bridges that go nowhere and have been overgrown by plants in a truly post-apocalyptic style Well-intentioned efforts like a tree-planting initiative have shown major problems with oversight and  cases in which billions of pesos are spent on projects that never materialize or go way over budget and time are well-documented most urban planning and maintenance is best done by the people who actually live in the communities as they know best the unique needs of each place And while huge infrastructure projects can be a boon to local and national economies the simple lessons learned on this last trip to Orizaba: Prevent accidents by maintaining roads and ensuring that everyone knows how to drive at all times with clear indications streets must be constructed in the first place to last We now have the technology to do just that arrows that show the options for where to go when you get to the end of the block and functional stoplights whose sensors are regularly updated according to average traffic flows Invest in lasting (and free) infrastructure for children There was something old-fashioned about the playground equipment I couldn’t quite put my finger on it until I got closer and realized that it was recycled plastic painted to simply look like wood I think even the staunchest capitalist would agree that all children deserve safe places to play and Orizaba was chock full of contented children Not every city can be the birth place of Cri-Cri or that guy who did the Spanish voice of Homer Simpson (trust me But there’s always something that makes a place special and calling attention to those things makes people proud not only to call it home Plants — especially plants native to the area — just make everything beautiful Keep things neat and painted.  Even one house getting a new (or first) coat of paint can make such a difference. Painting is something that we can all work on together to keep our neighborhoods and communities beautiful. Comex regularly sponsors community painting projects giving citizens a chance to really add personality to their communal spaces Real ownership of the community comes when we all take pride in where we live and work to make it functional Let’s take a page from Orizaba and get to work Sarah DeVries writes from her home in Xalapa The original version of this article was published on ExplorersWeb Search patrols have found the body of a climber missing on Mexico’s Pico de Orizaba since Feb Known only as Jose Luis N., the missing climber is the third death in a group of 12 people stranded by bad weather on Mexico’s highest peak earlier this month. Authorities found the body of the 57-year-old from Guadalajara on Tuesday on the south face of the mountain at about 16,100 feet, Mexico’s Civil Protection office in Puebla announced on X searchers had found the climber’s cellphone but continued to search for the body Mexican officials reported that several regional organizations had been searching the mountain nonstop ⚠️🗻 En seguimiento a la búsqueda del último alpinista extraviado en el Pico de Orizaba, desde el pasado 17 de febrero, se informa que el día de hoy elementos de esta Coordinación, en sinergia con la Policía Municipal de Atzitzintla, así como integrantes del Club Alpino de Ciudad… pic.twitter.com/BM8tsupS0g Mexico’s El Pais reported that the climbers had ventured up the south side of the 18,490-foot mountain despite forecasts for bad weather Much of the group managed to reach help at the bottom of the volcano with several of them showing symptoms of hypothermia The climbers who made it back down raised the alarm about their missing comrades. Searchers found the body of one of them they also found the body of the group’s guide The search was complicated because the group planned to descend via the north side of Orizaba so search patrols had to scour the entire mountain Ascending Pico de Orizaba involves no technical difficulty in good conditions steep ramps can be dangerous if covered in hard snow or ice Jason Hardrath just completed a 43-mile Infinity Loop FKT of the tallest volcano in North America in less than 24 hours Here's the gear that got him across the finish line I was a journalist dreaming of becoming an international correspondent and a passionate but inexperienced mountaineer when I was hired by a national sport newspaper where everybody were soccer experts but no one had any experience in reporting about outdoors or mountain sports I tried to scape but eventually always returned to the paper/radio/virtual mountains a fall killed four people climbing Citlatepetl Orizaba (5,636m) The climbers were roped together above 5,000m on the volcano’s south side when one of them fell and dragged the other three from the mountain Puebla’s regional government confirmed that all four climbers were Mexicans and belonged to the same group Orizaba is an active volcano located in the eastern Sierra Madre range, between the Veracruz and Puebla regions. It is the third-highest peak in North America after Denali and Mount Logan, and is the seventh most prominent peak on Earth, according to Wikipedia Orizaba’s original Nahuatl (an indigenous language) name is Citlatepetl which can be roughly translated as “peak of the star” You can see Venus above the summit in autumn and winter from the village of Coscomatepec Orizaba is a pretty straightforward ascent, usually done in two days, but it does come with some risks. Snow covers the summit area all year and, while not technically difficult, Orizaba requires caution, especially above 5,000m on glacial terrain up to 35º, according to Summit Post Orizaba’s high season is typically during the dry season between November and March The normal route on Orizaba goes up the north side of the mountain Jamapa is the last remaining glacier on the peak Authorities have found the lifeless body of a climber missing on Orizaba since Feb he is the third fatality in a group of 12 stranded by bad weather on Mexico’s highest peak Search patrols found the body of the 57-year-old from Guadalajara yesterday at 4,910m on the south face of the mountain Last week (on Feb. 22), searchers had found his cell phone, but no trace of the man. A large number of people from different regional organizations have been searching the mountain non-stop, mainly on foot and with drones, the Civil Protection office of Puebla state reported Several groups had been intently looking for the missing climber was part of a 12-member group that ventured up the south side of 5,636m Orizaba The climbers who made it back down on their own raised the alarm. Searchers found the body of one of them they also found the lifeless body of the group’s guide Rescuers retrieve the remains of the last climber on Orizaba Before trekking up the 5,636m dormant volcano Climbers often go up nearby 4,461m Malinche to prepare Most people are familiar with North America’s highest peak a stratovolcano located between Mexico City and Veracruz in central Mexico This trip to climb Orizaba was hatched as a way to test my body’s ability to adapt and perform at high altitude Having finished off Colorado’s 54 14ers (peaks of 14,000 feet or higher) a few years ago I’d been contemplating higher and more challenging peaks If you’re going to climb to an elevation significantly higher than your body is used to it’s necessary to acclimatize to reduce the risk of acute mountain sickness there are several volcanoes in this part of Mexico that are all higher than any peak in the continental U.S And if you’re going to fly to Mexico to climb one volcano it only makes sense to add two or three others to the agenda a frequent climbing partner; a team member from a previous climb of Mount Rainier (who later had to cancel his trip); and a young bilingual engineer from work and we started getting our team organized We threw in with the Colorado Mountain Club which was doing a similar trip this winter As a result of a previous trip to some of these peaks had an established network in Mexico that would greatly simplify the logistics Dave and I could share the organizational workload and split the time and effort needed to get the team acquainted acclimated to 14,000 feet and in shape for the effort which dramatically increased the odds that some would not achieve the summit we looked back to the west and were treated to a beautiful sunset with a spectacular orange sunbeam piercing the clouds between two of the volcanoes: Iztaccihuatl and Popocatepetl Our itinerary had evolved during the previous month and we were now planning to climb Orizaba first building in some acclimatization hikes on the mountain rather than climbing the other mountains first 15,000-foot Sierra Negra and 17,100-foot Iztaccihuatl Popocatepetl (17,900 feet) is currently active and is closed to climbing We arrived in the small town that would be our staging area for three of the four climbs almost exactly 15 hours after leaving Fort Collins which is one of two prominent outfitter/guide services in Tlachichuca We departed in two ancient Jeep Wagoneers and an old Ford pickup up to the trailhead It’s a rough two-hour drive to Piedre Grande a concrete block and wood-framed hut located at 14,000 feet on the northeast side of Pico de Orizaba The hut can accommodate approximately 40 people with climbers coming and going at all hours So we brought tents and planned to camp up the mountain a bit Climbers came and went as we began to unpack and set up camp we encountered another group from Fort Collins They were a day ahead of us in the acclimatization process but one of them was having altitude issues so their plan for the summit was uncertain We hoped our training on 13ers and 14ers in Colorado the past couple of months had helped us get a jump on the acclimatization process We headed up the mountain to begin our adaptation to higher elevation a trail leads up a steep valley toward the glaciated portion of the mountain The trail follows an old aqueduct for a short distance then climbs up steep talus and glacially striated volcanic rock toward the Icy Labyrinth The Labyrinth is a mazelike series of ice or snow gullies snaking steeply upward through the volcanic rocks to the base of the Jamapa Glacier Our goal for the day was to make a slow progression to around 15,000 feet I felt a bit off as we worked our way slowly up the mountain but had only a hint of a headache at times during the day Along the trail at various milestone elevations such as Mount Elbert (14,439 feet) and Mount Whitney (14,505) marks had been painted on rocks adjacent to the trail It was satisfying to trudge past these benchmarks and head into uncharted new high altitude I was surprised to find my pulse rate was still clocking 88 beats per minute and try as I might I could not slow my pulse or get to sleep but we recognized with a group of 12 climbers of varying fitness and abilities that it might be necessary to escort some of them down short of the summit Dave and I realized such a situation could easily put our own summit hopes in jeopardy While we were lounging in the hut that evening covering the ground in graupel and encouraging everyone to their tents to rest in anticipation of our alpine start the next morning We hoped the storm would blow over and give us an opportunity for the summit when I heard the other (unrelated) Fort Collins team leave camp but the full moon illuminated a summit shrouded in clouds or would the weather force us to retreat to camp The only way to find out was to shoulder our packs and head upward We arrived and regrouped at the base of Labyrinth around 6 a.m The day was dawning clear; the clouds were mostly gone It looked to be a promising day on the upper mountain Dustin and Natalie led the way up the Labyrinth and continued upward from there feeling good and anxious to keep their momentum Following their tracks and wands we had placed the day before the rest of the group moved steadily upward added a layer and prepared for the push up the glacier to the rounded summit visible 2,000 vertical feet above now about 30 minutes ahead of the rest of the team could be seen zigzagging its way up the steepening snow field Patrick’s feet were too cold; he could not maintain circulation Dave and I had planned for the contingency that despite the guides it might be necessary for one of us to abandon our summit aspirations to escort someone down Since Dave had reached the summit of Orizaba on a trip five years earlier and pushed the pace to see how my body would react to the altitude and effort Since the first rough night’s sleep at 14,000 feet I seemed to be feeling stronger as I went higher As the slope steepened and the altitude increased The upward traverse zigs into the west and into the wind were uncomfortable; the easterly zags with the wind at our backs provided a welcome respite There were no technical challenges on this ascent A slip here could result in a long and fast ride down the icy slope to the rocks far below Dustin was the first to summit at 10:45 a.m I had been steadily gaining on the two of them forced down some food and marveled at the spectacular crater gaping to the east Natalie found a spot a short distance south of the summit monument that was barren of snow and was partially sheltered from the wind 10 of the 12 team members reached the summit A couple confided to me later they had nearly turned around What prompts people to continue in the face of adversity This is one of the mysteries of mountaineering then dig deep and push one’s body beyond limits previously thought possible provides a very special confidence and sense of accomplishment everyone had departed the summit and progressed carefully and uneventfully down the glacier We packed up quickly and crowded into the vehicles for the drive back to Conchola House “Years from now you may not remember the names of many mountains that you’ve climbed but you’ll always remember Pico de Orizaba!’’ Tom Chapel is an Xplore running columnist and Fort Collins adventurer Details: cache-fra-eddf8230129-FRA 1746520527 2950974266 Two lion cubs are the newest members of an animal sanctuary in Veracruz after a lioness gave birth last month The mother and cubs were isolated for 10 days for their privacy at the Reserva del Río Orizaba (Orizaba River Reserve) They will join two cubs that were born at the sanctuary in October Orizaba Mayor Juan Manuel Diez Francos posted a photo of one of the cubs and credited staff at the sanctuary on social media on Thursday “It fills me with pride to know that the conditions offered in Orizaba for the care of animals that cannot return to their natural habitats allow for the reproduction of species,” he said “Don’t forget to visit the Paseo del río [sanctuary] The little ones are surely having fun …” Diez added Diez also announced that a new unit had been created at the sanctuary to provide improved care for dogs The Reserva del Río Orizaba was created in 2010 and currently houses some 550 animals of 37 species that can be viewed by the public Each animal wears a chip so that it can be closely monitored by staff The UMA has previously provided conditions for reproduction of endangered species With reports from El Sol de Orizaba and El Universal Four people were killed in an accident on the weekend while climbing the 5,636-meter-high Pico de Orizaba volcano Civil Protection authorities in Puebla state said Sunday that the four mountaineers fell to their death Three of the victims were from Veracruz and one was from Puebla ages and genders weren’t disclosed by authorities the tour company Volcanes de México said on its Facebook page that the victims were Carlos Altamirano Lima The tour company said that one of the mountaineers slipped and fell and brought his companions down with him The bodies of all four victims were located and taken to municipal offices in Atzitzintla Civil Protection authorities said on social media It is the third highest mountain peak in North America after Denali (Mount McKinley) in Alaska and Mount Logan in Canada Fatal accidents have occurred on Pico de Orizaba previously, including one in 2018 in which three mountain climbers lost their lives With reports from AFP and El Financiero  Climbers uncover two corpses on Mexico's highest peak Climbers on Pico de Orizaba last week inadvertently discovered the remains of two people buried under the snow, the Guardian reports Locals believe the bodies are of two men from the central city of Puebla who took part in a seven-person attempt to scale Orizaba in 1959; four members died in an avalanche Pico de Orizaba is an 18,491-foot-high volcano considered to be Mexico’s highest mountain part of the 55-year-old mountaineering team says he lost his friends when the team attempted to cross a six-foot-wide crevasse a few hundred yards from the summit and for five minutes the group was enveloped in a wave of ice that pushed Espinoza 1,150 feet The three spent several minutes yelling for their companions They soon saw the hand of Alberto Rodriguez sticking through the snow and quickly confirmed he had died “I felt sad, very sad,” Espinoza told the Mexican newspaper El Universal when describing the ordeal He also expressed elation at the possibility that his companions’ bodies might finally have been found “I will no longer have this in my head,” he said Following the news of the bodies’ discovery local mountain rescue team members have attempted to recover the bodies and perhaps find the third missing person Unfavorable weather forced them to abandon their most recent effort and tech with access to unlimited digital content from Outside Network's iconic brands Through the voyeuristic channels of 2017 I saw that Nick Russell was in Mexico I recalled an instance months prior when he expressed in passing a fascination with snowboarding on a peak down there and I was glad to see he pulled the trigger I sent him a text that turned green and asked him to call when he had a chance His response was the most refreshing thing Id heard in some time with nothing but his phone on airplane mode for documentation and for no reason other than the desire to fulfill a daydream about snowboarding on this particular volcano agree to write some words and share the photos on his phones camera roll from his solo mission to Mexico There are places that currently only exist within the mind researched Google Earth and checked weather Until pixels are transformed into tangible earth imagination runs wild as to what it would be like to stand in the presence of fabled giants That line is always somewhere in the back of my mind Feelings of restlessness arise with my morning coffee An extended period of unfavorable weather dominates the extended forecast Thoughts dig deep and circle back to a peak that has been on the list for several years A weather search soon expands beyond the Sierra Nevada and outside of the country It looks promisinghigh pressure and minimal winds I open a new browser window to Expedia; there is a cheap flight that leaves later tonight A recent hashtag search and message to a random climber reveals that there is indeed snow I call up a couple friends that might have a wild hair I have been loosely monitoring the weather in this region for over two years in an attempt to determine the best time for riding such a line Its no surprise to me that no one is convinced to pack their bags and leave in a matter of hours for a mountain theyve never heard of I begin to organize my gear while I consider the logistics of embarking on a solo mission of this magnitude The cutoff time to drive the four hours to the airport is rapidly approaching I rule out crevasse danger due to my route choice; chances of avalanches are unlikely because of the current forecast and the typical snowpack of high altitude peaks like this one Confidence and a willingness to turn around if needed overrule doubt I cant think of a good enough reason not to go I enter my credit card and contact information and get in the car By 10:45 pm Im sitting by myself in the international terminal at the San Francisco airport A desire to fulfill a human necessity for firsthand experience can bring us to the strangest of places I first learned of this southern behemoth a few years back amidst a classic Pacific Northwest volcano tour They proudly plant their roots in the lowlands rising high into the skyline with alluring presence Their glaciers and defiant snowpacks are icing on the cake Any enthusiast can attest; volcanoes draw you in and keep you coming back for more The appeal for this one in particular is the simple fact that there is a mountain in Mexico with snow A short drive from the Gulf and surrounded by prehispanic archaeological sites even the most creative imaginations couldnt recreate a geographical landscape such as this To deprive myself of a tropical descent would be a travesty I apprehensively sign a rental car insurance form written in Spanish Im not sure if I am paying a deposit or getting fully ripped off Im here and need to drive three hours southeast to the state of Puebla I somehow navigate through the anxiety-inducing city center and onto to an open highway Periodic jagged peaks with glimpses of snow rise through the haze on the horizon Small towns with oddly located furniture and tire stores pop up every so often The disturbing sight of dead dogs on the side of the road is a cringing reality of these roadways Women and children line the shoulders with small umbrellas Cresting a small hill nearly an hour outside the small town of Tlachichuca Her round white cap looks out of place amongst this desert terrain Knowing my low-clearance rental car wouldnt make it up to the starting point on the mountain I had searched for an outfitter in the area prior to my flight and came across a place called Servimont a woman slides a large fortress-style steel door open There is a short man with a sombrero working on an old car the fourth generation of a climbing family in the area and owner of the company that offers trips to Mexican volcanoes He looks around to see if anyone else is walking in behind me Once an old soap factory over a century ago the building has been transformed into an alpine lodge Old climbing gear and expedition flags line the walls There are dozens of photos of the mountain from decades past around every corner Silently noting the healthy snowpack in the grainy pictures its as if Señor Reyes is reading my mind Tell Trump there is no such thing as global warming Basecamp is found at the Piedra Grande hut on the north side of the mountain a steep winding dirt road leads the way past farms traversing across an open plain and into the sun and most take a strong effort to reach their summits a truck takes me directly to over 14,000 feet Views of and from the hut take my breath away and there are a handful of climbers in their sleeping bags A girl sitting on one of the bunks holds her head up with one hand I make myself a thermos of tea and go outside to watch the sunset lies the biggest mountain I have ever stood upon Seemingly validating Señor Reyes comments on climate change the snowline is drastically further away than imagined based on photographs But I have no doubts on my decision to be here My goal of descending the Jamapa Glacier will still hold a couple thousand feet of fall-line freedom March 21st Pico de Orizaba, Mexico Pico De Orizaba Im woken just after midnight to the sounds of jacket zippers and ice axes falling on the floor The climbers are starting to make their trek upwards I happily drift back to sleep knowing that today is not my summit push Waking to a warm sun and moderate temperatures the plan is to acclimate with a hike to just below the snowline Cairns line the lower stretches of the trail as the switchbacks increase in steepness Lizards sunbake on stones heated from the midday sun Higher elevations require an increased intake of fluids and snacks Each large flat rock provides the perfect opportunity for a quick break Gaining a small ridge just below 16,000 feet I reach a high camp below what is known at the Labyrinth a tricky maze of rocks where the snowline begins Ive brought my board up with me to stash in a nook for tomorrow mornings push to the top the Mexican climbing guides are somewhat tripping that I am solo This is a big mountain; you need to start early March 22nd Pico de Orizaba, Mexico PHOTO: Nick Russell and a small party of climbers give another gear-shuffle wakeup call Alpine starts initially give a gut-wrenching feeling caused by a lack of sleep and slight apprehensiveness surrounding the climb tension subsides and one enters an entranced state of perpetual motion Reaching my cached board in the mornings darkness Navigating by headlamp allows the mind to shut off and focus only on what lies few feet ahead The mountains route options split off in various directions and Im front-pointing up a 40 degree slope with no clue if the pitch goes or dead ends and thirty minutes later a crux is defeated An orange glow on the horizon line begins to illuminate vision and spirits a shadow of a lone canine roams the lava flows presenting what I consider to be a powerful omen the realization hits that I am several hours too early and there is not a chance in hell this snow is going to soften up Ive forgotten my puffy and cannot wait around any longer I need to keep moving forth in order to stay warm Three roped climbers descend the slope above with the lead guide basically dragging two deadweights Hours pass and steam vents rise from around the corner a view into the depths of a dormant stratovolcano becomes visible Tattered flags on a cross mark the ceiling of Mexico and a new personal high point Layers of green and brown more than 10,000 feet below exist in a daze of beauty A moment of peaceful solitude atop a cold windy summit is disrupted by nausea and a pounding headache I remove the crampons from my boots and place my feet into bindings A harsh reality of high-altitude peaks is that they are usually aggressively windswept and rugged There were no misconceptions of riding blower pow or perfect corn resting every so often to catch my breath and appreciate the views A bittersweet feeling of gratitude to experience this Mexican snow field before its gone is met with disheartening sentiments I laugh at the fact that this is by far the worst snow and at the same time a highlight of my life thus far it is these spontaneous decisions that make for lasting memories The Jamapa Glacier has receded upwards of 50 percent over the last two decades It is our duty to explore these endangered places and showcase their beauty to the world The wilderness lands of our planet are not to be taken for granted Driving back down the bumpy dirt road to town I stare out the rear view mirror of the truck at Orizaba More from TransWorld SNOWboarding here! Skiing down Pico de Orizaba, Mexico, above the clouds; Photograph by Max LoweTo hear and see more about how we managed to pull of climbing and skiing off Pico De Orizaba, round trip from Denver International Airport, in a single weekend, go ahead and watch our film here. If you’re interested, a detailed hour-by-hour account of our feat in The Ski Journal. Watch your inbox over the next few days for photos captured in mistnet on the outskirts of Wanang village their jelly matrix will limit ventilation to the egg masses starving out especially dense eggs like this (La Jolla Castor canadensis."},"title":"Where does vanilla flavoring come from The silken case itself is visible with the greyish material (a mix of caterpillar saliva and silk) the first black man to make it to the top of the country and western music field From Twenty Hand-Coloured Prints after Original Paintings of Famous American Thoroughbreds by Edward Troye (1808–1874) image: 11 3/8 x 14 15/16 in.","ttl":"2B0GHKP.jpg"},"title":"The life of Lexington used to make tequila on the grounds of the Fortaleza Tequila Distillery."},"title":"Visit Jalisco The Haenyeo make a living out of harvesting the sea floor catching conch They freedive to depths of 20 meters and hold their breath for minutes But the Haenyoe is an endangered 'species' the sea was abundant with them – around 30.000 of them would take to the sea almost daily they hardly number 5000 and more than two-thirds are over 60 years old Here are a few experts love."}],"topicName":"Lifestyle"},"rightpromo":{"id":"2c88edf9-e45c-48a7-a57e-3c8667c53fbc","cmsType":"TileGridModule","tiles":{"id":"drn:src:natgeo:unison::prod:441fde9e-010c-4a0c-a09d-296ee7cb9690","href":"https://www.nationalgeographic.com/lifestyle/article/best-compact-cameras","cmsType":"ArticleNavTile","ratio":"4x3","title":"The 10 best compact cameras for travel the third highest peak in North America, in a weekend and comparing it to every other weekend I have had since What we found both surprised us and gave us a new perspective on what is actually possible within the confines of a traditional Saturday/Sunday weekend In so many ways our shotgun journey south of the border into Mexico alongside friends and fellow adventure athletes Joey Schusler and Thomas Woodson and our enthusiastic but 9-to-5 job-laden friend Karl was doomed from the start."},"type":"p","style":{}},{"id":"inline-1","cntnt":{"cmsType":"image","ariaLabel":"image","align":"contentWidth","belowParagraph":true,"envNme":"prod","flags":{"hideTitle":true,"hideCredit":true,"hideAssetSource":true},"qryStr":"userab=ng_pw_copy-287*variant_b-1127&forceMode=fitt","mrkup":"","placement":"inline"},"type":"inline","style":{}},{"id":"html1","cntnt":{"mrkup":"With a late arrival into Veracruz a rental car that barely managed to carry us up the treacherous our striking out point at 14,000 feet round trip from Denver International Airport trips","lg":"https://assets-cdn.nationalgeographic.com/natgeo/static/default.NG.logo.dark.jpg","pblshr":"National Geographic","abt":"Climbing","sclDsc":"Looking back on our expedition to climb and ski Pico de Orizaba and comparing it to every other weekend I have had since the third highest peak in North America,"," ","in a weekend and comparing it to every"," ","other weekend I have had since What we found both surprised 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Photograph by Joey Schusler","lines":3,"showMoreText":"Read More","showLess":false}}},{"type":"image","data":{"disableFullscreen":false,"articleConfig":{"alignXxs":"full","align":"full"},"image":{"id":"","showCopyright":"Please be respectful of copyright Why did they add a 2,600-mile odyssey of biking Honnold scales what is known as the Bugaboo range’s Chocolate Fudge Brownie route.","ttl":"MM10130 DAY 23: Honnold climbing","rchDsc":{"markup":"DAY 23: In the Purcell Mountains of southeast British Columbia Honnold scales what is known as the Bugaboo range’s Chocolate Fudge Brownie route Three mountain climbers lost their lives yesterday when two climbing parties suffered accidents on the slopes of the Citlaltépetl volcano two climbers were reported missing after beginning their ascent early in the morning on the southern slopes of the dormant volcano Civil Protection later reported that the climbers were located at the 5,000-meter level but one was transported to an IMSS hospital in Orizaba 15 climbers from Mexico City called for help after four became lost Authorities subsequently reported that the climbers had been located but two were found dead Another remained trapped in a nearby forest where weather conditions impeded rescue operations Source: Milenio (sp) A dog that followed a group of hikers up the Pico de Orizaba volcano and stayed on the peak for almost a month has been rescued A group of mountain climbers led by Puebla man Hilario Aguilar scaled Mexico’s highest peak to rescue Canelo The dog’s presence on the top of Pico de Orizaba became widely known after a photo of him went viral on social media According to a report by the newspaper Milenio Canelo followed a group of hikers who were giving him food along the way He remained on the peak for almost a month “… The ultraviolet rays and reflections of the sun on the snow could have left him blind,” he wrote on social media Canelo was handed over to Fátima del Ángel Palacios She will nurse him back to full health before he is possibly put up for adoption video footage recently posted to social media showed a canine atop the Temple of Kukulcán the imposing pyramid at the Chichén Itzá archaeological site in Yucatán Tourists are not permitted to climb the 30-meter-high pyramid but the rule apparently doesn’t apply to daredevil dogs With reports from Milenio Following a deadly ambush of state police officers last week security authorities in Veracruz disbanded the Orizaba police department Saturday in a surprise move who said he had not been informed beforehand told the newspaper La Jornada that about 120 state police officers have been assigned to Orizaba indefinitely who took local officers into temporary custody for questioning and inspection at state facilities in Xalapa said they were investigating whether any had been complicit in the ambush and determine whether any of the officers had links to organized crime the Jalisco New Generation Cartel is suspected to have ties to the attack “We inform Orizaba citizens that their security is guaranteed now that the Ministry of Security will maintain aerial and land patrols strengthening the combat against impunity and crime,” the ministry said in a statement a newly graduated officer from the El Lencero police academy in Xalapa An additional officer survived but remains in serious condition the deaths almost immediately triggered tension in Orizaba over the next three days as state authorities in the area conducted impromptu searches of municipal police officers’ homes and there were clashes between state and municipal officers state authorities arrested two municipal officers and then began the process of disbanding the department This set off a reaction by around 60 other officers on the force who barricaded themselves in the local municipal palace saying they wanted guarantees of safety before turning themselves over to state authorities They claimed to know of cases in which officers had been taken into custody by state officials and “had not returned.” Mayor Rojí eventually convinced the officers to turn themselves in with promise that the local government would take charge of the officers’ transportation to Xalapa and that they would continue to be paid their salaries the officers demanded guarantees of their families’ safety as well as the firing of a local official and a police commander Sources: Proceso (sp), La Jornada (sp) I’m in southern Mexico, on the flanks of the continent’s third tallest mountain, preparing for a summit attempt with fellow climbers Patrick Sanan, Joel Scheingross, and Josh Zahl. We had left the oxygen-dense altitudes of southern California just two days earlier, and I was skeptical of my body’s ability to handle such a quick displacement to Orizaba’s 18,500-foot summit. But the sky was clear and everyone was feeling good: there was no time to waste. Climbing ice-capped mountains in the middle of the night makes practical sense – getting up, down, and off the glacier before the afternoon sun loosens rocks and renders the slope a slippery waterslide is a good idea – but it also has psychological allure. If you can’t see the peak looming over you, you’re forced to focus on each step, unburdened by the hours of climbing to come. And it’s a lot easier to delude yourself into thinking you’re almost there. But the full moon leaves little to the imagination, and Orizaba’s glaciated peak looms large as we put on layers. I had felt a bit ridiculous lugging an enormous bag of down coats, thermal underwear, mountaineering boots, and crampons through bus stations touting the sun-soaked beaches of the Yucatan, but now I wonder if the bag might have been too small. We start moving quickly to fend off the frostbite. At 17,000 feet, the thin air turns every step into an ordeal, and the lack of a reliable reference point – there are no trees, buildings, or other climbers – makes it maddeningly unclear how much longer the ordeal will last. We trudge upward for hours to the syncopated beat of crampons, ice axes, and raspy breaths. False summits come and go – a trying exercise of mental patience – and as the moon sets into an orange dawn, we find the true summit, marked by an incongruous heap of scrap metal. Our route up Orizaba stuck to the smooth glacier, but as I stagger to the summit ridge, I see a massive caldera on the other side. The jagged rocks and deep pit serve as a vivid reminder of the mountain’s volcanic provenance: it built upward in three stages of activity spanning the last 650,000 years. Orizaba last erupted in 1687, and has since passed the baton to modern-day threats like Colima and Popocatepetl. Turning around from the 1000-foot cliff, I see the peak’s shadow stretching to the horizon, a perfect triangle enveloping the valley below. And now I understand the convenient third benefit of an early start time: the stunning views of sunrise from the top of Mexico. It is the essential source of information and ideas that make sense of a world in constant transformation The WIRED conversation illuminates how technology is changing every aspect of our lives—from culture to business The breakthroughs and innovations that we uncover lead to new ways of thinking Matt Segal and I—both professional climbers and beginner paragliders—headed down to Mexico with the pie-in-the-sky goal of flying off of Pico de Orizaba We stayed in world-class paragliding destination Valle de Bravo known for it’s consistent and adventurous flying conditions We waited in Valle for a weather window to fly off Orizaba which was tough given that a “100-year storm” was buffeting the volcano with 80 mph winds and copious snow But towards the end of our month in Mexico climbed up and flew off of Pico de Orizaba Not bad for less than a year of paragliding “Better lucky than good,” as I like to say I directed a short film of the adventure called The Fledglings uncut version will hit film festivals this summer Segal and I enter a “gaggle” of 30 paragliders all circling up in one thermal or column of rising air traveling upward from the ground and I find unflyable conditions on Nevada de Toluca a 15,000-foot-tall volcano near Valle de Bravo Enjoying the “view” from near the summit of Nevada de Toluca Paragliding gives you a bird’s-eye view of the world soaring below some wild mammatus clouds above Valle de Bravo Henzi performing some advanced wingover acrobatics on his paraglider We call him our “flying sensei,” and he’s also one of the most adventurous pilots in the U.S Searching for the next thermal in Valle de Bravo the peak we unsuccessfully tried to launch off while training for Orizaba I managed to fly the long-distance to the volcano by linking thermals and Approaching Nevada de Toluca after the team was thwarted from in our attempt to fly off of the peak A network of correspondents providing impartial news reports and analysis in 33 languages from locations around the world Up-to-the-minute news and analysis from around the world and in Chicago Hosted by WBEZ's Mary Dixon and NPR's Steve Inskeep Newshour is the award-winning flagship program of the BBC World Service the world’s largest news gathering operation 1A convenes a conversation about the most important issues of our time smart reflection on world news as it’s happening innovators and artists from around the globe with news from Chicago from WBEZ’s Lisa Labuz Reset digs into how the news has moved since you left the house discussing and unpacking the biggest stories and issues in Chicago and beyond right in the heart of the day Fresh Air is a weekday “talk show” that hardly fits the mold Fresh Air Weekend collects the week’s best cultural segments and crafts them together for great weekend listening The show is produced by WHYY and hosted by Terry Gross and features from Chicago and around the world Hosted by WBEZ’s Melba Lara and NPR’s Ailsa Chang A daily take on business and 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presented by the New Yorker magazine’s editor killer beats and the edgiest new talent in storytelling come together for a weekly show that straps audiences into an audio rollercoaster Radiolab is known for its deep-dive journalism and innovative sound design Created in 2002 by former host Jad Abumrad the program began as an exploration of scientific inquiry Over the years it has evolved to become a platform for long-form journalism and storytelling Radiolab is hosted by Lulu Miller and Latif Nasser and Dani Ault both got COVID-19 and have been quarantined in their Uptown apartment since March Chicago couple Delilah Orizaba and Dani Ault have been happily stuck together during quarantine “Any other human being in my life I could not do this with — absolutely full stop,” Ault said But sharing a 250-square-foot studio apartment in Uptown meant that when Orizaba got COVID-19 last month they were very worried that me being on hormone therapy was somehow causing all the symptoms,” she said Many trans women fear seeking out health care concerned that they will be brushed aside when they need help — or won’t get help at all That’s a big problem for the community as a whole because queer people frequently struggle with poverty mental health and face discrimination of all kinds — all factors that could lead to worse health outcomes While we know that Black and Brown communities are being hit especially hard by COVID-19 nobody really knows how queer people are faring That’s because health officials aren’t tracking gender and sexuality at COVID-19 testing sites And some think asking those questions could actually be a barrier to better health care the Human Rights Campaign compiled the latest studies on LGBTQ health and economic disparities They found that out of the roughly 16 million queer people in the US about a third of them worked “essential jobs” where they could be more easily exposed to the virus poverty and employment all showed essentially the same thing Queer people fared worse than the general population trans people were worse off than the average queer person while trans people of color faced the most adversity One study showed that 40% of Black trans adults and 45% of Latinx trans adults live below the poverty line the CDC found one in five queer people didn’t see a doctor when they needed to because they couldn’t afford it Experts say the health care disparity could become even worse if Health and Human Services successfully strips Obama-era nondiscrimination protections from LGBTQ people later this summer That ruling came within a week of the Supreme Court ruling in favor of federal job protections for LGBTQ people Neither the Chicago or state health department are asking COVID-19 patients for their status when they’re tested director of the TransLife House at the a queer social service agency Chicago House think that because queer people are a marginalized population it’s important to know what they are collectively experiencing “It’s deplorable that CDPH and IDPH don’t have the data,” she said because we don’t care enough as a society to say ‘Let’s see how these groups are affected,’ because it’s too small for me to care about.” Read more: All of WBEZ’s coverage of the COVID-19 outbreak in Chicago and the region She says this is especially true for people of color within the LGBTQ community “We expect [that] outcomes are going to be worse because there’s going to be more stigma about accessing healthcare there’s going to be more difficulties accessing healthcare,” Josie Paul said Others say testing should be as easy and accessible as possible — and asking too many personal questions could spook people Magda Houlberg is Chief Clinical Officer at LGBTQ clinic Howard Brown Health and Chair of the American Medical Associations Advisory committee on LGBTQ issues While Howard Brown is asking for gender and sexuality it’s voluntary and their staff is trained in how to collect it All they need is a name and a phone number Houlberg worries that if healthcare workers for the state or a big hospital system were asking the same questions queer people may be reluctant to share out of discomfort or fear of discrimination That’s why she’s hesitant to create a wholesale system to collect this data “We haven’t had anybody getting mad for us asking when we explain why,” she said “But we’re also an LGBTQ-identified health center So it’s not out of the realm of possibility that we might ask that question.” It’s a tough dilemma even for trans women themselves like the happily engaged couple Dani Ault and Delilah Orizaba Ault said that trans people are entitled to privacy that keeps them safe Orizaba said it’s important to have the data “If I said queer people are disproportionately contracting COVID-19 that’s one thing,” Orizaba said “But if I said … two times higher than general population queer people are contracting COVID-19 It could be awhile before we know how this is impacting the whole LGBTQ population The city hopes to address the issue by including questions about gender and sexuality in an upcoming COVID-19 health survey This story has been updated to correct the last name of Dani Ault Vivian McCall is a news intern at WBEZ. Mariah Woelfel is a general assignment reporter at WBEZ. Follow them @MVivianMcCall and @MariahWoelfel four Mexican climbers were reported dead after a climbing accident occurred on volcano Pico De Orizaba the nation’s highest peak at 18,619 feet The civil defense office in the central state of Puebla reports that all four deaths appeared to have been caused by a fall Two of the climbers were from the neighboring state of Veracruz and at least one was from Puebla, according to the Associated Press also known by its indigenous name Citlaltepetl stands on the border between those two provinces Carlos Altamirano, orizabeño de 53 años y experimentado montañista perteneciente a los Guardianes del Cerro del Borrego; José Inés Zepahua, de 63 años, al parecer originario de Río Blanco y Humberto Kenji Muray Yasuda, también de Orizaba… pic.twitter.com/nf1aU2MVSn — NBC Diario (@NBCDiario) August 21, 2023 Images shared by the office show rescue teams attempting to recover the bodies of the four climbers down from a loose, rocky apron below an even steeper slope above the snow line, the AP reports. Mexican news station NBC Diario reports that the victims were Carlos Altamirano a 53-year-old from Orizaba and an experienced mountaineer belonging to the Guardians of Cerro del Borrego; José Inés Zepahua apparently originally from Río Blanco and Humberto Kenji Muray Yasuda Pico De Orizaba is infamous for climbing-related accidents and deaths. In 2018, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico said a member of the U.S diplomatic mission died while climbing the peak an American climber died and seven others were rescued from the volcano and the AP reports that at least three mummified bodies of climbers lost in a 1959 avalanche were discovered in the mountain’s snowfields Mexico is featured in this image photographed by an Expedition 26 crew member on the International Space Station The snow and ice-clad peak of Pico de Orizaba (also known as Citlaltepetl) boasts a summit elevation of 5,675 meters (18,619 feet) above sea level making it the highest peak in Mexico and North America’s highest volcano It is also one of three volcanic peaks in Mexico—together with Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl—that retain summit glaciers Pico de Orizaba is part of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt that extends roughly east-west across Mexico The last recorded eruption took place in 1846; while the volcano is considered dormant at present geologists continue to investigate the potential hazards associated with a renewal of activity Shadows accentuate several features of the Pico de Orizaba stratovolcano visible in this photograph from the space station Whether you're looking for the latest space exploration (Try us out for a month before you pay anything.) Mexico — As a result of rising temperatures the ice patches near its summit melting away to bare rock The same process is taking place in the permafrost of Russia the ice fields of the Yukon and the glaciers of New Zealand And as the once-frozen world emerges from slumber debris — and corpses — that have laid hidden for decades given hope to relatives of lost mountain climbers and solved the mysteries of old plane crashes What emerges is not always apparent — or even pleasant It’s a massive deposit of caribou dung in the Yukon that had been frozen for thousands of years Pico de Orizaba towers above all other mountains in Mexico at 18,491 feet It is the highest peak in North America after Mount McKinley in Alaska and Mount Logan in Canada’s Yukon Territory Orizaba is a training ground for those interested in high-altitude climbing They’ve been buried by avalanches or swallowed by crevasses the mountain is spitting back their bodies a climbing party circled the jagged crater atop Orizaba and they later said he skidded down and came to a stop he saw a head poking out of the snow,” said Hilario Aguilar Aguilar a member of a Mexican expedition hit by an avalanche on Nov Some climbers fell near the Chimicheco Ridge their bodies frozen in an icy time machine prosecutors dispatched Aguilar and other climbers on March 4 to document the scene of death “Upon clearing away some snow so that I could take some photographs we discovered that there was another body,” Aguilar said The natural fiber rope connecting the two bodies had disintegrated to little more than a stain in the ice Aguilar said one of the mummified climbers appeared to be wearing remnants of a red sweater but it turned to dust when I touched it,” he said adding that the mummified bodies are unlikely to be retrieved from the mountain until weather clears this one at an oxygen-deprived elevation of about 16,900 feet on another side of the crater Aguilar and his crew went up June 4 and brought the body down on a metal gurney Wearing a suit inappropriate for a freezing clime the victim might have been thrown from a small plane that crashed on Orizaba in 1999 explorers and scientists are stumbling upon mountainside plane wrecks finding mummified Incan children and discovering a frozen graveyard of ancient marine reptiles once hidden under a Chilean glacier Archaeologists are turning into unlikely beneficiaries of a warmer Earth and several have started a new publication: the Journal of Glacial Archaeology an anthropologist at the University of New Mexico said he frets about the phenomenon of ancient ice melting after thousands of years there are thousands coming out of the ice and are decomposing very rapidly,” Dixon said some of the most delicate artifacts are preserved arrow shafts with the feathers intact and arrowheads and lashings perfectly preserved.” Once the ice melts and the artifacts are exposed Norwegian archaeologist Lars Holger Pilo said that about 3,500 artifacts have been found near melted ice patches and glaciers around the globe only short distances separate valleys from mountains where caribou once gathered on ice patches to flee swarming insects which are immobile and distinct from moving glaciers Starting with a warm summer and autumn in 2006 Pilo said ice patches have melted significantly including a complete arrow shaft dating from 5,900 years ago “They look exactly as they did when they were lost we’re starting to get the really old Stone Age arrows." The most notable discovery of a mummified body coughed up by a melting glacier occurred in 1991 in the Italian Alps where two German tourists found a 5,300-year-old mummy high-altitude archaeologists found three mummified Incan children near the summit of towering Mount Llullaillaco in the Argentine Andes The Incans performed such sacrifices to propitiate mountain spirits and serve as messengers to the other world Ill-fated modern mountaineers also are melting out of glaciers Hikers in Canada’s Columbia Icefields in 2010 came across the body of an American who fell off a precipice and was subsequently buried by an avalanche in 1989 His body was so well-preserved that his spiked boots were still on his feet and his climbing rope was still coiled around his body was returned to his family 42 years after an avalanche near Mount Cook in the Southern Alps buried him News reports say police are still working to provide an identity melting has sparked new interest in finding the wreckage of lost aircraft “I’m actually investigating a cold case,” said Gerald Holdsworth a glaciologist and member of the Arctic Institute of North America at the University of Calgary The crash involves a Norseman single-engine bush plane that went down in 1951 at no more than 6,000 feet,” Holdsworth said are “being uncovered by melt down and melt back of glaciers worldwide.” either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content A dog that followed a group of hikers up a volcano in Mexico and stayed there for almost a month has been rescued Puebla man Hilario "Layo" Aguilar led a group of mountain climbers up the side of the volcano The dog's location on the inactive volcano the highest peak in Mexico and the third highest in North America was revealed to the public when a photo of him went viral on social media Aguilar, who worked with members of the High Mountain School to save the dog, posted his account of the events leading up to the dog's recovery from Pico de Orizaba to Facebook on Monday He wrote that in images shared on social media the dog appeared malnourished but that people had not helped it simply because of how difficult and dangerous the descent down the side of the volcano can be with a lesion on a little leg and very red eyes due to the solar radiation due to the height," Aguilar wrote the ultraviolet rays and the reflections of the sun in the snow could have left him blind." Aguilar added that when the group found the dog they gave him food and water with Canelo finishing off almost an entire thermos Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends To get Canelo down the side of the volcano Aguilar and the rest of the mountaineers placed the dog in a backpack with his head protruding from its opening which may have been comical in less dangerous circumstances Milenio reported that Canelo had likely found his way up the mountainside while following another group of climbers offering him food Canelo experienced freezing temperatures and snow The lack of food meant that the dog's ribs were visible under his fur and his paw was injured as photos of the animal had indicated Canelo was delivered to Fátima del Ángel Palacios who is one of the people who helped arrange and organize the rescue she will take care of the animal until he is healthy enough to be given up for adoption This will include him reaching his ideal weight and his eyes recovering from the blinding light reflected by the snow at the top of the mountain Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground Newsletters in your inbox See all and Fassbinder paddle the Rio Antigua; Photograph by Jim HarrisWindmilling his kayak paddle into the pushy breeze pulls onto the sandbar at the mouth of Mexico’s Rio Antigua and squints at the novelty of a flat seascape horizon in the hazy afternoon glare Two days of sleepless dysentery have drained Mehl’s prodigious vigor and his hands are blanched and clammy as we high-five he’s grinning with accomplishment in the salt air Eleven days earlier we’d set out pedaling bikes strapped with mountaineering and whitewater paddling gear in Cholula de Rivadavia Mehl composed a 230-mile bike/hike/packraft triathlon first to Pico de Orizaba (18,491 feet) and then descending through rain forest hamlets to a whitewater river Mehl’s BMX racing roots reemerge on dusty corners; Photograph by Jim HarrisMehl has risen to a sort of auspicious fame in his home state of Alaska With a mind inclined toward calculations and an academic background in geophysics Mehl scrutinizes topographic maps just for fun he then turns his laser beam focus to traveling it Completion of trips like his Mt Logan Traverse garner a mix of awe and envy from the cadre of wilderness adventurers who follow his exploits I count myself among the admirers of his multisport traverses and so I accepted his invitation to join this trip Two other athletes were also enticed by Luc’s outline of a plan Tumolo’s work as a mountain guide on Denali and Fassbinder’s job building packrafts hint at just how dedicated both are to wilderness travel Converging for the first time in the Mexico City International Airport wearing the only set of clothes they’ve brought Their technical fabric pants and weathered trail running shoes stand out amid the sea of loafers and slacks There must have been a moment when he weighed the option of a traverse beginning at the baggage claim but settled instead for a bus ride out of Mexico City before starting The movie playing on little screens overhead shows hobos running to jump on a moving train but I’m watching pedestrians sprint to swing themselves on a bus moving parallel to ours As our bus burrows into the mash of nighttime traffic Steve Fassbinder adjusts the derailleur on Todd Tumolo’s “Look Rich” brand bicycle; Photograph by Jim HarrisWe begin the hunt for bicycles the following day in Cholula Starting at a shop that deals expensive name brands we work our way across town searching for bargains I imagined finding some well-built old steeds but with none to be found at pawnshops and used bike garages we splurge on the cheapest new mountain bikes we can find they’re already in questionable repair and we work into the night truing un-tensioned spokes and bolting on gear racks With packrafts rolled in tight burritos and strapped to our handlebars The very first pothole loosens my handlebars from the clasp of the bike’s stem and they begin spinning With plans to give the bikes away when we reach the headwaters of Rio Antigua we’d sought cheap ones and hope our mechanical know-how will help us nurse them through the coming days of hard riding One of Fassbinder’s crank arms doesn’t tighten to the bottom bracket My rear tire blisters before exploding a few miles later We pull over often to re-align shoddy parts and tighten bolts on our overloaded bicis Squeezed between semi trucks and tall curbs The next one isn’t more than a dry pancake but I cringe as I roll over the matted fur One that’s hit but not yet dead watches us pass and the grim vision spins in my head The frequency of road kill dogs becomes our litmus for how dangerous this road is There’s no room for bikes in the slim lanes and we continue in the ditch When we turn onto a quieter route a dozen miles later I’m relieved to find long intervals between both dead dogs and passing semi trucks Todd Tumolo pedals switchbacks up Orizaba as the sun breaks over the horizon; Photograph by Jim HarrisOur route climbs gradually toward Pico de Orizaba Its hazy triangle outline distills into a white pyramid as we crest the foothill town of Tlachichuca The pavement ends more than 9,000 feet below the summit but the climb continues on a rutted road blanketed in a thick duff of powdery volcanic dust we’re magnets for the billows of airborne ash that swirl from our feet as we push our bikes up the steep 4wd track Tumolo admires the view from the flanks of Pico de Orizaba; Photograph by Jim HarrisIn the thin air at 14,000 feet we lean against the cracked stonework of Pico de Orizaba’s Piedra Grande Refugio and unbuckle the ice axes that have rattled against our bike frames for the last 70 miles a trail leads upward through talus and worn slabs to the shrinking glacier that cups the upper slopes of Orizaba’s cone and Fassbinder have fashioned insulated booties that fit over running shoes and under crampons Their puffy Smurf feet look like caricatures we bask for an hour and a half in the high-watt sunshine and watch black little puffs of smoke sprout like mushrooms as trash piles are lit in villages 10,000 and 15,000 feet below Climbing Orizaba; Photograph by Jim HarrisThat same afternoon we are back on bikes and coasting through towns where the rubbish piles still smolder Chickens patrol the streets and flocks of kids materialize from ditches and alleys to chase our alien gringo bike gang The summit’s lean atmosphere transitions to a misty fragrant one where white rivers of vapor flow up from the rain forest below we ask a farmer permission to camp in the rows of cornfield he’s walking stopping for street tacos and eating produce right from the stand One hungry night we buy two roasted chickens and savage them on the spot despite our filthy hands We’re a conspicuous group and there’s no part of our appearance—from gear-laden bicycles to our roadside campsites—that helps us blend in friendly and curious strangers wave us down to ask where we’re headed One last switchbacking descent leads to a bridge over the Rio Antigua where we plan to put in Sixty miles and 15,000 feet down from Orizaba’s summit we’ve taken the bikes as far as we need them they creak less and feel almost nimble as we pedal into a pueblo pequeño just upstream “Qué quiere esta bicicleta?” I ask a man delivering a sack of coffee beans he shakes my hand between both of his then pedals off Our bikes twirl through town under their new owners The final leg of Mehl’s traverse entails paddling inflatable Alpacka Raft boats 80 miles downriver to the Gulf of Mexico and pack down to the size of a small two-person tent zippers in the boats’ sterns allow us to pack equipment inside before blowing them up the boats have a low center of gravity that adds stability and helps them punch through grabby rapids The first section of our float carries us down Barranca Grande canyon There are few paths into the narrow jungle gorge and so the valley remains nearly uninhabited Class III and IV rapids twist through deep shade of the 1,000-foot-deep corridor and we leapfrog downstream drifting along overhanging walls shaggy with ferns the pristine character of the river changes when the walls angle apart and tributaries carrying sewage and wastewater pour in I spit river water from my compressed lips Mehl falls ill and spends the night retching in the bushes It’s impossible to pinpoint the source of our illnesses But the increasingly polluted river seems a probable culprit The Rio Antigua had grown in volume as it snaked through lush forests but as it neared the ocean Pumps hoovering water for pastures roar two-stroke staccato along the banks and each riffle feels shallower than the last We know we must be close to the Gulf when the current stalls and pelicans appear We hit the Gulf of Mexico 14 miles north of Veracruz and find an empty Storms have deposited a dense confetti of sandblasted tree trunks and plastic flotsam We clear driftwood and garbage from the lee of a cactus outcrop and construct camp It’s sunset and Tumolo and I are catching waves in our packrafts sometimes riding them all the way into the beach and other times getting pummeled in the break After 11 days spent moving towards this beach Long trips like this one don’t always easily fit into a neat narrative arc Summiting Orizaba was the physical high point Tomorrow we’ll walk and hitchhike to Veracruz and I’ll search out transport back to Mexico City Mehl is already talking about his next adventure Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright © 2015-2025 National Geographic Partners Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — An incident on Orizaba Ave Wednesday came to a close after an individual who barricaded themselves in a vehicle was eventually taken into custody According to the El Paso Police Department resulting in a law enforcement response that included the SWAT and Crisis Intervention teams The individual was eventually taken into custody and "placed under an emergency detention order." no criminal charges are pending at this time police received a call of a subject disturbance at 901 N The call came in as a subject with a weapon." Given the breadth of the law enforcement presence called out Franklin High School -- which is located about a mile away -- was placed on a temporary hold though at no point was the school under threat a spokesperson for the El Paso Independent School District told KFOX14/CBS4 that "The Franklin campus is currently safe and El Paso ISD Police will maintain its presence throughout the day." Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox.