This is "Pico de Orizaba", the third tallest peak in North America. Located in Southeastern Mexicoit draws clibers from all over the world. It also kills them on a regular basis. At 18,700 feet, it provides access to high altitude conditions without a trip to the far reaches of the Andes or Himalayas.

Hanging out at "low camp" at 11,800 feet. Sit and breat, sit and breath...and who said climbing mountains as exciting?

There it is...the summit of Orizaba is the white peak located in the background.

The climb was by and large successful...not because of the altitude we attained, how far we did or didn't climb, or that we returned in one peice with no scars to speak of, but because of the people I climbed with. Todd Jewell, Bill Taylor and John Taylor and I developed an incredibly tight bond, a respect for each other abilities and for the fact that it's NOT about reaching the summit...it's about TRYING.

On our way up to high camp...it's an interesting sensation to have your tents perched somewhat precariously on the side of a mountain and hear the wind gusts roll across the glacier at night...interesting until they slam into the tents and shake them like a terrier shakes a rag toy. You hope to hell that the braces and brakes and supports all hold! One little slip and you're in for "The Big Ride"...can you say "Life Insurance?"

"In climbing where the danger is great, all attention has to be given the ground step by step, leaving nothing for beauty by the way. But this care, so keenly and narrowly concentrated, is not without its advantages. One is thoroughly aroused. Compared with the alertness of the senses corresponding precision and power of the muscles on such occasions, one may be said to sleep all the rest of the year.

The mind and the body remain awake for some time after the dangerous ground is past, so that arriving on the summit with the grand outlook - all the world spread below - one is able to see it better, and brings to the feast a far keener vision, and reaps richer harvests than would have been possible ere the presence of danger summoned him to life." - John Muir

The final push to the summt came at 4:30 am, which is late by most alpine standards. Todd & Bill left early to find the trail, and John and I followed shortly after. The wind was hard, biting and gusting at gale-force, but on we trudged. My partner, John (sunrise photo below), dropped at 17,000 leaving me to continue on solo.

At 18,000 ft, I ran across a local guide, Carlos, who had turned his client back atthe crater. Shortly after I ran into Todd & John who also made it to the crater but no farther. But on I trudged, until I was looking down at the world from the summit. WHAT A VIEW!

I think I'm going to try and get BA's to sponsor my next climb!

Here is the summit of Orizaba...I did the best I could to get a picture by holding the camera in one hand and shooting back at me...the problem was that by this time my fingers were numb from the cold...a sensation that lasted for 6 weeks afterwards!

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