Here are some photos from my mountain climbing trip to Mexico in December 1999 and January 2000. My first Mexican peak was La Malinche (4462m / 14,640ft). Although it was my acclimitization hike for the trip (to get used to the altitude), it was also the highest peak I had ever summitted. From there I went on to summit El Pico de Orizaba - also known by the Indian name Citlaltepetl.

Above: Negotiating a ridge on the way to La Malinche's summit.

Orizaba is the highest mountain in Mexico and third highest in North America (5,611m / 18,410ft. The only higher peaks, Mt. McKinley (Denali) in Alaska and Mt. Logan in the Yukon Territories, can not be climbed at that time of year. Thus, for a few short minutes on New Year's Day 2000, I was the highest person on the continent. Woohoooo!

Above: An old plantation complex, complete with it's own chapel, lies derelict at the foot of Sierra Negra. Smoke from a forest fire partially obscures the snow capped peak of Citlatepetl (El Pico de Orizaba).

I was hoping to make an attempt on Ixta but circumstances didn't allow it. I certainly wasn't going to take a chance on Popo which was rumbling and spewing great clouds of sulphurous ash. It erupted later in the year 2000.

Above: Viewed from La Malinche, Popo and Ixta dominate the distant horizon. Popo belched up a big cloud of smoke for this photo and was a constant threat for eruption.

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La Malinche ridge	La Malinche ridge
La Malinche summit	La Malinche summit
Crampons on Orizaba	Orizaba summit