Orizaba Ski Descent!

[Wesley]

Congratulations to Caroline, Lance, Randy, and Caroline's father on successfully reaching the summit of Orizaba yesterday. A huge for Caroline and Lance skiing off the top. Well done you two! Looking forward to hearing about it.

[JB99]

Nice. I'm looking forward to hearing more about this adventure. Congratulations to everyone who made the trip.

[CRAIGO]

AWESOME!!! Can't wait to see pics.

[susanjoypaul]

Skiing at eighteen and a half thousand feet? Not to mention hauling all that ski gear up there (no ski lift on Orizaba).
That Caroline is such a bad ass. Some girls just make me... jealous!

Congrats to all of you. Nothin' like getting high in Mexico

[USAKeller]

Thanks!

I thought that carrying skis up was going to be my biggest problem, but thanks to Cytomax (my new best friend) it turned out to be just fine. Although I'm sure it's been done before, does anyone know of other women who have skied Orizaba before?

You're funny, Susan!! There was definitely no lift and the glacier was relentless! Oh, and you have nothing to be jealous about!

[MountainHiker]

Congratulations. It’s an accomplishment just to get to the top. What were conditions like? Was it a good ski or just hanging on? That mountain is steep higher up.

[lodgecamp]

I drink Cytomax!! Good stuff! Go to Hammernutrition.com....check out Endurolytes.....I can't speak highly enough about that supplement ...they sell them at REI, all running stores....exponential energy!!!!! Electrolyte balance!!~!

[doumall]

Nice work Caroline! Good time of the year to ski down there, right? Were you able to ski through the labyrinth? assuming you skied the standard route.

I seem to remember reading about a crew with women who skied it. I will try to dig it up. Update: Annie didn't ski

[USAKeller]

Nice work Caroline! Good time of the year to ski down there, right? Were you able to ski through the labyrinth? assuming you skied the standard route.

I seem to remember reading about a crew with women who skied it. I will try to dig it up. Update: Annie didn't ski

Thanks Joe - that means a lot! But it seems almost nothing to your plans next spring! Yes, this time of year glacier conditions are optimal, but weather is less predictable. Skiing the Labyrinth was well out; Lance and I just skied the Jamapa Glacier. After doing some research, Annie was the only female I could find who attempted a ski...

Ian - snow conditions were typical hard-pack with small pockets of wind-deposited powder. We weren't hanging on - no rocks to billy-goat through or anything; just a nice, continuous 2,500ft. glacier ski! I was told that the upper parts of the glacier neared 50 degrees, but the way we skied off the summit (northeast), I don't think we found anything greater than 40 degrees but I could be wrong.

lodgecamp - I'll have to check out Endurolytes!

[centrifuge]

very cool! congrats You estimate of the steepness at the top seems about right, I think we figured that near of the glacier it was maybe 45 degrees for a really short period of time so your estimate is probably right on

[RoanMtnMan]

Congrats Caroline! Nice work. I think that is a hard one to catch in good ski conditions.

[USAKeller]

Congrats Caroline! Nice work. I think that is a hard one to catch in good ski conditions.

Caleb - thanks!! I've heard the same thing.

I posted a TR if anyone has interest: http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=7467

[KeithK]

I posted a TR if anyone has interest: http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=7467

Nope, no one has any interest.

[HunkyDunk]

Fantastic Caroline,, just amazing. Brought back memories of my climb long ago,,,great photos! Nice accomplishment! Should consider a slideshow party!!!

[Bean]

You're supposed to tilt the camera to make it look steeper!

Looks like a total blast.