The British Rainy Season Assault on Izta….

 

This weekend a bunch of us went up to Iztaccihuatl.

Me and Trees were scoping out the Glacier de Acoyolco route, whilst the others went up the standard Arista del Sol route.

The plan started well with a nice relaxing Friday in Cuautla. Lounging in in a mineral spa and so on…

Unfortunately, meeting up in Amecameca things started to diverge from the plan.  Neither Izta or Popo were visibel, but shrouded in dense cloud. And, of course, we all convened at El Secreto for a few pre-climb beers. Not everyone was disciplined and there were more than a few hangovers as we headed up the mountain.

Reaching La Joya it was clear (well the opposite!) that the weather was not good. Our route was completly obscured by cloud/fog. However, trusting the GPS me and Trees set off anyway. the others trudged up towards the 1st portillo.

Eventually Trees and I reached reacehd the top of the first ridge at around 4200m, and the temporary visibilty gave us a taste of what was heading towards the mountain, so we called it a day and turned around. Just as the storm hit. By the time we reacehd La Joya my goretex was on the point of giving up, but we’d got back safely and sheltered under the tarp of a taco stand, sat by the fire drinking hot cafe de olla, things were okay!

Some of the others were already back…turning around at the 1st portillo not because of the weather, but too hungover to bother.

Meanwhile the bulk of the party pushed on to the 3rd portillo at 4600m before the storm forced them under makeshift shelter. Prudently they sturned around there and dashed /slid back down to La Joya.

A soggy ride back to to town, followed by a round of hot showers and then back to El Secreto to enjoy a few piña coladas and the best of Gastonbury DVD.

Foolishly we’re going back in a week or so with a bus load of school kids!