Cybercasts

Team Molé Mountaineers – Orizaba Summit Day!

Posted on February 2, 2026

We got up around 12:30am to get ready for climbing, and left camp at 2am in gusty winds. It remained a quite windy and challenging day for the team, but a couple of folks were able to make it to the summit of Orizaba! Everyone made good decisions, stayed safe, and made it back into our basecamp where we packed up and headed back down to Zoapan. A hot shower and dinner were very welcome! Final day for us tomorrow, thanks for following along on our trip!

Team Molé Mountaineers

team molé mountaineers - orizaba summit day!

Team Molé Mountaineers acclimatizes at Basecamp

Posted on January 30, 2026

Hola!

After our first night sleeping in tents up at 13,700ft, we had a delicious chiliquiles breakfast, then went for a hike up the start of our route to get some movement in for the day. After lunch, skills and gear review to make sure we are all ready to go for the summit attempt. Then some down time to pack and get ready before an early dinner and quick to bed since we will be getting up early!

We will check back in tomorrow, hopefully post-successful summit!

Team Molé Mountaineers

team molé mountaineers acclimatizes at basecamp

Team Molé Mountaineers enjoys a Rest Day

Posted on January 29, 2026

Hola!

Today we had a leisurely morning at the hotel, a couple people went for runs around town, and enjoyed breakfast in the courtyard. We then left on a walking tour of historic Puebla led by our local cultural guide Arnoldo, including the beautiful main cathedral and time to shop around for fun souvenirs (like mezcal bottles with scorpions in them). We had lunch with cathedral views, then headed to Zoapan at Orizaba Mountain Guide’s HQ for the evening and caught sunset with glowing views of our next two objectives. Continuing to rest up and looking forward to what’s next!

Team Mole Mountaineers

rest day

Team Molé Mountaineers summits Sierra Negra!

Posted on January 29, 2026

Hola!

After an amazing breakfast at OMG, we drove around to Sierra Negra and in beautiful sun the whole team summitted feeling good! Everyone is in good spirits and looking forward to our main objective. We came back to OMG for lunch then took our 4×4 transport up to our basecamp for the next couple days.

We will check back in soon!

Team mole Mountaineers

sierra negra summit!

Malinche summit for Team Molé Mountaineers!

Posted on January 28, 2026

Hola,

We got an earlier start and climbed in beautiful weather, the whole team standing on the summit of La Malinche! Everyone did great and we headed to the city of Puebla for a well deserved shower and down time. For dinner we went to a historic restaurant and got to try one of the local specialties: mole! This led to the group deciding on a team name of Mole Mountaineers.

Thanks for following along!

Team Mole Mountaineers

malinche summit!

CYBERCASTS

Alpine Ascents provides family and friends the opportunity to follow our climbs as they proceed. Utilizing state-of-the-art technology, we receive regular audio dispatches from the climbers and post them on our website. Not only does one feel the excitement of watching a team as it moves up the mountain, the archived cybercasts provide an excellent resource and learning tool when researching expeditions. Enjoy the show!

ALL CYBERCASTS

Excellent. I have relatively little mountaineering experience and Mike and Solveig were very safety conscious and helpful. Every night they would review everything we needed to pack for the next day, what to expect etc.. which was great.

More Testimonials

High camp on Izta at the Otis Mcallister hut

Final push on the summit ridge of Orizaba

Looking over the Valley of Mexico and Mexico City from high camp on Izta

Photo: Mario Simoes

Summit ridge of Izta

Street artist in Cholula, Mexico

The Aztec calendar on display at the Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City

Climbers on a day hike to acclimate near Izta

High camp on Izta at the Otis Mcallister hut

Summit ridge on Izta with Popo in the background

Early morning sunrise with Orizaba castings its shadow

Looking down the summit ridge of Orizaba

Architecture in Mexico City

Mesoamerica artifacts at the Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City

Volcanoes of Mexico BLOG

A snowy mountain peak under a clear blue sky, with two climbers trekking along the sharp ridge.

2025 – 2026 Mexico Volcanoes Webinar

Missed our live session? No worries — we’ve got you covered. Join Alpine Ascents senior guide Hannah McGowan for an insider’s look at our Mexico Volcanoes expedition. In this recording, Hannah breaks down the logistics and itinerary of this high-altitude adventure, from acclimatization climbs on La Malinche and Sierra Negra to standing on top of […]

Mexico Volcanoes Webinar

Check out this informative webinar hosted by Alpine Ascents senior guide Hannah McGowan, where she shares her insider knowledge on the Mexico Volcanoes expedition! Hannah covers the logistics and itinerary of this high-altitude adventure, giving you a detailed look at what it takes to summit El Pico de Orizaba (18,491 ft / 5,636 m), the […]