¡Féliz Año Nuevo!

Pico de Orizaba

Happy New Year!  As I enter 2014 and prepare for my Climb Against the Odds, I have been reflecting on my introduction to mountaineering.  In December of 1995 and January of 1996, myself and a handful of students went to climb a few of Mexico's volcanoes with Colorado Mountain College.  It was an Introduction to Mountaineering class, the first of its kind for the school's brand new Outdoor Recreation Program.  A young couple from Leadville, CO were brought on as adjunct professors to lead this course.  On the first day of class they pitched the trip to Mexico to us.  We were all stunned, yet thrilled at the possibility.  We'd drive from campus in Leadville at 10,000+ feet, already acclimatized, and head to Mexico with the intention of climbing Popocatépetl ("Popo") -17,802, Iztaccíhuatl ("Ixta")-17,342 and Orizaba-18,701.

After preparing all fall semester, we spent a couple of days driving through Texas and Mexico heading south shortly after Christmas.  We discovered during our travels that Popo was getting increasingly active and to add insult to injury it had snowed near the peak for the first time in over 20 years.  The locals were celebrating but we were facing difficult logistics.  This changed our itinerary.  We had planned to climb Popo and Ixta first, then try for Orizaba but with the situations near Popo we headed for Orizaba first instead.  So we travelled to Senor Reyes' old soap factory turned climber hostel  We sorted gear and set up a jeep ride to the hut at the base of Orizaba at about 14,000 feet.  We hit snow however, and had to hike to the hut which was uncommon.

Popo & Ixta

Senor Reyes' Soap Factory

End of the Jeep Ride

Route Up Orizaba

We spent a night in the hut and went for the summit around midnight.  We climbed at this hour because conditions were safest and easiest i.e. firm.  We took the most commonly travelled route.  I recall my friends dragging me up there in spirit although I wanted to bail.  This was harder than I had anticipated despite many warnings. We had "trained" for this trip by learning basic mountaineering techniques back in Leadville; self-arrest, crampon use, rope team etiquette, etc.  We had also evolved as a team.  Being the only female student was challenging for me but when push came to shove on this climb it was one guy in particular who really talked be through the mental challenges.  He made me truly believe I could do it.  I was not in the best shape of my life, in fact I was a heavy smoker at the time.  At this altitude, my smoker's lungs and out of shape legs were very apparent.  I wanted to give in to my body's failing attempt at this summit but the pep talk from that fellow student helped me discover my inner strength.

One student got pretty sick from altitude early in our summit bid and was escorted back to the hut.  We were all sad to leave him behind. Another got very sick mid-climb and had to head down with one of the instructors.  We saw most of the things we had discussed could happen during a climb like this but somehow most of us made it to the summit.  I made it out with an 18,000+ foot peak under my belt but it cost me toe bang from swelling feet, frostbite on my toes for the same reason and sun poisoning.  Later in the trip a handful of students made it up Ixta but I had to stay behind for the damages I incurred on Orizaba.

On this journey we learned ¡Féliz Año Nuevo! was the spanish translation of Happy New Year.  Every New Year I need to say this to myself.  This trip changed me and this celebratory exclamation reminds me of it.

As I prepare for Mount Shasta I am reminded of all I learned on my trip to the volcanoes in Mexico.  That trip was more than a few years ago and I am in a very different place in my life than I was then.  I am sure I will be challenged in new and different ways whether it be physical and/or emotional.  Whatever challenges I face, I will face them with people who have faced breast cancer either personally or through friends and family. The team aspect of Mount Shasta is sure to be a powerful experience.  I look forward to pulling from each other's strengths and supporting each other through our own individual weaknesses.  The Climb Against the Odds will by incredibly symbolic.  I can't wait to look back on it and reflect on all that it will do for me in the same way I look back on Mexico.

¡Féliz Año Nuevo!