November 15, 2013
Pico de Orizaba
I have a sage partner who has a great expression about the weather – “good weather always follows badâ€. Spot on. Just got off the sat phone with Austin. As we predicted, skies cleared and the stars sparkled last night as the team was preparing for their summit attempt on Pico de Orizaba. No precip, no wind. The storm which had kicked their butts on Ixta left just the right amount of new snow on Orizaba. Perfect cramponing conditions the entire way. The normally tricky ‘labyrinth’ was simply great, fun cramponing.  Their patience and persistence were awarded this morning with a spectacular summit of Orizaba. Probably won’t get a lot better than this.
Team is already back at the Piedre Grande Hut and trucks are being loaded. Won’t be long before the team will be back at the Reyes compound in Tlachichuca, with a beer in one hand, towel in the other and fighting for the first shower. They’ll enjoy a great dinner with the Reyes family this evening and sleep like logs. The return to Mexico City is tomorrow.
Quote of the day by Calvin Coolidge – “persistence and determination alone are omnipotentâ€.
Phil Ershler