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Disabled Duo in Double Peak Ascent
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Dispatches
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Buenos dias/tardes!
What do you get when
you put 2 jet-lagged, post-flu guys on a stiff
hike of 3000 vertical feet? A:2 sleepy and tired
hombres... We've just finished some
acclimatization in the La Malinche area; climbing
at a rate of about 200-250 vertical meters per
hour. No summit since that would have been a bit
much considering we had touched down in Mexico
barely 24hours before. But we got up to around
4200mwhich puts us in good stead for the big
climbs ahead. We've made a few new friends and
will be heading to Iztaccihuatl next. So far, so
good. Mexico is lively and the 'mole poblano'(a
traditional Puebla dish )excellent. |
| Pic
caption: Dave and Amador at Malinche-new friends
and a chance to brush up Dave's Spanish |
3/1/2003
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Went
to amecameca by bus, then pirate taxi. Wkend
market was on. We found permit for ixta in a short
time. Hired another pirate taxi to la hoya -
trailhead for izta. Camping one night in open
space. Tomorrow will be hard day- have to carry
tent and heavy stuff up mountain. |
Tired on Izta, Sun, 2
Mar 2003
An eventful day which
started at 7 when we hauled our stuff with a view to
get to the 4500m mountain hut. I packed a tent, rope,
the satcom kit with my own stuff and shuffled off. The
route traverses scree slopes and TS dropped farther
behind. There are long sustained bits of loose stuff-
energy sapping. At 4250m, I had news from other
climbers coming up that he had turned back. I dropped
to 4150m and began helping TS ditch gear. Apparently,
there is little snow and altitude the only issue on
Izta. But TS's pack was still not light enough for
him, so I took on an extra 4 kg of water. We climbed
up again but at 4300m he signaled he was turning back.
The rough terrain and his stability issues had
exhausted him. I am no sherpa, and already carrying
the bulk of the common gear, we pitched tent on a
small saddle at 4150. TS had tried his best but the
challenges of the terrain was eventually too much for
him, especially with the large pack he carried. Our
friendship is more important than a rocky summit, so
we descended together. TS thinks his limits were
reached today.... It was a frustrating and tiring day,
the end of it did not put us in position for a summit
push tomorrow nor allowed for enhanced acclimatization
. Worse, the issue of TS's capability in carrying gear
and coping with the terrain is subject to discussion .
Options include getting a guide for TS on Orizaba or
finding ways he can climb without such loads. Andi
don't have enough strength for both of us...hence the
irony of 'lightweight' trips-it's hard work, hauling
all the gear...As for tomorrow, TS will continue
acclimatizing while I might go light and upwards and
see how it goes-maybe getting to 5000m on Izta before
a sprint down to the campsite. But right now we need
to eat, drink and discuss our plans. Dave Lim
DISABLED CLIMBERS PREPARE FOR MAIN OBJECTIVE
It's hot here. But
we're chilling out in Tlachichuca(2600m).Today we did
the tourist thing; taking a hike to some old corn
silos, shaped like upside down ice-cream cones.
They've been abandoned for 30 years. Above, on a hill
slope is a shrine to the Guadalupe Virgin. Besides the
small church, that's about it. Like I said, it's a
small town. Today we'll try some 'nopales' or cactus
salad and let our new friends try some 'bak kwa' and
Chinese sesame dessert from Singapore. So far the
Mexicans have been awfully friendly and our trip here
has been exceeding expectations.
Tomorrow, we're off
to the Piedra Grande (Big Rock) alpine hut at 4500m
and make a go for the top of Orizaba maybe Mar 7 or
8.Conditions look a bit icy up high but we will know
only when we get closer. Feeling good and acclimatized
after Iztaccihuatl
MOUNTAIN OF THE STAR
SUMMIT SUCCESS
Disabled mountaineer
David Lim successfully summitted Pico de
Orizaba(5700m) at 730am,Mexico time, on Saturday March
8th. Orizaba is Mexico's highest mountain and
the 3rd highest in North America.
The Mountain of the
Star expedition comprises partially disabled climbers
Wong Ting Sern and Lim and is in aid of the Society
for the Physically Disabled. Wong produced a gallant
effort in being part of the unsupported expedition but
was unable to climb beyond the high camps of the two
main peaks attempted, Iztaccihuatl (5220m) and Orizaba.
Lim climbed to the summit with a Mexican climber in
pre-dawn conditions and toughed out strong winds at
the summit before descending. He described the climb
as "very physical and the hardest technical alpine
climb since being partially disabled in 1998"
MOUNTAINEERING
'AMBASSADORS' IN MEXICO CULINARY EXCHANGE
One of the great
moments of any climbing expedition is to be able to
impress on your host country something that is
quintessentially Singaporean.
Being the first
Singaporean expedition to Mexico, it's been
interesting to share with them things Singaporean. Our
excellent hotel owner and host in Tlachichuca, Senor
Gerardo Claudio and his wife, Lourdes, treated us to a
meal of broiled beef and seasoned 'nopales', a
succulent cactus plant. It's eaten minus the spines,
of course and that explains the many fields of cacti
we've seen. Nopales tastes like artichoke hearts. In
return our Mexican friends tried beef 'bak kwa' and
Chinese sesame seed dessert. The latter looks a bit
like used motor oil but thankfully tastes better and
Gerardo and us had a good laugh when other family
members approached the dark mess with more caution.
On the summit of Las
Rodillas on Izta, Luiz,Arturo and Beton shared a drop
of tequila and an orange with me.
For a while, you
aren't mountaineers or disabled folks or tourists but
friends. This is what it's all about. Thank you for
the memories: recuerdos de los Izta y Orizaba
Dave and TS
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