Climb Orizaba in summer?

Question

I've heard that the best time to climb Orizaba is the winter and spring because it's the dry season, but I want to take my son, but we don't have enough time on any breaks in the winter or spring (we want to drive there). I've searched and have found nothing about conditions or trip reports in summer (June, July, August). Has anyone done this or have any info about it?

Answer 1

Here is a webpage with 3 email addresses  for a group that does guided ascents of Orizaba.  Maybe you could contact them and ask your question.   2nd site has a "contact us' feature at the top of the page.  There are several other guide businesses on the web you could look up and contact if neither of these works.  I live in the state of Veracruz and have a great view of Orizaba.

Answer 2

End of May through end of October is rainy season. At 18,000 feet rain does not fall, it is ice, sleet and snow. Your chances of dying or being severely injured due to exposure are actually greater during this time of year. Also the danger of landslides and  lightning strikes is greater.

March and April might be the best months. These are the dryest months when you are less likely to have problems with any sort of precipitation and these are traditionally the warmest months in central Mexico.

Pico de Orizaba is over 18,000 feet. Please make sure you are an experienced climber with high altitude experience. You might want to find a guide. If I recall the base camp is at 11,000 ft.

Best wishes

Answer 3

I am currently living in Puebla, its about 2 hrs driving from Pico de Orizaba, summer/early fall are deffinitly the wet times, if you can I would try to take along break for thanksgiving and fly. While here I have climbed Itza and Malinche(2times). I climed Malinche once during the wet season, it can be done but it sucks, visibility was about 5feet, and every thing was soaked, I just got back from my second trip to Malinche and it was much better, sunny and clear. We also climbed Itza during the wet season, but we began the climb at 3:00am so we were able to make it down before the afternoon rains arrived (it rains from about 4pm-11pm every evening for month on end). Beyond the rain you must watch out for common electrical storms during the wet season, they make the Mts. very dangerous.