DISQUS

Nick · 1 year ago

Congratulations Gary - I'm delighted to hear you made it! What a shame there wasn't a good view from the summit for your birthday.

I'm really looking forward to reading more of your experiences on the mountain. For me, living at virtually sea level, I could never leave home and climb any 4,600m mountain in one go - that's noit far off the height of Mont Blanc, so I do hope you acclimatized well.
(Hey, I do hope those aren't cotton jeans you were wearng in the photo -a cardinal sin for anyone on the mountain as they get so cold and heavy if wet!)

Cheers
Nick
Derbyshire, England

Gary Denness · 1 year ago

Hi Nick,

Thanks! It was quite an experience. I must confess I had concerns about the
altitude, but there were no problems at all. I felt good. I guess the fact
that I already live at an altitude of 2600 metres helps!

Yes they were cotton jeans I'm afraid. I lacked anything more appropriate!
To be honest, it's not such a big deal on the Nevado de Toluca, where you
can get down to somewhere warm and dry reasonably quickly if needs be, but I
will have to find something better before Izta!

tom · 1 year ago

i had a question about the trail up. i'm a mountain biker that lives for huge vertical/technical descents (can be very steep and rocky, not a problem). i've heard there is a potential route that can drop ~14,000 feet. do you have any idea about the trail that would go much lower, is it a hiking/singletrack trail or just a dirtroad? i'm hoping for a narrow trail down to low elevation. thanks

if you know any other big peaks in mexico that have long descents, that would be great, thanks again!

Gary Denness · 1 year ago

I guess it would be possible to drag your bike to the top and then head down, but after the first kilometre or two of very steep, rocky and sandy terrain it turns into an easier dirt track. Although you could plummet through the forest I guess! I went up the normal climbers route. I am sure there are other routes, but I'm afraid I don't know them.