Climbing Orizaba requires solid fitness and an ability to perform well at altitude, but it is not beyond the abilities of many people who are willing to train for the climb and work hard on the trip. Prior use of crampons and an ice axe is preferred but not mandatory as we will do a brief snow school for those with experience to touch up their skills and for others to become familiar. If you want to join this expedition but feel unsure of your ability, chat with us, and we can work with you to get you up to speed before the climb. We take immense pride in helping people achieve their goals.

If you are looking for a skills-based course and climb to hone your technical mountaineering skills, check out our Mount Baker Alpine Academy and our Lobuche East expedition in Nepal.

You need to be very physically fit and able to dedicate time to “climbing-specific training” in the lead-up to your expedition. Being in top shape will also ensure you enjoy your climb, feel good throughout, and get the most out of the experience.

It is vital that your training closely simulates what you will be doing on the mountain. Traditional gym workouts or general fitness plans aren’t targeted enough. Instead, you need to emulate long physical days (8+ hours) in the mountains

We recommend that you:

• Start specific mountaineering training at least three months in advance
• Train at least 4-5 days a week for an hour or more
• Focus on high-volume but low-intensity training
• Don’t forget the cardio, strength training, and stretching.
• A good goal is to be able to comfortably climb 1,500 vertical feet per hour with a 40lb pack.
• Schedule a few weekends where you can do two or more full days back to back. For multi-day hikes, carrying a pack with good elevation gains and descents is ideal.

Mindset and mental preparation are integral to your success on any peak. You should be prepared:

• To be away from home/work for the duration of your climb
• Have a desire for rugged adventure travel
• Be open to receiving and deferring to guidance, support, and advice from your guides/expedition leaders (even if you are an experienced mountaineer)
• Be comfortable having open conversations with your guides
• Be able to work well in a team environment by being supportive and respectful of fellow teammates
• Be humble, respectful, and considerate even under pressure