You can find most of the mountains in Mexico in one of two regions. The highest mountain peaks are located in the state of Puebla. The main mountain range in Mexico--the Sierra Madre Mountains--runs from the northwest to the southeast portion. The mountains start near the California border and continue into Guatemala.
The largest mountain in Mexico is El Pixo de Orizaba. This mountain, which was formerly a volcano, is among the highest mountains in North America. Only Denali and Mount Logan are taller. The summit of El Pixo de Orizaba is approximately 18,900 feet above sea level--this is about three and a half miles. If you plan to climb this mountain, you may want to climb sometime between November and March, because it is the dry season in the area. While there is a good chance of running into moisture at the top of the mountain in April and May, it is still possible to climb the mountain during these months.
Sierra Madre Mountains
The Sierra Madre Mountains are made up of smaller ranges, including Sierra Madre Oriental, Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre del Sur. The Sierra Madre, which ranges from around 6,000 feet to 12,000 feet above sea level, has historically been a hindrance to those seeking to travel east to west in Mexico. This mountain range includes areas with snow-covered peaks as well as sections that include thick vegetation and humid temperatures.
Mountain climbers who come to Mexico to scale the mountains often attempt to climb El Pico de Orizaba using the route that runs along the Jamapa Glacier. While this route is fairly well established, you will run into a glacier at about 15,000 feet that has an angle of about 35 degrees at its pinnacle.
Routes that require climbers to have more climbing expertise can be found on the east and west sides of the mountain. For example, the Serpent's Head route--which is on the west side of the mountain--includes 10 pitches of grade-three ice. Climbers who want to attempt to scale the mountain from the south side follow a route that is not as long and takes less time to climb, however it is also steeper than the other routes. The southern side of the mountain can be dry, but there is a potential for avalanches if the summer and fall were wetter than normal.
In addition to scaling the El Pico de Orizaba, climbers also often climb the Sierra Negra, which is the fifth-largest mountain in the country. This mountain is particularly popular among those attempting a traverse climb.
- wonder of the desert image by Pix by Marti from Fotolia.com