2002 Newsletter-Servimont
We would like to share our experiences and highlights of the last climbing and other interesting outdoor adventures.
In this issue you will find:
(courtesy of P. Arturo).
We make a couple of trips including rockclimbing the highest monolith rock in Mexico and the third highest in the world: Bernal.
Popoca Cave:
Our early morning activity was to drive and cross the jungle through a dirt road with panoramic views of ravines, fruit trees, coffee plantations and other beautiful vegetation.
At the end of the road is an abandoned coffee processing plant (interesting to see an old building in the middle of the jungle). We were welcomed by a local family which served us some fresh food. We set up all the gear and hiked through a narrow ravine until we start listening the roaring sound of an 80 meter waterfall with a strong flow of water that goes underneath the ground. The rappel down is fascinating, closeby to this waterfall.
Photo: 12 year old Ana Reyes caving.
At the bottom, we have to get a little wet with some refreshing water, and try to get out of a powerful stream of water. After our team of 5 people descended, we started a 1/2 hour walk until the cave was too narrow to continue. The size of the rocks and the uniqueness of this underground environment is very interesting.
This is only half of the story, the challenge still continues ascending vertically, jummaring through a one full length of static 60 m rope. Again the whole area only for ourselves with the sounds of nature.
Thanks to our friend Chaff for leading the team.
Community Service - Rescue Operations
The local Red Cross Rescue Team in Tlachichuca, organized and hosted a training seminar. Members from the National Red Cross learned and practice important skills for climbing and rescue.
A stretcher for rescues was donated through Mark Rowland. Thanks.
This time there was no accidents in the mountain. However, one day a woman was reported lost. A search and rescue operation started, looking for her where she was seen last (in the rocks closeby to the entrance of the glacier). To the surprise of everybody she was found alive (dehydrated and exhausted) the following day close to the summit. Instead of going down she went up. This is extremely rare in Pico, she was very lucky to survive because unusual hot weather, otherwise could have been a disaster.
From our guests:
Cantona is one of the most urbanized cities of the prehispanic era, dating back to 600 -1000 AC. The arquitectonic units integrate piramids, many housing areas, and 24 ball games. Cantona served as a city and a military fort. This city controlled the traffic of obsidian rock for the area.
They started this trip, mountain biking and camping at high elevation, a couple days in the forest areas of Pico de Orizaba. This time was also essential for acclimatizing. They handle the climb with no problems and summited during the morning. Their physical preparation well in advanced to this climb proofed to be very useful.
After climbing they experienced a whitewater adventure (class 2-3) in a river following some narrow ravines with 50-100m walls, surrounded by tropical vegetation.
Dear Outdoor Enthusiasts:
In the outdoors many people find peace and good reasons for developing a team, by sharing our efforts with partners or others. Thanks for sending your photos and stories.
We hope you all keep finding adventure and challenges that make you happier and healthier. Nature is waiting for you with amazing surprises. Until next year,
Servimont Staff
Trips
This monolith rock has material, according to geologists¹ tests with potassium, dating back to the tertiary, quaternary, and jurassic period of our planet, approximately ten and a half million years.
We climbed two routes with 2 teams until the last pitch where we joined in the same route. This multipitch climb has excellent rock. We took about seven hours for the climb and rappel down. On the wall, the thrill of the vertical steepness is unique and the accompanying views of this hugh monolith, the valley and the town of Bernal are awesome. That day we were the only ones in this millenary rock, all this beauty for ourselves.
We returned to the colorful colonial town of Bernal to enjoy and relax with some good food, specially the famous candies.
The other adventure was caving in the deep sierras of Zongolica in the State of Veracruz. 
Joe Murphy wrote a report with a lot of interesting detail of a cultural trip to Pyramids closeby to Tlachichuca (Cantona) and his climbing experience of Pico de Orizaba. (more of Joe Murphy story).
A great summit picture, courtesy of Eric Peter:
Ed and Jane Binger visited us for a climbing, mt. Biking and Rafting in a 7 day multisport trip.
Yoshio Shimazu returned again to climb Pico. This time not only got to the summit but also enjoyed the mountain in a very special way: Skiing down from the top all the Jamapa Glacier.
There was a little of suspense before the climb: the airline lost his skis but we managed to find and adjust a pair of skis here. The weather was also cloudy but the luck was with him this time: the day of the climb, he had a window of good clear weather and excellent snow conditions.
A couple of groups from Universities visited us: St. Lawrence from New York, Oregon State University, Fort Lewis (from Colorado) and the University of Vermont. As every year, Colegio Cristobal Colon (from Mexico City) shared with us excellent moments and some fascinating pictures of the Mexican Volcanoes.
