Not for everyone
Some day ago a sad news came across mexican national media:
The guide of the group of #mountaineers who got lost on the Pico de Orizaba was found dead at 4,600 meters above sea level; meanwhile, one of the mountaineers is at risk of losing her hands due to the low temperatures she was exposed to.
Since then some polemy has arised:
Analyzing an accident is a very difucyult taks that should be done with the greatest of cares, seriousnes and etics. I don’t pretend to examine this specific event but taking what very well known and experienced alpinist have said in El Pais note, highligth some points I considere an event like this shouls make us think about:
- High altitude mountains are not touristic destinations.
- If you can’t go by your own means it will be very difficult to evaluate the skills and preparation of a “guide” bc you don’t know, you don’t even know what you don’t know.
- difiulties and risk change dramatically…
- if you have walked around the craters of the Xinantécatl (#NevadoDeToluca ) that does not make you fit for ascending Iztaccihuatl. Having Ascent Iztaccihuatl does not make you automatically fit to ascent #Citlaltépetl (#PicoDeOrizaba), there is a considerable jump of risk
- Taking a couple of courses on #mountaineering in most of cases does not make you fit to go on your own to a high #altitude mountain. Even less to guide others and sell “professional” guidence”.
-There is a complete lack of certificaction and relamentation and that includes
- #mountaineering, #rockclimbing, #canyoning, #rafting, #hiking, speleology, rappel, base jump, ziplining… I think is very general, but specially true in Mexico: do not do this as a tousrist!!!! Most cases they have unskilled “guides”, old bad conditions equipment,
- bad risk managment
- #Ecotourism is basically a complete BS. Most cases it generate a lot of negative impact and it is resky. Yes it depends on the activiy… from all, by far the least impactfull and less risky are rafting and easy, short, and under carry capacity hiking.
- unless you are willing to get in good physical fitness, learn about first aid, learn thecnique and safty (with reare to find serious experienced ppl), practice a lot beforehand… basically planning a year of preparation to do it…. Do NOT go to high altitude mountains
- thee is no short cuts to this the rigth way, there is no way to buy this, you have to work it out and own it by yourself.
- Even when it seems a much better way, I think formal courses un serious institutions came short for most cases… risky activities on natural environment
- really need a master aprentice scheme, I was both on a formal school sttlement and under apprentice with Carlos Rangel. The first was good, but mostly only a more ethical and safe activity better than torurism but not too different. It was the mentoring of Carlos and doing
- independent expeditions what gave me a more realistic view of the activity…. mainly having SITG. You most take responsability in every way:
Don’t ask for others people money to do this activities
Do it on your own means
You should never be on a situation of need to be
- rescue (I’ve never been and I’ve rescue several persons).
You HAVE to admit and deal with the fact that this activities are deadly, don’t ever fool yourself or others on the contrary
You should be in your most antifragile phsysical and mental shape
- if you are not willing or uncable of this, do NOT do it.
Climbing a high altitude mountain a multy pithc wall, etc.. is not tourism, it is not a sport (even if some want to make it or sell it as one), it is montly a calling and consequently is NOT for EVERYONE.
And remember…https://lopezoliverx.medium.com/son-take-all-risks-you-want-but-you-really-dont-f-k-with-this-84906e1d1a00
