Route: Pico De Orizaba Infinity Loop

Pico De Orizaba Infinity Loop, bucle infinito Citlaltépetl, is an extension of the infinity loop concept thought up by Chad Kellogg, originally for Mt. Rainier in Washington State, USA. Originally, thought up as a grand blend of ultra-endurance and mountaineering. It is a way to use fitness to see and experience every view of a volcano, similarly to a summit-circumnavigation, but with two full climbs over the mountain instead of one up and down on the same route. It requires astute study of the conditions, weather, and best timing for each element of the journey. 

Why Pico De Orizaba?

Pico De Orizaba is the first “infinity loop” beyond the United States, as the big volcano was a perfect candidate for the following reasons:

1. Mexico’s tallest peak
2. One of the Volcanic Seven Summits
3.  PdO has Aesthetically opposed standard climbing routes on the north and south sides of the Volcano.
4. A freshly built “Gran Sendero” circumnavigation trail

Just like the original infinity loop the basic route rules/directions are as follows:

1. Climb up to the summit and down the opposing side
2. Complete a half-circumnavigation back to your starting point
3. Climb up and over the summit again
4. Complete the other half-circumnavigation

[See Caltopo Map]
Time starts when you take the first step away from your starting point, and ends upon successfully completing the two trips over and two half-circumnavigations.

Videos for visual beta:
"Journey to Infinity: Pico De Orizaba" film about this endeavor

Beat Monday - Attempt at summit and run around the Circumnavigation Trail
 

Further Research:
https://www.mountainproject.com/area/106619361/pico-de-orizaba 
https://www.summitpost.org/pico-de-orizaba/150192 
https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/mexico/articles/the-ultimate-guide-to-climbing-the-pico-de-orizaba/
https://www.explore-share.com/blog/pico-de-orizaba-climb-mexico-facts-information/ 
https://gransenderopicodeorizaba.com/ 

Some great listens:
Kaytlyn Gerbin and Alex Borsuk on Rainier Infinity Loop
Blister Review on Pico De Orizaba Infinity Loop 
“To Infinity” - the original podcast about an infinity loop

- submitted and first completed by Jason Hardrath (IG) and Nathan Longhurst