Popocatepetl, Mexico

The last silent days

On top of the active volcano at the first March 1996

Volcano Popocatepetl Mexico 1996 by,Thorsten Boeckel

The Popocatepetl (5426m), view from Amecameca.

Volcano Popocatepetl Mexico 1996 by,Thorsten Boeckel    Volcano Popocatepetl Mexico 1996 by,Thorsten Boeckel    Volcano Popocatepetl Mexico 1996 by,Thorsten Boeckel

Wild dancing Indigienas befor the church in Amecameca. The busy and magnificent market of the city.

The begin of the ascend

Volcano Popocatepetl Mexico 1996 by,Thorsten Boeckel

To reach at least the station Tlamacas at the base of the volcano, a long trek through the pine forests of the Popocatepetl National Park which has been closed for two years, was necessary. The closure was due to the volcano's long-standing increased seismicity and the reawakening since 1994 as a result of eruptive events such as moderate ash emissions and light explosions.The imminent and long-overdue strong eruption was expected by the Volcanology Institute (CENAPRED).

Before ascending, beware of the very frightening guide dogs ;-)

  Volcano Popocatepetl Mexico 1996 by,Thorsten Boeckel        Volcano Popocatepetl Mexico 1996 by,Thorsten Boeckel

On the left we have dog 'Popo' who followed us up to an altitude of 4200m. At this altitude we changed 'Popo' for dog 'Cate' which followed before us tree US mountaineers to the summit and back. Superdog 'Cate' followed us again without loss of power to the summit and also back to the Tlamacas base. Dog 'Petl' was on vacation!

Reaching the base 'Las cruzes'.

Volcano Popocatepetl Mexico 1996 by,Thorsten Boeckel

The free standing neighbour Iztaccíhuatl (5230), from the place 'Las cruzes' (4550m).    

Volcano Popocatepetl Mexico 1996 by,Thorsten Boeckel

From this place we should also get a view over whole Mexico City. But the dense fog covered the whole lanscape. This afternoon photo was taken in the same direction as the down image in the night.

Volcano Popocatepetl Mexico 1996 by,Thorsten Boeckel

 Hola, Mexico City!

After the mist was gone the lightning scenery of 30 million people appeared clearly and gave us the far distance look over 100 km! Phantastic!

 

 Volcano Popocatepetl Mexico 1996 by,Thorsten Boeckel    Volcano Popocatepetl Mexico 1996 by,Thorsten Boeckel

Good morning at 4.50. The very sharp wind, minus degrees and the high altiutude (4550m) let us sleep catastrophal, but seeing the Pico Orizaba (5700) in the far distance and the fleas of dog Cate who attacked me serveral times during the night to get in my sleeping bag gave us again the power for the ascend to the top. The right photo shows our sleeping place at 'Las cruzes'.

 

Volcano Popocatepetl Mexico 1996 by,Thorsten Boeckel    Volcano Popocatepetl Mexico 1996 by,Thorsten Boeckel

Steep ashcovered ice slopes and ,penance ice' fields made the ascend really difficult

Volcano Popocatepetl Mexico 1996 by,Thorsten Boeckel

Bernhard Bauer before the ,penance ice' field!

 Reaching the crater rim with fear

Volcano Popocatepetl Mexico 1996 by,Thorsten Boeckel   Volcano Popocatepetl Mexico 1996 by,Thorsten Boeckel   Volcano Popocatepetl Mexico 1996 by,Thorsten Boeckel

Enjoying the panorama over Mexico in direction of Puebla and the view over the fumaroles in the big, big crater. Inside this crater there was alright a second one with the diameter of 100 m.

At the top of the volcano... 

with the dog 'Cate' on the right of Bernie!

Volcano Popocatepetl Mexico 1996 by,Thorsten Boeckel   Volcano Popocatepetl Mexico 1996 by,Thorsten Boeckel   Volcano Popocatepetl Mexico 1996 by,Thorsten Boeckel

Of course, we had no idea that in three days the volcano would erupt again with a most violent explosion since 49 years. On March 5 the first explosion in the crater devastated the entire summit region, wereby the refuge shelter was literally blown off the summit. In March six climber lost their lives in another violent volcanic explosion after reaching the crater rim.

Volcano Popocatepetl Mexico 1996 by,Thorsten Boeckel
Dedicated to Bernhard Bauer

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