How Climbers Take on North America's Highest Volcano

Rising more than 18,400 feet on the border between Mexico's Puebla and Veracruz states, Pico de Orizaba claims two superlatives: the tallest mountain in Mexico, and the tallest volcano in North America. Orizaba, also known as Citlaltépetl, ""Star Mountain,"" in the indigenous Nahuatl language, is a logical destination for international climbers.

It's majestic, well-traversed, and—near to both Puebla City and Mexico City—very accessible. Which is not to say climbing Orizaba is a low-risk activity. It's had fatalities as recently as a few months ago.