[MtnClimber]

I climbed Popocatepetl, Ixtachuhatl and Orizaba in the early 1990’s. Popo was erupting steam at the time, but was still open to climbing. It smelled like a thousand matches being struck under your nose at the same time. The ice around the inside of the crater was stained yellow from the sulfur. There was a lake of melted water in the bottom of the crater that was bright blue. At almost 18,000 ft elevation, the choking fumes were difficult to deal with.

[SoCal Pubbie]

The first Europeans to climb Popocatepetl were conquistadors under the command of Hernan Cortés in 1519, as they marched toward the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan. In the film Captain from Castile, starring Cesar Romero as Cortés and Tyrone Power as one of his men named Pedro de Vargas, a large plume of smoke can be seen rising in the distance in many outdoor shots. This was Paricutin, which erupted during filming in Mexico in 1947.

The flick is enjoyable to watch, and a reasonably accurate account of the conquest of Mexico, especially for a historical drama from that period. The soundtrack includes the rousing march Conquest, which the USC marching band plays after the Trojans win a ballgame.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Popocatepetl, Ixtachuhatl and Orizaba

Which one of these is the one Cortez’ men climbed to get sulfur for gunpowder, and first saw the Aztec capitol in the distance?

[gnickgnack2]

Then you might enjoy this song...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_waEPNjv5Nw