By Delia Ruelas

A group of athletes from Rosarito recently reached the summit of Iztaccíhuatl, standing at 5,230 meters above sea level, making it the third-highest mountain in Mexico.

Instructor Olga María Cuevas Silva led the expedition, which took place from Nov. 18 to 28.

The group included seven participants from Baja California, three of whom—Flora Solano, Mario Ruvalcaba, and Cuevas herself—are Rosarito residents.

They have made this extreme sport their favorite pastime, regularly engaging in weekend hiking trips.

Cuevas shared that this was her second visit to Mexico City for volcano climbing, having practiced hiking for nearly a decade. “Every year, I challenge myself to scale mountains,” she explained.

Last year, she attempted the Four Summits challenge, which includes climbing Nevado de Toluca, Iztaccíhuatl, La Malinche, and Pico de Orizaba.

Unfortunately, she had to descend Iztaccíhuatl due to altitude sickness, experiencing intense headaches and nausea—a setback shared by her fellow climbers.

“What motivated me to take on this expedition, focused on just two summits (Iztaccíhuatl and Pico de Orizaba), was the desire to conquer the peak I couldn’t reach last year,” she said.

“Iztaccíhuatl is tough, unforgiving, and difficult to conquer. I wanted to check it off my list. It’s the third-highest mountain in Mexico and has a beautiful legend tied to Popocatépetl.”

To prepare for the climb, Cuevas dedicated a year to physical and mental training.

She partnered with the ecotourism agency Fluyendo en la Montaña, which arranged an experienced guide to handle logistics and maintain close communication throughout.

While many initially expressed interest, only a few persisted through the rigorous preparation, which included strength training, workouts, and hiking. Weekly spinning classes and Sunday hikes to local spots like El Salto and El Coronel were part of her routine.

In October, the group undertook a four-day expedition to Picacho del Diablo, Baja California’s highest peak at 3,098 meters. The route traversed Sierra San Pedro Mártir, Diablo Canyon, and the desert, providing critical high-altitude training.

Cuevas reflected on a famous saying: “No one comes down from the mountain the same person.” She admitted that fear remains a constant companion but emphasized that overcoming it is part of the journey.

“At the summit, fear no longer defines me—it’s the strength of having overcome it. The mountain offers no comfort or ease, but that’s the magic: the rawness of the environment, the solitude, and the immensity surrounding you.

“It’s where I feel most vulnerable, but also most alive. Standing at the summit, I feel immense in the face of its grandeur.”

Cuevas concluded by highlighting how nature reminds us of life’s essentials—the simplicity and beauty waiting to be discovered.