Ski Mexico

Mexico is not well known for its snowy peaks but in fact it has several with Popocatepetl, an active volcano some 5,426 m (17,802 ft) high, the country’s second highest mountain, particularly well known for its glaciers and normally year round snow cover. Mexico’s other high peaks are Iztaccihuatl and Pico de Orizaba which also have glaciers.

Located only 70km southeast of Mexico City the mountain can often be viewed from the city on clear days. It’s also possible to see it smoking as it quite frequently does with 15 major eruptions in the 500 years since the arrival of the Spanish.

It is certainly possible to ski for qualified and experienced ski mountaineers and the first recorded ski descent was made by Francisco Gonzalez Rul and Eduardo de Maria y Campos in 1947 with a maximum skiable vertical reported to be over 6000 ft (1800 m) on occasion.

For those looking for less exertion the Bosques de Monterreal year round ski centre is Mexico’s only ski resort with a lift. The resort has two runs, the longer 230m long, with a pitch of 20 degrees and a year round surface although natural snow does fall here occasionally. There’s also a separate nursery slope.