Pico de Orizaba, also known as Citlaltépetl, is the highest volcano in North America and is regarded as one of the most physically demanding climbs outside the Himalayas. The ascent tested the team’s endurance and technical skills, as sudden weather changes and snowstorms made progress difficult throughout the climb.
Videos from the expedition show the climbers encouraging each other during the ascent, with the Sikh devotional verse “Nanak Naam Jahaj Hai” playing in the background. Team members said the song helped maintain morale during the most exhausting stretches of the climb.
Speaking after the successful summit, Narendra Kumar said the achievement was the result of disciplined teamwork and careful preparation. “The conditions were extremely challenging. It was a climb taken step by step and breath by breath,” he said, referring to the thin air and sub-zero temperatures encountered at higher altitudes.
The team began its ascent from the Piedra Grande Refuge, following the Jamapa Glacier route, a technically demanding path that typically takes seven to eight hours to complete. Climbers were required to use crampons and ice axes to navigate slippery ice fields, glaciers and snow-covered rocks. Kumar noted that coordination and strict adherence to safety protocols were crucial to avoiding accidents.
Pico de Orizaba is widely considered a preparatory peak for mountaineers aiming to scale the Volcanic Seven Summits, offering a rigorous test of stamina and altitude adaptation.
Following the success, Kumar said his team is already planning its next challenge — a winter expedition to Mount Everest Base Camp, which will involve even harsher conditions. The achievement adds to the growing presence of Indian mountaineers on prominent global peaks and highlights Haryana’s emerging role in high-altitude adventure sports.
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