I am almost ready to go Mexico. The preparation is always best time of the expedition!! Especially, if the team was bigger more share time together that affect rest of life! So, before talking about my strategic plan, I should point out the reasons of the failure last year (https://ffky.edublogs.org/2010/11/07/itaccihuatl/);
1. Geology is not ideal (hard lava layer everywhere), I lost all of the diamond bits!
2. Thin air makes engine power significantly down.
3. no water, altitude sickness physical conditions problem
This is my idea for this year:
1. I look at over 1000 pictures around Izatccihualt. It possibly two spots accumulate thicker ash layer at the summit crater. We need carry drill rig up another 350m than last year. But maybe only place we can drill by portable rig.
2. We use dry bit this year. Bit may heat up quickly, but site will be next of the glacier.
3. high power engine with percussion/rotation drill Assembly
This figure shows target altitude (about 5000m) has half of air from sea level. I brought right weight 26cc displacement (cc) Tanaka engine last year. This year I order 40cc displacement (cc) Tanaka engine.
The difference is 1.5 times bigger displacement, 1.6 time stronger horse power, 1.75 times higher torque. Power will be about half by the altitude, so just about 26cc displacement (cc) Tanaka engine power we will get at mountain using 40cc engine.
We rebuild 40cc engine with SDS plus hammer drill assembly then off corse we replace best grease for low temperature (-40-350 degree F).
Total weight is getting little heavier than last year, we hirer guide/porter this year for lift up equipments and also have some technical climbing part.
Body physical condition is hard to predict, we plan to quick climb this year. Hope we can descendent before symptoms occurring.
