- Joined
- May 17, 2006
- Messages
- 4,290
Mexico
Ok, so maybe not the smartest thing I have done but it definitely isn’t the stupidest either. After about 2 weeks of thinking about it I decided to just get up and do it. That’s right, a trip (vacation) to Mexico to hike in the mountains and see the jungle down there. I had some time and some new gear I have been trying to put a few miles on. What better way to do it than get on a plane and experience another country?
I arrived in Mexico City and spent a few hours contemplating what the heck I was doing there in the first place. No turning back now. Soon I would arrive in the state of Guerrero. Now with all the talk concerning the drug war going on as well as the increase in tourist kidnappings, this has put Mexico into a new potential “hot spot” class. I have a very close friend who is from Mexico but lives in San Francisco now. Just a few years ago a friend of his family was kidnapped and a plot to kidnap members of his family was revealed. His family has since scattered around the US and Canada and avoid Mexico at all costs.
With only a hotel arranged my biggest challenge would be to try to get a guide to take me into the jungle and hike up into the mountains without letting everyone know I am an American tourist traveling alone. This wouldn’t be easy. I will admit that my Spanish is not great and besides one girl, I was able to communicate enough to get around. It will get better in the next few months.
My plan was too locate a guide that would take me into the jungle and up into the mountains to see some Mayan petroglyphs. I quickly made some important contacts and began planning my next few days trying to see as much nature as I could. This was going to be a gear testing, hiking, photography trip. Needless to say, I learned a lot not just in the outdoors but about city travel and how to lay low and not stand out. I don’t think my trademark Superman hat helped with the laying low aspect but the kids sure liked it.
After locating a guide (Max) the adventure started. First was a cab ride to meet some other travelers. Caught a van that drove us to a location where we eventually caught a boat that would take us to the jungle to explore. From there we would hike into the Sierra Madre Mountains and see some Mayan Petroglyphs. The temperature was about 96F and the humidity was ugly. After a few days of this it was time to relax before my flight home.
Sierra Madre Del Sur-
Sierra Madre, chief mountain system of Mexico, consisting of the Sierra Madre Oriental, the Sierra Madre Occidental, and the Sierra Madre del Sur and forming the dissected edges of the vast central Mexican plateau; a volcanic belt along the plateau's southern edge links the three sierras. Extending from northwest to southeast through Mexico from the U.S. border, the rugged Sierra Madres, 6,000–12,000 ft high, with deep, steep-sided canyons have long been a barrier to east-west travel. The terrain ranges from permanently snow-covered peaks to hot, tropical valleys; and from the humid, thickly vegetated seaward slopes to the dry, largely barren interior-facing slopes. Agricultural products vary according to the climate. Lumbering is done in the N Sierra Madre Occidental. The Sierra Madres have a great wealth of minerals including iron ore, lead, silver, and gold. The mountains are sparsely populated, with settlement limited to mining towns and agricultural communities. The Sierra Madres hold good potential for hydroelectric-power development, and several stations have been built in the northern ranges.
The pictures speak for themselves, lots of birds, jungle, heat, and rain, the jungle is the jungle. Sorting through a few hundred pictures at the moment and I will try to update the pics in the next day or so. For now…..
Although it was fun and a great experience I don’t recommend anyone trying this alone. Besides, it’s more fun with a partner.
Gear
As usual I try to keep things light and simple but not dangerously skimping on anything important. I took my normal 4-5lbs. of base gear. Hammock, bug net, poncho, tarp, machete, SAK, fixed blade, small kit, and water filter.
The city
Glass on top of walls and rooftops to keep the bad guys out. This is done in South Africa also.
Box spring security fence?
The presence of 18th street gang is felt here, I felt right at home as they are a very feared gand back at home.
onward...the jungle awaits!
Ok, so maybe not the smartest thing I have done but it definitely isn’t the stupidest either. After about 2 weeks of thinking about it I decided to just get up and do it. That’s right, a trip (vacation) to Mexico to hike in the mountains and see the jungle down there. I had some time and some new gear I have been trying to put a few miles on. What better way to do it than get on a plane and experience another country?
I arrived in Mexico City and spent a few hours contemplating what the heck I was doing there in the first place. No turning back now. Soon I would arrive in the state of Guerrero. Now with all the talk concerning the drug war going on as well as the increase in tourist kidnappings, this has put Mexico into a new potential “hot spot” class. I have a very close friend who is from Mexico but lives in San Francisco now. Just a few years ago a friend of his family was kidnapped and a plot to kidnap members of his family was revealed. His family has since scattered around the US and Canada and avoid Mexico at all costs.
With only a hotel arranged my biggest challenge would be to try to get a guide to take me into the jungle and hike up into the mountains without letting everyone know I am an American tourist traveling alone. This wouldn’t be easy. I will admit that my Spanish is not great and besides one girl, I was able to communicate enough to get around. It will get better in the next few months.
My plan was too locate a guide that would take me into the jungle and up into the mountains to see some Mayan petroglyphs. I quickly made some important contacts and began planning my next few days trying to see as much nature as I could. This was going to be a gear testing, hiking, photography trip. Needless to say, I learned a lot not just in the outdoors but about city travel and how to lay low and not stand out. I don’t think my trademark Superman hat helped with the laying low aspect but the kids sure liked it.
After locating a guide (Max) the adventure started. First was a cab ride to meet some other travelers. Caught a van that drove us to a location where we eventually caught a boat that would take us to the jungle to explore. From there we would hike into the Sierra Madre Mountains and see some Mayan Petroglyphs. The temperature was about 96F and the humidity was ugly. After a few days of this it was time to relax before my flight home.
Sierra Madre Del Sur-
Sierra Madre, chief mountain system of Mexico, consisting of the Sierra Madre Oriental, the Sierra Madre Occidental, and the Sierra Madre del Sur and forming the dissected edges of the vast central Mexican plateau; a volcanic belt along the plateau's southern edge links the three sierras. Extending from northwest to southeast through Mexico from the U.S. border, the rugged Sierra Madres, 6,000–12,000 ft high, with deep, steep-sided canyons have long been a barrier to east-west travel. The terrain ranges from permanently snow-covered peaks to hot, tropical valleys; and from the humid, thickly vegetated seaward slopes to the dry, largely barren interior-facing slopes. Agricultural products vary according to the climate. Lumbering is done in the N Sierra Madre Occidental. The Sierra Madres have a great wealth of minerals including iron ore, lead, silver, and gold. The mountains are sparsely populated, with settlement limited to mining towns and agricultural communities. The Sierra Madres hold good potential for hydroelectric-power development, and several stations have been built in the northern ranges.
The pictures speak for themselves, lots of birds, jungle, heat, and rain, the jungle is the jungle. Sorting through a few hundred pictures at the moment and I will try to update the pics in the next day or so. For now…..
Although it was fun and a great experience I don’t recommend anyone trying this alone. Besides, it’s more fun with a partner.
Gear
As usual I try to keep things light and simple but not dangerously skimping on anything important. I took my normal 4-5lbs. of base gear. Hammock, bug net, poncho, tarp, machete, SAK, fixed blade, small kit, and water filter.
The city
Glass on top of walls and rooftops to keep the bad guys out. This is done in South Africa also.
Box spring security fence?
The presence of 18th street gang is felt here, I felt right at home as they are a very feared gand back at home.
onward...the jungle awaits!
Last edited:
.
