Category Archives: Other States

Locale: States other than New Mexico.

Cave Creek Nature Trail Walk – 03/21/2021

This is the first post for a 5-day camping and hiking trip to the Chiricahua Mountains with our friends Jay and Nancy. The Chiricahuas are in the southeastern corner of Arizona, just across the state line from Rodeo, NM. I have been interested in visiting there since a fly-in to Amigos Del Cielo Airport with our friend Lanny. We heard great things about hiking (and bird watching) on the eastern slopes of this small mountain range.

The Drive In

‘Tis 331 miles from Albuquerque, almost a six hour drive with our R-Pod camper/trailer. Campsites at our destination, Cave Creek (Sunny Flat and Stewart) are first-come-first-serve, and we had been advised to be there soon after noon when people would be leaving. So we took 2 days, spending the first night at the Rockhound State Park south of Deming. This is a dandy campground with large site pads (with full hookups), each separated from nicely for the others, and offering great views of the Little Florida Mountain range to the east and across the plains to the west. Sites are by reservation and we were fortunate to get a nice site for Saturday night.

View of Dragon Ridge near Sunset from Rockhound State Park.
Sunrise of Dragon Ridge the next morning from Rockhound State Park.

On Sunday it was up and get going the 125 miles to the town of Portal at the entrance to Cave Canyon and into the Canyon to check out the campgrounds. For truly great video tours of the campgrounds (see Resources below for YouTube videos), we favored the more informal Stewart Campground. The road through the campground is gravel as are the sites; there is one vault toilet centrally located; and the trees create what I describe as a ‘cozy’ environment. Driving through Stewart we found 3 sites that were available and one being vacated – we preferred the latter (#5) and weren’t disappointed. We set up our R-Pod and soon Jay and Nancy arrived and set up their tent on a nice tent pad, a feature of nearly all of these campsites.

Approaching Cave Creek Canyon.

We had been advised that there were no services nearby – no gas, food, lodging, or internet service; fill up your gas tank in Lordsburg. We found otherwise: yes, no gas, but a small general store in Portal with the basic necessities (and a small menu plus beer) and lodging (Portal Peak Lodge, Store, & Cafe), and the Sky Island Grill and Grocery with a larger inventory of groceries and cafe menu. Internet service is available at both places courtesy their WiFi; cellular service is not available in the canyon and spotty even out in the open on the road between Portal and Rodeo.

The Hike

Cave Creek Nature Trail Walk.PatJayNancy.2021-03-21

Having set up our camp by mid-afternoon, and having spent the last 2 days (1 day for Jay and Nancy who drove from Placitas), we needed to stretch our legs. We suspected there was a trail across Cave Creek (15 yards across strewn rocks, no water), so we ventured out. And .. across the creek and Cave Creek Road (FR 42) we found a nice, easy trail. We headed up-canyon towards the other campground, Sunny Flat. This campground is more formal with paved road and large RV sites, and more open without the forest close at hand.

Statistics

Total Distance:  2.08 miles
Elevation: start  5,024 ft, maximum  5,161 ft,  minimum 5,017 ft
Gross gain: 144 ft.  Aggregate ascending 190 ft, descending 312 ft (return half of out-and-back)
Maximum slope: 33% ascending, 60% descending, 7.5% average
Duration: 1:18

GPS Track Files for Download
66 Downloads
67 Downloads
If you haven’t explored these hiking tracks with Google Earth, I urge you to try it. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the screenshot above. For some ideas, check out  Using Google Earth Track Files.

References and Resources

NM State Parks: Rockhound State Park
NM Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources: Rock Hound State Park and Spring Canyon Recreation Area
USFS: Stewart Campground
             Sunny Flat Campground
AZ Camp Guide: Stewart Campground
                               Sunny Flat Campground
Camp Arizona: Stewart Campground
                            Sunny Flat Campground
The Dyrt: Stewart Campground
                   Sunny Flat Campground
High Desert Camper (YouTube): Stewart Campground, Arizona
                                                            Sunny Flat Campground, Portal AZ
Chiricahua Mountains Hiking Trails: Cave Creek Nature Trail #603
Friends of Cave Creek Canyon: Hiking

Cholula Walkabout – 02/01/2020

During our visit to Oaxaca, we made a 4-day visit to Puebla during which we made a side trip to Cholula. This post is being prepared 6 months later, so the description is minimal, but I invite you to enjoy our photos.

Getting There

We hired Uber to deliver us from Puebla to Cholula, some 8 miles, and for the return.

The Walkabout

Cholula Walkabout.Pat.2020-02-01

During our walkabout we enjoyed a lunch in a local cafe, visited the church Parroquia de San Andrés Apóstol, then visited the Great Pyramid and Iglesia de Nuestra Señora. As part of the visit to Iglesia de Nuestra Señora we toured the interior including the tunnels beneath the church which were part of the pyramid build by the Aztecs. While at the Great Pyramid we happened to come across a procession bringing one of their saints up to the church – truly a treat for our visit. From there we found our way to Cholula’s Zocalo and  toured the grounds of the San Gabriel Franciscan Convent including the huge Capilla Real. We finished the day by walking through a market area near the Zocalo. Then another Uber ride back to Puebla

Statistics

Total Distance:  6.02 miles
Elevation: start  7,044 ft, maximum  7,214 ft,  minimum  7,008 ft
Gross gain:  206 ft.  Aggregate ascending  790 ft, descending  791 ft
Maximum slope: 25% ascending, 36% descending, 3.5% average
Duration: 8:22

GPS Track Files for Download
73 Downloads
75 Downloads
I urge you to explore our hiking tracks with Google Earth. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the 2-dimensional screenshot above. For assistance: Using Google Earth Track Files.

References and Resources

Wikipedia: Cholula, Puebla
                     Great Pyramid of Cholula
                     San Gabriel Franciscan Convent, Cholula
SFGate: Inside Cholula’s labyrinth: Exploring Mexico’s largest pyramid
aztec-history.com: cholula pyramid
Science Alert: The World’s largest Pyramid Is Hidden Under a Mountain in Mexico
BBC Future: The giant pyramid hidden inside a mountain
Mexperience: Exprience Cholula
Atlas Obscura: The Great Pyramid of Cholula

Cuajimoloyas-Benito Juarez Hike – 02/05/2020

After a restful night in the very nice cabańa in Cuajimoloyas and a good breakfast with José, we headed into the pueblo to meet Efilio, our guide for the day. Then we walked to the edge of Cuajimoloyas and into the forest.

The Hike

Cuajimoloyas-Benito Juarez Hike.PatJoseEfilio.2020-02-05

We enjoyed an easy and pleasant hike on a smooth trail with a few climbs and descents. Along the way we had nice views across small valleys. Of particular interest were fields, many recently tilled, on very steep slopes. One wonders how even the cows used by the villagers for plowing could stay on the hillside and not slide or tumble down.

Nearing the end of the hike we came upon cement tanks filled with running water. Efilio explained that these were used for raising trout for food. As short distance further we encountered signs welcoming us to Benito Juarez and another sign identifying the boundary of the territory of Teotitlan de Valle, José’s home village.

At the Ecotourism office in Benito Juarez we were invited to visit Punta el Mirador, promising a high elevation (and tower) with a superb view into the valley of Oaxaca. We took a moto taxi from the village to this very popular site (especially for the locals, it seemed). After a climb up a steep trail (stairsteps in some places), we were not disappointed; we could see down into the valley and make out the city. To cap it off, after a few moments of hesitation, we walked across a long suspension bridge looking down into a deep canyon. Just more adventure.

Returning to Benito Juarez, again by moto taxi, we enjoyed another good meal, then met the taxi which would return us to Oaxaca City.

Statistics

Total Distance: 4.37 miles
Elevation: start 10,448 ft, maximum 10,448 ft, minimum 9,423 ft
Gross gain: -1,250 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,012 ft, descending 1,791 ft
Maximum slope: 27% ascending, 34% descending, 10.8% average
Duration: 3:36

GPS Track Files for Download
117 Downloads
169 Downloads
158 Downloads
93 Downloads
I urge you to explore our hiking tracks with Google Earth. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the 2-dimensional screenshot above. For assistance: Using Google Earth Track Files.

References and Resources

Two Wandering Soles: Hiking in Oaxaca’s Sierra Norte Indigenous Villages

Llano Grande-Cuajimoloyas Hike – 02/04/2020

Pat arranged this two day adventure months ago through Expediciones Sierra Norte, the organization who arranges hiking in the Pueblos Mancomunados. Our guide, José, picked us up at our place of lodging in Oaxaca City for the drive to Llano Grande. Passing through Cuajimoloyas, we stopped briefly to leave our overnight bag with the Ecotourism office (we would be staying the night in one of their cabańas). Then it was on to Llano Grande for the hike back to Cuajimoloyas.

The Hike

In Llano Grande we met our guide, Miguel, a young man (14 year old) who would be our guide for the hike. It is customary in the Pueblos Mancomunados to engage a guide for any hiking. I understand they want to avoid people becoming lost, and it is of economic benefit for the pueblos. Donning our packs, we set off. Signs welcomed us to the pueblo, to the forest trail, and pointed to other trails out of Llano Grande.

We’ve become familiar with the forest in these parts, but we encounter new experiences on each hike. For examples:

  • We passed a number of small fields, some awaiting tillage, some being tilled, some with standing crop of oats, and some harvested. This being the dry season, we could see preparations being made for planting before the rain season of May or June.
  • This area in particular is noted for having the largest of agave plants. We passed plants whose leaves were 10 feet or more in height, and plants with stalks maybe 20 feet in height. Jose pointed out that some of these agaves reproduce by starting small plants in the “nets” of the “mother” plant. In other cases, small “baby” plants are produced high on the stalk. When the stalk falls, the plants can then take root. (When an agave produces that tall stalk, it is in it’s last weeks of life; it dies thereafter.)
  • There is an amazing range of diversity in the plants in this forest. Of course, the various species of trees. Then things in the trees: bromeliads, mistletoe, hanging “mosses”. and in one case dripping pitch. Add to those the flowers in many colors. And as mentioned above, the giant agaves (which are not suitable for producing mezcal) and we saw a tepestate agave that is suitable (‘tho none are harvested in these mountains).
  • As we approached Cuajimoloyas, we came upon some tanks with clear, fresh water – trout were raised in these tanks and offered on menus in some of the pueblos in these mountains.

As the statistics show, we would classify this hike as easy (fortunately, at home we live at 5,000 feet elevation, so the altitude here was no bother). Upon arriving in Cuajimoloyas we settled in to our cabin, then went only a few yards away for a very nice ‘cena’. The next morning .. see the next post for the Cuajimoloyas-Benito Juarez Hike.

Our guide, José, is a remarkable young man. From the village of Teotitlan del Valle, his knowledge and enthusiasm made our two days with him really wonderful.

Statistics

Total Distance: 5.37 miles
Elevation: start 10,127 ft, maximum 10,560 ft, minimum 10,029 ft
Gross gain: 531 ft. Aggregate ups & downs: ascending 1,259 ft, descending 986 ft
Maximum slope: 24% ascending, 24% descending, 7.0% average
Duration: 4:15

GPS Track Files for Download
135 Downloads
98 Downloads
88 Downloads
92 Downloads
I urge you to explore our hiking tracks with Google Earth. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the 2-dimensional screenshot above. For assistance: Using Google Earth Track Files.

References and Resources

Two Soles Wandering: Hiking in Oaxaca’s Sierra Norte Indigenous Villages

 

Capulálpam de Mendéz, Pueblo Mágico Hike – 01/25/2020

We returned to Capulálpam to enjoy this Pueblo Mágico and a treatment at the Traditional Medicine Center. Oh yes, and a hike on their beautiful forest trail. Since there is no bus service and the collectivos are uncomfortable (they drive fast on the tight twisty road), we engaged a driver which made the trip much more comfortable. The conversation with Oscar added more enjoyment to the to the trip and he introduced us to very good restaurant midway on the drive to and from.

The Hike

Capulálpam Hike.PatLionel.2020-01-25

We had arranged our hike with the Ecotourism office and went there to meet our guide. Soon a group of six women arrived – we would all hike together. Hitting the tail we recognized that it would be the same trail that we hiked last year. But it was different this year – Lionel’s explanations were different and our hiking companions added another dimension.

[We had gone to Capulàlpam’s only bar the night before (we had mezcal and French fries for supper), and this group of women showed up – having a great time. We met them again on the street the next morning and exchanged greetings. Then we found them on the hike with us. They were from Cancun on holiday and having a great time including helping us understand Lionel’s explanations of medicinal plants. ]

Highlight

As noted above, we had hiked this trail last year so I won’t repeat the description. Leonel did add to our experience this year. He spent more time pointing out various plants, explaining their medicinal benefits. Important to him was the connection between our spirit and the land and all it provides. To bring the point more to home, he invited us to shed our shoes and socks and walk barefoot, to feel the earth and make a connection with it. Despite our very tender feet, we followed the lead of our companions and enjoyed the spirit of the experience. Later he invited us to crawl, hands and knees, to deepen the connection; we declined, ‘tho the ladies were game, having a good time.

Statistics

Total Distance: 3.65 miles
Elevation: start 6,815 ft, maximum 7,248 ft, minimum 6,665 ft
Gross gain: 433 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,042 ft, descending 1,084 ft
Maximum slope: 34% ascending, 35% descending, 10.0% average
Duration: 4:23

GPS Track Files for Download
80 Downloads
133 Downloads
I urge you to explore our hiking tracks with Google Earth. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the 2-dimensional screenshot above. For assistance: Using Google Earth Track Files.

References and Resources

Wikipedia: Capulálpam de Méndez
Oaxaca Cultural Navigator : Norma Schafer:
     One Day in Capulálpam de Méndez: Oaxaca’s Pueblo Mágico
Hoofing It In Oaxaca: Hiking Venues for “Hoofing It In Oaxaca”
Asi es Mi Mexico: Capulálpam de Méndez
Oaxaca Mio: Capulálpam de Mendez (Revion Sierra Norte) (Spanish)
Facebook: Centro de Medicina Tradicional Capulálpam
Oaxaca Traditional Medicine: a BLOG

Piedra Tenate Driveabout & Hike – 01/21/2020

P1040497.JPGThis was our second hike on a two day adventure in San Miguel del Valle in the Tlacolula Valley in Oaxaca. We spent the night in an Ecotourism cabin in the pueblo, then met our guide Memo for another trip into the Sierra Norte
.

The Drive In

P1040502.JPG The drive took us up a narrow dirt and gravel road that clung to the steep side of the mountains, like yesterday climbing from 5,000 feet to over 10,000. It appeared one section of the road had only recently been carved out, corroborated by the absence of that portion of the road on my topo map and on the current GoogleEarth image. A road like this carved out of the mountain gave us some spectacular views across the large canyon and down towards the open plain of Tlacolula Valley.

The Hike

P1040505.JPGParking a short distance from the highway, we hit the trail, at first a two-track with easy walking through the high altitude forest of these Sierra Norte mountains. Near the edge of a large relatively flat area, we had a superb view down into a valley leading to San Miguel. A half mile on, we left the forest for an open hillside and views into the valley in the other direction. Turning back to make a loop, we came across developments from past agrigulctural activities, including a circular enclosure of rocks that was used in time past for threshing grains.

Highlight

Highlights of this trip with Memo were the many flora that we found and admired along the way.

Statistics

Total Distance: 2.34 miles
Elevation: start 8,793 ft, maximum 8,793 ft, minimum 8,423 ft
Gross gain: 370 ft. Aggregate ascending 493 ft, descending 492 ft
Maximum slope: 33% ascending, 44% descending, 7.4% average
Duration: 2:42

GPS Track Files for Download
88 Downloads
215 Downloads
75 Downloads
82 Downloads
163 Downloads
90 Downloads
If you haven’t explored these hiking tracks with Google Earth, I urge you to try it. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the screenshot above. For some ideas, check out  Using Google Earth Track Files.

Cueva de Bandidos Driveabout and Hike – 01/20/2020

For this post, in addition to describing a Hike in the territory of the village of San Miguel del Valle in the Sierra Norte, this entry in my journal is also about the Story leading up to this adventure and the Driveabout Inbound getting to the hiking trail, and the Driveabout Outbound returning to San Miguel del Valle .

The Story

This adventure actually began two days earlier when Pat and I forayed from Oaxaca City to the Zapotec village of San Miguel del Valle to arrange an overnight trip, with hikes scheduled for both days. Our past 3 years of experience, almost always with a guide of some form, had given us sufficient confidence that, with our meager Spanish, we could 1) take public buses to San Miguel, and 2) arrange with the staff at their Ecotourism office for a cabin and hiking guide.

  • From the Baseball Stadium in Oaxaca City where one can catch transportation going east, we caught the bus to Tlacolula planning to then get a bus or a colectivo to San Miguel.
    • Colectivos provide transportation to nearly all of the villages within many miles of Oaxaca City. They are much less expensive than taxis, but collect riders until all 5 seats are filled. This can make for a less than comfortable ride; buses are generally more comfortable.
  • We got off the bus in Tlacolula and easily found the station for buses to San Miguel. After 15 or 20 minutes waiting we were on our way. In San Miguel we easily found the Ecotourism office where we hoped to make arrangements for our visit.
    • San Miguel, like all the Zapotec villages in those parts, is a cooperative community in which citizens take their turn at various jobs, much like the Pueblos in New Mexico. The two people in the Ecotourism office received us warmly but spoke no English. Even with our meager Spanish we were able to communicate our desires (a cabaña for one night and a guide for hiking on each of the two days) and we believed we had successfully completed the arrangements.
    • As our final step, we asked if we could get a guide who spoke English. They made a phone call and we were speaking with a gentlemen with excellent English. We reviewed with him what we believed we had arranged, he confirmed it all with the office members, and we scheduled to meet him two days later.

Having enjoyed such good fortune in getting to San Miguel for planning, we were ready to repeat the travel from Oaxaca City for our adventure.

  • As before, now with our packs and overnight bag, we caught a bus from the Baseball Stadium headed for Tlacolula.
  • The bus didn’t stop at the bus station as it had the other day. We realized this as it started to leave Tlacolula on its way to another nearby town; we got off the bus at the outskirts of the village to wait for a bus or colectivo going to San Miguel.
  • After waiting 20 minutes or so, we walked the half mile back to the center of town and the transportation hub, ultimately getting a ride in a colectivo.
    • We later learned that the citizens of San Miguel were in a town meeting at which everyone is expected to attend, including drivers for buses and colectivos. Thus, none were running while were waiting.
  • The colectivo deposited us in the parking lot for the Ecotourism. Our guide wasn’t waiting there for us as expected – he was in the town meeting along with everyone else. He joined us shortly, introduced us to our cabaña, and we headed out for the day’s tip into the mountains.
  • Throughout all this, everyone we encountered was friendly and helpful which we’ve found to be a universal trait of Oaxaceños.

I relate all this because it brings back memories for us (now and when we read it in the future), and also in hopes that others can use our experience as a jumping off point for your own adventures.

The Driveabout Inbound

Having met up with Memo, we first stopped by a cafe in San Miguel for lunch where we had about the best chicken soup ever. Then we headed up into the Sierra Norte in Memo’s car. After a few miles on a paved road passing through dry scrubland, we started ascending into the mountains. We soon found ourselves 1) into the forest, 2) on a road climbing steeply with a steep drop off on one side or the other, and 3) winding through sharp switchbacks.

Reaching the pueblo of Cuajimoloyas, at 10,000 feet elevation, we stopped briefly where Memo pointed out the extent of the San Miguel Parque. Each of the pueblos in these Sierra Norte mountains has jurisdiction over a defined territory which they manage for the benefit of the community. Memo had pointed out on the drive up that the road is generally the boundary between the San Miguel’s territory and the adjoining pueblo’s. The pueblos hereabouts are recognized as ecotourism destinations and have developed trails and other amenities; Memo showed us on the billboard map the trails for the San Miguel Parque.

Back in the car, we continued a bit further on paved road before turning off onto a good though seldom-used two-track,  driving through an open forest of pine, oak, and other trees. In some 2 miles we stopped for the hike for this day.

 

The HikeP1040484The weather up here high in the mountains was foggy (this is sometimes referred to as a Cloud Forest) and quite chilly and we missed the blue skies so typical this time of year. The hike began by going through some open forest, but we soon found ourselves descending into a deep, narrow, even dark canyon, winding our way between rock walls. Then we came upon a small cave, then a very large cave – the Caves of the Bandits? The trail showed regular use, even with stair steps where necessary, to climb up or down rock ledges. Further along we passed by a pool of water and more large crevices, all pointing to the advantage of this area for bandits to hide out. The climb out of the canyon was on a long stairway constructed with local materials – sections of the small diameter trunks of pine trees prevalent in the area, or steps carved in the rock.

The return trail was again through the tropical forest so prevalent in the area. Along the way we admired the many plants new to us – the huge agave plants (not suitable for making mezcal), bromeliads, a few flowers (I wonder what it is like during and after the rainy season). We finished by climbing up on a large bed of rock to look across the canyon, and as far as the fog permitted, the mountains beyond.

The Driveabout Outbound

P1040486The drive out followed a different route. Still on what appeared to be seldom used two-track in good condition, we enjoyed the scenery of this high mountain forest. We stopped at a large meadow with a lake and a few cabins constructed on the hillside above the lake; Memo told this was a favorite getaway for people from San Miguel, to come high in the mountains in summer to escape the heat in the valley. (I was late in starting the GPS track, so the the .kml file misses the first mile or so of the driveout.) The two-track brought us to the pueblo of Llano Grande where we stopped for a break before heading back down to San Miguel. This included a visit to the cafe where we enjoyed chocolate con agua and herbia te while standing around the wood-fired stove in the kitchen for the warmth. It was then back down to San Miguel for a night in their cabana.

Statistics

Total Distance: 1.06 miles
Elevation: start 9,994 ft, maximum 10,092 ft, minimum 9,933 ft
Gross gain: 99 ft. Aggregate ascending 232 ft, descending 231 ft
Maximum slope: 28% ascending, 18% descending, 7.6% average
Duration: 2:00

GPS Track Files for Download
84 Downloads
255 Downloads
82 Downloads
81 Downloads
142 Downloads
76 Downloads

I urge you to explore our hiking tracks with Google Earth. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the 2-dimensional screenshot above. For assistance: Using Google Earth Track Files.

References and Resources

ZapoTrek: Cueva Iglesia Trip Advisor: Zapotrek Hike and Bike – Cueva Iglesia Hike

Mitla Caves Hike – 01/18/2020

The first trip to the mountains and hiking on this year’s visit to Oaxaca. While Pat attended a cooking class in Oaxaca City, I joined a group from the Oaxaca Lending Library (OLL) for an excursion to visit prehistoric caves near Mitla. From information provided by our guides and subsequent research, the caves we visited along with others in the vicinity provide a fascinating story of -very ancient- times, as long as 10,000 years ago.

The Drive In

Trips from the OLL begin at their location on the outskirts of Oaxaca City’s historic central district. Boarding a 16 passenger van, we drove southeast into the Tlacolula Valley to the village of Mitla (formally San Pablo Villa de Mitla), about 25 miles. From there we passed through the village and another three miles through arid sandy/rocky terrain towards the foothills of the Sierra Norte.

The Hike

Mitla Caves Hike.Solo.2020-01-14

Parking just off the highway, we were met by local Zapotec guides and began the hike on a quite rocky two-track that followed a dry wash towards the first hill, the edge of the Sierra Norte. Some .7 miles along, we were directed up the side of this hill following a steep tho’ well established trail (with stairs in some places).

In less that 100 yards, we were introduced to the first two of the four caves to be visited that day. The geology of the area is entirely of volcanic origin, so the caves would seem to be voids in the lava flow, opening in the nearly vertical side the deep arroyo. In this cave the guide told us there is evidence of habitation from 10,000 years ago. Among other seeds, an ancient type of corn was found in these caves. The tiny ears, which  aren’t found to exist today, were subjected to carbon dating to determine their date. (Other reference sources, some listed below, substantiate the claim. When asked about further scientific or archeological studies in these caves, the guides told us no serious work has yet been done.)

Continuing on upward, we visited the 3rd cave which had a few symbols painted in red on the walls; we were told to expect more paintings in the 4th cave.  And we were not disappointed – the walls of this 4th cave were lined with numerous paintings. The group had great fun (with the help of the guides) trying to interpret the images, to imagine what they might have meant to the people who made them.

Being careful on the steep, rocky, sometimes slippery trail, we returned to the van and to Oaxaca City.

Statistics

Total Distance:  2.26 miles
Elevation: start  5,631 ft, maximum 5,964 ft,  minimum 5,631 ft
Gross gain:  333 ft.  Aggregate ascending 1,255 ft, descending 1,261 ft
Maximum slope: 40% ascending, 39% descending, 9.3% average
Duration: 2:07

GPS Track Files for Download
93 Downloads
86 Downloads
I urge you to explore our hiking tracks with Google Earth. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the 2-dimensional screenshot above. For assistance: Using Google Earth Track Files.

References and Resources

UNESCO: Prehistoric Caves of yagul and Mitla in the Central Valley of Oaxaca
                   Yagul and Mitla in the Central Valley of Oaxaca (Mexico) (PDF)
Latin America & Caribbean Geographic: Prehistoric Caves of Yagul and Mitla …
Andrew Lawler: The Oldest Ritual

Capulálpam de Mendéz, Pueblo Mágico Hike – 01/19/2019

During our visit to Oaxaca, we stayed 3 nights in Capulálpam de Méndez, a small village in the Sierra Madre dele Norte, some 25 miles northeast of Oaxaca City.  Capulálpam is one of the Pueblo Mágico villages, noted particularly for its traditional medicine practices.  It is also one of the Pueblos Mancomunados, a collection of Zapotec villages who have developed eco-tourism programs. (I participated in hikes from other villages in each of our previous visits to Oaxaca: Llano Grande Hike – 01/13/2017 and Latuvi Hike (Oaxaca) – 01/10/2018.)  We stayed in the Hotel Chorromonte, a quite nice room but we spent little time there, instead enjoying the relaxing atmosphere of the village, experiencing traditional medicine treatments, and taking this hike.

The Hike

Capulálpam de Méndez, Pueblo Mágico Hike.Pat.2019-01-19

We arranged this hike with Tourismo Ecologico Comunitario Capulálpam de Méndez.  We took a taxi from the Hotel to the Comunitario where we met Catrina, our guide and a member the staff. The hike began on dirt road but soon we turned onto a well-used trail through the somewhat dense forest of tropical trees, shrubs, and other plants.  Especially interesting were the bromeliads and spanish moss – growing everywhere.  And some colorful blooming plants.

About midway through the hike Catrina steered us to a cliff’s edge with a wonderful view over a river valley coming out of the Sierra.  We took a few minutes to enjoy the quiet, beautiful place (and share some snacks).  We then headed back to the Comunitario, continuing through this wonderful forest. On the way we saw more colorful plants and encountered a spring with a small waterfall – magical.

I would note here that the Pueblos Mancomunados each have facilities for hikers to stay overnight – cabañas or camping spaces -, either to hike in the vicinity or to hike from one Pueblo to another.  This one also offer bicycle tours, visits to a nearby cave, a zip-line, and many other activities.

Statistics

Total Distance:  4.23 miles
Elevation: start  6,686 ft, maximum  6,691 ft,  6,686 minimum  ft
Gross gain:  562 ft.  Aggregate ascending  956 ft, descending  827 ft
Maximum slope: 37% ascending, 34% descending, 11% average
Duration: 2:58

GPS Track Files for Download
117 Downloads
212 Downloads
I urge you to explore our hiking tracks with Google Earth. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the 2-dimensional screenshot above. For assistance: Using Google Earth Track Files.

References

Capulálpam de Méndez
     Wikipedia: Capulálpam de Méndez
     Oaxaca Culture Navigator: One Day in Capulálpam de Méndez: Oaxaca’s Pueblo Mágico
     Oaxaca-Mio: Capulálpam de Méndez (Spanish)

Pueblo Mágico Hike
     FacebookTurismo ecológico Comunitario Capulálpam Mágico (Spanish)
     Adventure Mexico: Ecoturismo Comunitario
Capulálpam (Spanish)
     Oaxaca-Mio: Lugares de Ecoturismo en Oaxaca: Capulálpam de Méndez (Spanish)

Pueblos Mancomunados
     The Sweetest Way: Los Pueblos Mancomunados: Hiking in Oaxaca State
     The Independent: How to Have a Mexican Adventure Without Destroying the Local Communities
     Expediciones Sierra Norte: The Best Nature Hikes in Mexico (Tour Services)

Monte Albán Walkabout – 01/10/2019

Monte Albán Walkabout.PatAddie.2019-01-10

During our visit to Oaxaca this year, we returned to Monte Albán with our friend Addie.  Again were impressed with the size of the site and of the buildings. So we walked only 1.7 miles..but we faced some elevation gain – the “steps” up to the top of the pyramids were challenging.  We were told on a previous visit that the rise of each step is so great that one must keep one’s head down as one climbs up.  We confirmed that to be the case.  Oh, and descending requires even more concentration to be safe.

Although we’ve visited Monte Albán on each of our previous (2) trips, we continue to find it a fascinating place, with more yet to be experienced.

Statistics

Total Distance:  1.67 miles
Elevation: start  6,209 ft, maximum  6,315 ft,  minimum  6,209 ft
Gross gain:  199 ft.  Aggregate ascending  292 ft, descending  326 ft
Maximum slope: 24% ascending, 19% descending, 6% average
Duration: 3:13

GPS Track Files for Download
123 Downloads
0 Downloads
I urge you to explore our hiking tracks with Google Earth. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the 2-dimensional screenshot above. For assistance: Using Google Earth Track Files.

References

Wikipedia: Monte Albán
UNESCO: Historic Centre of Oaxaca and Archaeological Site of Monte Albán
Wikitravel: Monte Albán
MexOnline: Monte Albán- Archaeological Zones – Central Valley
Places of Peace and Power: Monte Albán
Bluffton Edu: Introduction to the archaeological ruins of Monte Albán, Oaxaca