Touring in Mexico can generally look like a dicey prospect. Right here’s our information to touring to El Potrero Chico safely this season, together with just a few evergreen suggestions for visiting climbers.
All people who’s a climber within the U.S. and Canada is aware of the celebration is in Mexico for Christmas and New Yr’s. Each December (and for just a few months in every path on the calendar), climbers pour into Hidalgo, Nuevo Leon, keen to drag down on Mexican limestone, swill Mexican substances, and celebration all night time.
They’re proper to take action, for my part. I’ve pushed down from Austin, Texas, to revel there many a time, and need that’s what I used to be doing proper now. Can’t-miss routes drape the cliffs as densely as streamers at a Mexican Easter celebration,
Leo’s Tacos is all the time open late, and I really feel deeply welcome at Homero’s each time I arrive. And for the seasonal stalwarts who’ll require a change of tempo, El Salto perches simply up the street.
The reply to the query, “Ought to I’m going to El Potrero Chico (EPC) this 12 months?” is clear to many people; from a viewpoint that excludes the whole lot however the Potrero.
I additionally know individuals whose households have tried to forbid them from touring there attributable to worries over security. We’ve all heard the “EPC is harmful” tales. Individuals have sat round tables on the campgrounds with males they’re sure are narcos.
One time within the early 2000s, police discovered 4 corpses hanging from a tree far up the canyon. They have been the members of a band that had performed at one of many resorts the night time earlier than.
Goodwill doesn’t all the time prevail; that’s the case regardless of the place on this planet you’re. So, right here’s some info that can assist you determine whether or not you’re comfy visiting the Potrero this season. We collected authorities suggestions, contacted campground hosts, and sourced current guests to get a really feel for what’s up at “the little corral.”
Contemplate Avoiding Nuevo Laredo Because of Reported Police Bribes
Luke Riethman, who just lately graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh with an Expeditionary Research diploma, visited the Potrero in September. He spoke with me from Puerto Escondido, a surf city on the Pacific coast in southern Mexico.
Riethman drove into the nation alongside together with his canine and mentioned his journey was typically amicable. Whereas he did encounter some regarding proof of roadside violence (together with what gave the impression to be a corpse lined by a sheet, surrounded by police) whereas driving southbound away from El Potrero by San Luis Potosi, he mentioned that his travels in Nuevo Leon went easily.
Riethman stayed at La Posada together with simply two different events — early-season guests have been sparse within the canyon at the moment.
Riethman provided two key suggestions for El Potrero guests this season:
- Don’t drive by Nuevo Laredo.
- Relying in your port of entry, file your vacationer paperwork on-line.
Guests to Mexico have lengthy wanted to fill out a Vacationer Card containing fundamental details about their identification, their origin, the place they’re headed, and the way lengthy they plan on being there.
Prior to now, stopping at a border city constructing to undergo customs was requisite. In apply, it meant wading by a bureaucratic course of that could possibly be cumbersome or complicated — particularly for anybody and not using a conversational understanding of Spanish.
Not so anymore. Now you may fill out your Vacationer Card on-line, whether or not you’re flying or driving in. Directions are simple to comply with, and it’s free.
That is dependent upon the place you’re getting into the nation. Many airports and bridge entry factors make the checklist, however sadly, Monterrey Worldwide Airport will not be certainly one of them.
Neither are the entry factors in Piedras Negras — Puente Internacional Camino Actual and Puente Internacional Piedras Negras II. That’s the place Riethman beneficial getting into the nation this season attributable to tips on nefarious police exercise in Nuevo Laredo.
“We heard that there have been a number of police bribes taking place with vacationers in Nuevo Laredo,” he advised me.
So he and his climbing associate selected Piedras Negras (Eagle Cross, Texas, on the U.S. facet) as a substitute. He reported no points and a simple drive down highways 57 and 53 to Hidalgo.
After they obtained there, he mentioned, the few climbers staying within the canyon on the time corroborated what they’d heard about Nuevo Leon.
“There have been two different events, and so they each mentioned they’d been bribed,” Riethman mentioned.
Be suggested.
Observe: You’ll additionally wish to get “Mexico insurance coverage” (sure, that’s what most suppliers name it) on your automotive. It really works identical to regular American automotive insurance coverage, however in Mexico, and you should purchase short-term plans on your go to. Many suppliers make it obtainable.
La Posada Stands Out With New Packages to Welcome Climbers
There are a number of widespread locations for climbers to remain within the canyon beneath El Potrero, however by far, the most well-liked is La Posada. Large teams can select from varied non-public homes, traditionalists can go for Homero’s, and anybody who desires a down-home Mexican expertise can bivy at Chon’s.
Homero’s is the unique and nonetheless attracts justified visitors with hospitality and a depth of story that’s unmatched wherever within the sport climbing universe, to my information.
Nonetheless, it will probably’t match La Posada’s facilities. The compound stands out for its restaurant, pool, cabana hangouts, non-public rooms, glamping websites, and two non-public homes.
It then upped the ante by providing direct shuttles for guests from the Monterrey Worldwide Airport. This 12 months, it welcomes vacationer climbers with Spanish language packages and even alternatives to speak store with native Mexican climbers.
Some Mexican climbers affiliated with La Posada will probably be there in an envoy capability — serving to the resort with photoshoots and tasks associated to its personal advertising and marketing. However a spokesperson did say that visiting climbers can have some alternatives to get on the within observe with assist from the locals.
The spokesperson couldn’t verify any accounts of police bribes in Nuevo Laredo amongst La Posada company. She mentioned she was unaware of any security incidents within the canyon involving vacationers this season. When requested what her number-one security suggestion for climbers visiting the Potrero was, she answered instantly: journey in teams.
Greatest Practices: The right way to Keep Secure, and One Story About Hazard
To remain protected in Mexico, you’ll typically wish to stick with a handful of finest practices. Each is easy to comply with, and doing so can strongly enhance your possibilities of success.
Broadly talking, widespread sense and a few comprehension of Spanish are your most vital instruments. Be respectful; don’t get in a automotive with anybody you don’t know or can’t verify is affiliated together with your group; be acquainted with methods to entry Mexican money; and don’t purchase or promote medicine.
Talking of medicine, in case you dwell in the USA, Canada, or most of the different international locations most vacationers sometimes go to the Potrero from, you’ll doubtless discover that some Mexican police are very closely armed.
If you would like something to do with legal exercise in Mexico, you’re by yourself. Notably, that goes for drunk driving as properly — which Mexican authorities take very significantly.
Three different key finest practices to comply with as normal coverage:
- Drive on foremost roads and toll roads.
- Commute throughout daylight.
- Journey as a gaggle.
These are largely issues of widespread sense, however they’re value reiterating. You’re much less more likely to get waylaid or in any other case bothered on any street that’s well-trafficked. And everyone is aware of it’s simpler to drag shenanigans after darkish.
I can’t overemphasize the asset that’s group journey. For those who’re a part of a gaggle, you may pool assets, together with however by no means restricted to cash. Diverse ability units between comrades, like language, journey expertise, navigational skill, and so forth., may help all boats rise.
And, after all, you may look out for one another.
One of many solely terrifying circumstances I’ve ever skilled in Mexico occurred just a few years in the past when my associate and I rappelled down from a climb after darkish to discover a lady we have been touring with lacking.
It was very late within the season, and we have been the one vacationer group within the canyon. Our automotive was within the car parking zone, locked. Our passports have been inside. The lacking lady had the keys.
The few stragglers again at Homero’s, the place we have been staying, had not seen her. It took all of the composure I might muster to not smash a window, seize my paperwork, and take a automotive to the airport.
Lastly, she confirmed again up, below the care of a superb Samaritan, just a few hours later. She advised a imprecise story.
Takeaway: you don’t wish to be in that spot. Journey with individuals you belief, keep involved, and — above all — preserve widespread sense.
Additionally, the U.S. Division of State maintains and updates journey advisories relating to Mexico on its web site.
What You Can’t Carry to Mexico: Weapons, And many others.
For those who’re driving to Mexico, you’ll wish to be sure you’re not carrying something authorities received’t allow you to herald.
The checklist is comparatively brief. Aside from unlawful medicine, firearms, and ammo, you may herald most private results duty-free. You’ll be able to even herald presents up to a couple hundred {dollars} in worth, based on journey information firm Frommer’s.
Nonetheless: don’t deliver unlawful medicine, firearms, or ammunition into Mexico. Regardless of what some Individuals would possibly suppose, Mexico’s gun carry legal guidelines are stricter than in the USA. For those who do wish to deliver a gun into the nation, you face a mountain of paperwork.
And be at liberty to deliver just a few issues in your method out. Vegatables and fruits received’t make it by Customs in the event that they ship you to a secondary inspection. I’ve made it again with varied quantities of Mexican beer and liquor, although U.S. Customs explicitly permits just one liter of alcohol and one case of beer per individual for each 30 days you’re within the nation.
Professional Ideas: Hidalgo Hangouts and Mild-Responsibility Beta
My experiences in Hidalgo have been categorically welcoming, informal, and colourful. I’ve all the time discovered it fairly simple to get round as soon as I get the cling of it, and locals have handled me with attitudes starting from tolerant ambivalence to open-armed kindness. I do communicate rudimentary conversational Spanish, and it typically improves throughout my visits.
Climber base camp in Hidalgo is, unequivocally, El Buho. The espresso store is often stuffed with visiting climbers, and you may reliably go there for bilingual banter on methods to get round city, do’s and don’ts, Wi-Fi, and different typically helpful info. (As of a number of years in the past, you possibly can nonetheless seize a hand-drawn paper map of the city with key factors of curiosity for climbers, like the place to get beer, ice cream, and different necessities, plus market dates.)
El Buho is positioned proper down the road from the grocery retailer, which is planted (conveniently) on the nook of the street resulting in the Potrero. There’s a Santander financial institution with an ATM within the vestibule catty nook throughout the sq. from the shop.
Within the sq., you’ll ideally discover the elote man. Whether or not you go entero or en vaso, elote is all the time a fortifying and reasonably priced deal with. My different key suggestions embrace a tiny restaurant with wonderful salsa on the road nook throughout from the cemetery (which can be properly value seeing). So long as it’s nonetheless there, it’s proper close to the practice tracks and the Friday market.
However talking of markets, I can’t suggest spending a day at one extremely sufficient. So long as you’re staying lengthy sufficient to go to one, it’s a enjoyable solution to lose your self within the tradition of the city and channel some cash on to the folks that assist make it the seasonal climber vacation spot it’s.
Potrero-Particular Climbing Suggestions
There’s quite a bit to be mentioned for the climbing fashion on the Potrero. Rad rock, bomber bolting, lengthy, direct routes from well-trafficked classics to obscure sport climbing adventures, constant rappel methodology, and fairly wonderful views.
Phrases to the sensible, although: regardless of how chill it could appear, bear in mind you’re on a 2,000-foot cliff. Not the whole lot all the time goes based on plan. Storms can blow in, particularly out of the northern valley, with stunning immediacy.
Widespread routes can get so busy they’ll change into harmful throughout excessive season. And although essentially the most climbed-out traces get very heavy visitors, free rock nonetheless exists.
I’ve taken cowl on the backside of a capturing gallery of dropped gear and pebbles beneath “Pitch Black.” I’ve rappelled off a palm tree in the dead of night after lacking the belay bolts on “Time Wave Zero.” And I’ve hauled a brand new climber again to the belay bolts after he rappelled into house all the best way to his knots on “El Sendero Diablo.”
That mentioned, right here’s my guidelines for each El Potrero climb:
- Helmet. Helmet, helmet, helmet. I do know individuals who received’t get out of their automotive within the car parking zone beneath Mota Wall with out carrying one, and I don’t contemplate them extremists.
- 70m rope. I’ve discovered rappel bolting extremely constant on the Potrero. The usual pitch size appears to be between 30-35 m. Rappelling on a 70m line, I’ve reached anchors attributable to rope stretch solely on a number of events. (At all times tie knots.)
- A quad. Bolt spacing at anchors within the Potrero is so constant that, in my expertise, I can often pre-rig one and use it at each single belay for my total journey.
- Gri-gri and ATC or related. Belaying with both one will all the time work. But it surely varyingly is smart to simul-rappel or go separately within the Potrero. (At all times tie knots.)
- Headlamp and sleeves. You by no means know.
- Money, child. If Eduardo’s doing his factor within the canyon by the point you get down from a protracted day on the wall, I nearly assure you’ll wish to go see him for a margarita or some pizza. And even when he’s not there, you may often nonetheless cease on the best way again to your flop for refreshments alongside the best way.
Above all, respect the locals, clear up after your self, keep protected, and have enjoyable. I’ve but to wish to return to the U.S. after a visit to the Potrero — and I’ve zero causes to consider this winter will probably be my first time.
