El Potrero Chico Mexico 2004-2005 Blurb


   So why Mexico? check this out, they call this the Outrage Wall. This is a panorama picture of the entire potrero (we mountain bike back in the valleys and mounds) and this is the front right of the formation and the front left of the formation. More than many a life times worth to climb.

   Hola, this blurb is being written during our last weeks here in El Potrero Chico, Mexico. We're getting really road hungry. In the past few weeks we've seen loyal patrons of Cerro Gordo pull up roots and get a truckn' and damn does that make us itchy to boogy. We must say though, it's nice to now hear our own thoughts. We can't wait to launch the land shark, it even looks hungry. We have roughly twelve days left and I'll be damned if it doesn't feel like I'm stuck on the Shadows glacier in an I-Tent, waiting for that damn TAT Beaver (it's a plane) to take us home. I'm whining... and sore, for here we have all the creature comforts one could ask for. It's most habitable.

   So, once again Mexico has been very kind to us, for when we arrived we were greeted with open arms from Mel, Mercedes and family. Mel and family are well, simply put, family ;) thus GeorgeAnne has become impressively good at speaking Spanish, she wont admit it though. Indeed she's my translator. Of all the places to lay your head here in El Potrero Chico, Cerro Gordo is by far the most proper. The price here is still the same as it was two years ago. The family cares more about a climber's experience than the financial gain - simply divine. This here was the best darn tamale ever Christmas dinner and this here is a field trip we took with Mel and APU to a museum and a petroglyph site.

   It's beautiful, the underground world of traveling climbers! We've meant up with many old faces from our previous stay here and prior destinations. It seems once the traveling bug has really settled into folks that they kinda join this occult crazed like group of climbing destination globe trotters, it's humorous. Fingertips torn, big toes inflammed, and still drooling for more mileage and stillness over stone. Bird play wind, big sky, gold thread.

   Oh I can't use that bowl, it will overflow, oh, but I can use this though. It's impossible to whistle when you want to giggle. Yerba Mate on a rainy day.

   abrupt huh?

   Things have gotten a little more developed and comfortable here for the traveling climber dirtbags, of course for a cost...Things such as telephone access, wireless internet, more cafes, and restaurants. Oh, we even attended a town meeting where the mayor discussed the improvements to come and other such issues which surround this destination. Like trail maintenance, bathrooms, access, and garbage... But for the life of me, I still don't understand why the locals build huge mounds of old tires and set them aflame. Or on that jive, why do they paint the bottom of the trees white, aswell as everything surrounding them? As a armchair horticulturist, I say Bizarre!

   Oh the weather. Snow, yes, snow! to 90+ degree sunshine. During the tail end of our stay here there has been a bit of lighting and thunder too. I'm still not use to it, no matter the degree of comfort GeorgeAnne exhibits standing outside. Eyes wide and staring at the strikes - NOWAY sister! So what do you do when it's raining and you have the bug to climb? How about some hangboard action, the sick dimension lol.

   We spent a few rest days tasting some of the local mountain biking spots pic1, pic2, pic3. The single track here is awsome, just make sure to use Tuffys or some other sort of cactus proof tire method. Downhills are awesome techy as is the ascents. And just like the local climbers, the local bikers are really unsung and damn good. After mountainbiking in Squamish and now here in Mexico. I must admit, Mexico is just as good! Bring your bike and explore, you will be surprised in what you find, lot's of hidden single track jewels. Hmmm, I hear the mountainbiking in Moab is good too. Good, seeing our next destination is Indian Creek.

   Speaking of rest days. I was hoping to dive into the computer geek frame of mind, but I'll be M$ damned, I lost my motivation with all the climbing and biking. I can report that we did end up doing some sick file sharing though. I am also getting pretty good at C++ pointer variables, and I have been updating the web site too. We have also read a slew of books. My favorite being Stranger In A Strange Land - thanks Robert! I grok. Rest days are also spent shopping at the local market. They're held every Tues and Friday, and the goat is for $30.00. Another bonus is baked goods here are uber cheap, but the coffee is disgusting. Thus I drink Yerba Mate now. Looks like I may have finally beat the coffee fix after all, eh. On a side note, we are practicing our martial arts every now and then, wanting to never forget!

   And... fingers, toes, rest of the body sick and tired of rock climbing - slackline walking the razor's edge between drastic improvements and injury. We think we're worn out, but feel motivated to still pull down. The score between the rock, GeorgeAnne, and I is this: Mexico Rock, 170+ pitches, GeorgeAnne's first 5.12a redpoint, (she had TR onsighted numerous ones prior to taking the sharp end, lol) tons of 5.10 - 5.12 pitches and a few 5.13 redpoints, 5.12 onsights are common. Handfull of some awesome bolted multipitch sport routes aswell (pic1, pic2, pic3,pic4). Oh yeah, and a first free ascent of Peekaboo Jesus 5.12.

   This stay here I saw more locals pulling down really hard. Also many unsung climbers doing some spectacular things. I think Cerro Gordo possibly had some of the strongest climbers at once here, it seemed for sometime that 5.13 was like a common achievement. It's funny that where I'm from 5.13 redpoints are a big deal but down here what really got people talking was this Italian dude, who walked up and onsighted Hombre De Rifle 5.13a and it's neighbor Camino 5.13c. Like it seemed everyone here was redpointing 5.13 casual. Hombre De Rifle was one of my proudest lucid sends of the trip, super stellar route for the grade. Not a give me and I highly recommend it.

   Here's a creepy centipede video - Shift click to download. VIDEO

   Here are pictures from our previous trip here.

   Well, the next stop is Indian Creek. Then back to the Enchanted Tower, New Mexico. Queen Creek, Arizona after that - Who knows? All we know is this, we want to keep this dream alive. We're thinking of adding another year to the climbing vacation - is this what's called living on the road? So maybe a little worky this summer to raise the funds required to keep comfortably afloat. Indeed keep dreaming...Keep climbing on some of the best stone on the planet. I'm absolutely humbled to live this life.

   Peace love and all that ;) --E



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