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The Trip

The Sierra Tarahumara (Copper Canyon) is a high and rugged section of the Sierra Madre Occidental and one of Mexico's premier attractions. The term "Copper Canyon" or "Las Barrancas del Cobre" refers to one of the Sierra's most salient geographical features: its vast network of canyons, of which at least four (each over 5,400 feet deep) are deeper than the Grand Canyon. This region harbors four distinct climatic zones: the highlands up to 8,000 feet, with ponderosa pine and Douglas fir; the pinon-oak-juniper at slightly lower elevations; the tropical deciduous thorn forest just below the canyon tops; and the canyon bottoms with tropical-subtropical riparian forests.

These forests contain the largest stands of old-growth forest in the Americas and produce more pine and oak than any other area in the world. Mexican wolf, black bear, and puma live in the highlands. Wide-ranging mammals include white-tailed deer, coyote, bobcat, javelina, ringtail, coati, and river otter. Over 200 migratory and indigenous bird species have been spotted here, including eared and elegant trogon, solitary eagle, squirrel cuckoo, crested caracara, green parakeet, and military macaw.

The 25,000 square miles of Copper Canyon is also the traditional homeland of Mexico's 50,000 Tarahumara, whose lifestyle is in many ways much the same as that of their ancestors. The majority of Tarahumara live in caves, along rivers, and in small log cabins on the canyon floor, cultivating the land, using time-tested methods. Life in this rugged wilderness has made them adept at maneuvering the steep mountainsides on foot; they are noted for their long-distance running ability, even up and down the steep mountain trails. We will undoubtedly find groups of Tarahumara women and children making beautiful woven baskets, belts, and wooden figures to sell.

We will begin our journey from the town of El Fuerte, Sonora, on the first-class Copper Canyon train of the Chihuahua al Pacifico Railway, considered by many to be the most spectacular train ride in North America for its scenery and sheer engineering marvels. We start from near sea level, passing over 26 bridges and through 50 tunnels in 200 miles to an elevation of close to 8,000 feet. We will disembark at Posada Barranca and meet our outfitter, who will guide us on a five-day, burro-assisted trek down to the bottom of Urique Canyon. We'll begin with a spectacular tram ride down about a third of the way to the canyon bottom, followed by a steep trail to our riverside camp. Over the next two days we'll explore hot springs, hidden canyons, and archaeological sites, and we'll take two days to climb back up to the rim. The burros will carry all our gear except for a light day pack.

The remainder of our trip will be spent in comfortable hotels on the rim near Creel and at river-level in Batopilas, one of the most remote towns in North America. Throughout our trip we will hike in the canyons and to historical sites.

Itinerary

Note: Itinerary is subject to change due to weather conditions or other factors.

Day 1: We meet at the airport in Los Mochis in the early evening and take a van to our comfortable lodge in the charming colonial riverside town of El Fuerte. After settling into our rooms, we have a delicious dinner at the lodge and get acquainted at our orientation meeting.

Day 2: This morning we take the first-class Copper Canyon train, traveling from 600 feet above sea level to our destination on the rim. The views are fantastic! We meet our outfitter as we disembark and are transported to a rustic guesthouse near the rim for a late lunch, a two-mile scenic walk on level ground, and then dinner.

Day 3: After a hearty breakfast we meet our local guides and arrieros (Spanish for burro drivers), who load our luggage onto their burros. We begin our trek with a spectacular tram ride, which eliminates about a third of our 5,000-foot descent to the canyon bottom. The trail to our camp is steep with loose rocks but little exposure. Our crew sets up our tents and portable outhouse and cooks all of our meals over a fire throughout the entire trek. We hike five hours this day for four miles over a 3,500-foot descent on trails that are used regularly by the local Tarahumara residents and their burros. The trails in general are moderate or steep in grade, with switchbacks. Some sections have loose footing due to the churning up of the soil by burros’ hooves. Hiking poles are recommended.

Day 4: On the agenda today is an all-day hike up to a hot spring. We hike six miles round-trip, with a 2,000 feet ascent and descent back to our campsite.

Day 5: Today you can rest your tired muscles, relaxing around our riverside camp or taking a short hike upriver to a beautiful slot canyon for a swim in a cool pool.

Day 6: After breakfast we leave our riverside campsite and hike up the canyon to camp for the night on the outskirts of a Tarahumara village. Our hike today will cover four miles and a 3,000-foot ascent and take about six hours.

Day 7: Today we hike the rest of the way up to the rim, with a 2,000-foot ascent over three miles that will take us five hours to complete, with an option of visiting a Mogollon Rim archaeological site. We indulge ourselves tonight at a fancy hotel on the rim with hot showers and great food.

Day 8: After breakfast we travel most of the day in our private van 5,000 feet down through several different ecological zones to the remote town of Batopilas on the Batopilas River. The site of one of the richest silver strikes in the world, Batopilas is a throwback to an earlier, quieter era of Mexico. There we will most likely encounter traditional Tarahumara coming into town to buy staples and then returning on the town’s footpaths to their cave dwellings. We spend three nights at a comfortable lodge near the river.

Day 9: In the morning, we hike on a lovely trail by the river and visit a school and community near Batopilas. After a riverside picnic, we visit the ruins of the mining company that once dominated the town and region.

Day 10: We spend the morning hiking on the Camino Real, the original "Royal Road" used by mining companies to transport their silver ore by burros up to Mexico City. Expect wide views of the river and surrounding desert countryside. We have lunch at the Satevo church/mission, which has been lovingly restored. We van back to Batopilas and relax at our lodge.

Day 11: Today we leave Batopilas and drive up the canyon to a lovely lodge in the pine forest where we take a hike to a nearby waterfall.

Day 12: A short ride from the lodge takes us to Creel, the hub town of the Copper Canyon area. Here we’ll have time to shop for souvenirs if we want. We take the late-morning train back to El Fuerte, arriving there for a late dinner.

Day 13: A taxi ride takes us back to the airport at Los Mochis and our flights home.

Getting There

We will meet in the early evening of Sunday, November 18th, at the airport in Los Mochis (LMM), which is accessible by Aeromexico from a couple of western US cities. The trip concludes on Friday, November 30th, at the Los Mochis airport. Group transfers will be provided between the airport and El Fuerte, which is a 1.5-hour drive away.

Accommodations and Food

Our meals will be tasty, plentiful, and nourishing. All of our meals are made from scratch in the restaurants we visit and on our trek. Vegetarians will be accommodated easily since most meals in Mexico include beans and rice.

We spend eight nights in lodges, ranging from a rustic guesthouse to comfortable lodges, and four nights camping in tents on our trek. Our outfitter supplies roomy two-person tents, which the crew sets up and takes down for us. All of our lodges feature double rooms with private bathrooms. We will use a portable outhouse on our trek.

Trip Difficulty

This trip is moderately-strenuous: during the burro-assisted portion, we will be hiking up to 10 miles per day at elevations from 2,000 to 7,700 feet with a daily elevation change of up to 3,500 feet. Day hikes will average two to six miles, with a maximum elevation change of 3,500 feet. Temperatures may range from 55 to 75 degrees on the rim and from 60 to 85 degrees on the canyon floor. This trip will appeal to participants who are in good physical shape and who enjoy spending a great portion of every day outside.

Equipment and Clothing

Broken-in hiking boots, hiking poles, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and day pack are the basic equipment needed for the trekking portion of this trip. Our outfitter will provide two-person tents. A complete packing list will be sent to each trip member by the trip leader.

References

• Touristic Guide of Sierra Tarahumara, Chihuahua (map).
• Cummings, Joe, Northern Mexico Handbook, Moon Publications, 1998.
• Fayhee, John, Mexico's Copper Canyon Country, Cordillera Press, 1989.
• Fontana, Bernard, Tarahumara: Where Night is the Day of the Moon, Northland Press, 1979.
• Kennedy, John, The Tarahumara of the Sierra Madre: Beer, Ecology, and Social Organizing, AHM Publishing Corp., 1978.

Conservation

The ongoing drought continues to be a major problem in the mountains of the Copper Canyon region. The Tarahumara, as well as the local mestizo population, practice dry farming, and are thus susceptible to prolonged periods of little rain. As well, the peoples of the region are dependent on rainfall to recharge the water table and on the springs to supply the drinking water -- some of which are drying out.

The ongoing development in the region is very controversial. Tourism officials in the state of Chihuahua are planning a canyon rim complex (more hotels, etc) to coincide with the completion of a new airport in Creel. This development will, of course, make some people very rich and tourists happy, but there is no evidence that it will help the Tarahumara or their culture in any way. The encroachment of "chabochi (Anglo) culture" continues to the detriment of the native population. One of the major hotels in a town on the rim, for example, continues to dump black water into a populated canyon below, even while insisting that repairs are taking place. The drug cartels are pushing their cultivation of poppies and marijuana deeper and deeper into the canyons, displacing traditional Tarahumara cultivation. The article, "A People Apart," by Cynthia Gorney in the November 2008 issue of National Geographic has some good, current information on the region.

Trip Price

This trip requires a $200 per-person deposit. An additional payment of $300 per person is due six months prior to trip departure. International trip prices are subject to change and are based on double-occupancy or group accommodations as described above. Single rooms may not be available or may cost more than the listed price. If you have any questions regarding double occupancy, please contact the trip leader.

See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy.

The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.

The Sierra Club accurately and fairly budgets and prices our trips. However, unforeseen costs such as devaluation of the dollar compared to other currencies and fuel surcharges assessed by our international providers may necessitate adjustment in trip price. We will make every effort to mitigate and absorb these fees. If a price increase is necessary, however, you will have 14 days after announcement to cancel without penalty.

Staff

Tim Wernette has been leading Sierra Club service trips for more than 25 years. He is an avid "canyon rat" and has led numerous Sierra Club service trips on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, including previous trips in Kanab Creek Wilderness. He also leads international trips (to Nepal, Bhutan, Belize, Ecuador/Galapagos Islands and Costa Rica). Tim is semi-retired and continues to work part-time at the University of Arizona doing educational equity work. Tim enjoys hiking/backpacking and, with his wife, tandem recumbent bike riding and sea kayaking. The canyon country we will visit is Tim's geographical "spiritual home," and he loves sharing it with fellow Sierra Club members.

E-mail: timwernette@msn.com

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General Notes About Sierra Club Trips

• Carbon Offsets
• Electronic Devices
• Equipment
• How to Apply for a Trip
• Leader Gratuities
• Liability Release and Assumption of Risk
• Medical Issues
• Non-discrimination Statement
• Participant Approval
• Reservation and Cancellation Policy
• Seller of Travel Disclosure
• Travel Insurance
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