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justsaynototake
Mar 11, 2009, 1:52 PM
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Does anybody know what the deal is with Mexico these days? With all of this drug cartel business I wasn't sure how safe it was to go to Potrero Chico and Monterey. Has anyone been there recently that would like to share their experience with this?
Thanks
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mojomonkey
Mar 11, 2009, 2:05 PM
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I was there the last week in February and it felt no different to me than the previous year. It was pretty isolated from the populated areas - only a quick period in the Monterrey airport before my ride (arranged through Homero) picked us up when we arrived and dropped us off when we left.
The locals were as friendly as always and we spent a rest day in Hidalgo at the market and later at the hot springs.
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dlintz
Mar 11, 2009, 2:24 PM
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I was there last year and it was all fine. EPC appears somewhat insulated but that's not to say things can't happen.
Personally if I went back I would skip the drive. I'd fly to Monterrey and then arrange for a ride or take a local bus. Maybe I'm a little paranoid but I'd prefer not to deal with the border crossing/border towns.
d.
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atg200
Mar 11, 2009, 2:31 PM
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The violence is almost completely limited to drug people and police/military - tourists and normal people are more or less unaffected. I drove through nearly every state in Mexico last year and saw or heard nothing out of the ordinary except for loads of military checkpoints looking for drugs. Crossing the border is not a big deal either. You really have to go looking for trouble to find it.
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Parkerkat
Mar 11, 2009, 2:34 PM
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HAhaha..almost the same as the guy above me...I was there between the 7th and 14th of Feb. It was my first time and all I can say is whatever drug wars are happening really aren't going on in the Potrero. The town is dying due to lost concrete manufaturing contracts from the US, so they seem to freaking love us climbers since we're mostly toting american cash around and buying one super-buger per peson (jsut ask about super-buger when you get there lol)
Just stay away from drugs completely..there are a few dudes driving around looking to sell, but just stay away and then there is no reason for trouble. The market is safe, the campsites are gold and the climbing is plentiful!!! ...more then enough to go cragging for years!
..only thing I'd say is that the closer to summer/spring, the hotter its gonna be so get going and keep an eye out for the shady canyons!
...also try Estrallita... super fun and easy 12 pitch!
Hope this helps! ..and one more thing... Potrero Crew is great for a pickup (google it) and make sure you Stay at Posadas.. some people will say homeros but when I was there... like 50 people staying at Posadas...4 people at homeros..and you could tell they regretted the decision (unless you happen to like solitude)....
Have a great time!!!!
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el_layclimber
Mar 11, 2009, 3:17 PM
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This is a travel warning from the Department of Being Vewy Vewy Afwaid.
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_3028.html
I was in Chiapas back in 1997 at the height of the Zapatista stuff, and saw nothing. That doesn't mean it was smart for me to do or people's safety is guaranteed now. Traveling in sketchy countries is like rock climbing. You need to keep aware, and even if you do everything right you can still end up dead.
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rogue10186
Mar 12, 2009, 4:00 AM
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Heard from a friend of mine that the Monterry/ Portero area is pretty ok right now, if you drive and pass through Laredo, just time it to go through in the early morning, like 7:30~8ish, and you'll be fine.
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8flood8
Mar 12, 2009, 4:54 AM
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if you are worried about laredo, just cross over at the columbia bridge. there isn't anyone around there who will be doing anything scary (except holding a machine gun). you won't see anyone but a few military and border patrol.
just make sure you arrive before 10:30 pm so that the bridge is still open.
we drove down in 3 cars in the middle of january.
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steinmethod
Mar 13, 2009, 2:22 PM
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IM planning on going the end of June. I know it will be summer and HOT. Can anyone recommend some good climbs in the shade?
thanks.
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potreroed
Mar 13, 2009, 2:34 PM
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It will be hot, but not extreme, and the way our walls are oriented everything here will be in the shade either in the morning or the afternoon. From around 1 to 3 you'll want to hunker down, enjoy lunch, a siesta and a swim before hitting the crags again until it gets dark around 9. In other words, summers here are awesome and not much different than anywhere else.
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Parkerkat
Mar 13, 2009, 2:41 PM
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Virgin Canyon is great as its very shady by early afternoon.. just walk around the first few days so you get good idea of whats shady at what time! ...there are so many different canyons you'll always have some shade!
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gblauer
Moderator
Mar 13, 2009, 3:12 PM
Post #12 of 13
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I was in EPC at the End of Feb as well. I felt totally safe and isolated from the reported violence.
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sonso45
Mar 13, 2009, 7:17 PM
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I drove nearly 1,000 miles in early february to Durango (wrote a TR) and had no problems, only one military checkpoint stopped me. Later that month, I flew to Toluca and drove to Taxco then Jilotepec and finally Mexico City.
As a few said, it's a big battle between drug lords and the gov't (including ours). Most folks were friendly and helpful, even interested in what we were doing. Just be smart and use caution whenever you travel anywhere.
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