Hey guy's. My wife and I are planning a two week trip for this March Break 2015 and driving from Southern Ontario to El Potrero Chico and back.

On the way down and back I was planning on stopping at climbing areas to camp and climb between driving. So far I was planning on our first stop to be at the Red in Kentucky, second stop to be at Horseshoe Canyon Ranch in Arkansas. Coming back we wanted to stop in New Orleans and then maybe at OBED in Tennessee.

We are set on driving and climbing at multiple locations rather then putting all our eggs in one basket. I have done numerous trips where we have only climbed for a few days at each place and it was a great way to get a feel for an area and know whether you want to make a return trip or not.

We really want to do El Potrero and HCR, everything else in the middle is extra. We are hoping people have suggestions of destinations or things to do/see on the way or anything to be aware of. I am looking for good suggestions to break up the drive from HCR to El potrero as it is 15.5 hours. We lead up to maybe 5.10d sport and I lead 5.9ish trad maybe higher if it is better quality then southern ontario. OBED might be out of our grade range for a majority of the climbs so another option would be nice.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Crossing the border with a car takes time and money. Get insurance. Stay on toll roads as much as possible. Do not drive at night.

How many hours does it take to drive down to EPC? I've done a two week trip out to Devils Tower from Ontario before. It's a solid 24hours, and that was pretty much my limit.

Is Mexico really that bad?

You really need to do some homework before driving down there. You clearly dont understand thr gravity of the situation.

Gun battles between rival TCOs or with Mexican authorities have taken place in towns and cities in many parts of Mexico, especially in the border region. Gun battles have occurred in broad daylight on streets and in other public venues, such as restaurants and clubs. During some of these incidents, U.S. citizens have been trapped and temporarily prevented from leaving the area. TCOs use stolen cars and trucks to create roadblocks on major thoroughfares, preventing the military and police from responding to criminal activity. The location and timing of future armed engagements is unpredictable. We recommend that you defer travel to the areas indicated in this Travel Warning and to exercise extreme caution when traveling throughout the northern border region.

The rising number of kidnappings and disappearances throughout Mexico is of particular concern. Both local and expatriate communities have been victimized. In addition, local police have been implicated in some of these incidents. We strongly advise you to lower your profile and avoid displaying any evidence of wealth that might draw attention.

Carjacking and highway robbery are serious problems in many parts of the border region and U.S. citizens have been murdered in such incidents. Most victims who complied with carjackers at these checkpoints have reported that they were not physically harmed. Incidents have occurred during the day and at night, and carjackers have used a variety of techniques, including bumping/moving vehicles to force them to stop and running vehicles off the road at high speeds. There are some indications that criminals have particularly targeted newer and larger vehicles, especially dark-colored SUVs. However, victims driving a variety of vehicles, from late model SUVs to old sedans have also been targeted. While violent incidents have occurred at all hours of the day and night on both modern toll ("cuotas") highways and on secondary roads, they have occurred most frequently at night and on isolated roads. To reduce risk, we strongly urge you to travel between cities throughout Mexico only during daylight hours, to avoid isolated roads, and to use toll roads whenever possible. The Mexican government has deployed federal police and military personnel throughout the country as part of its efforts to combat the TCOs. U.S. citizens traveling on Mexican roads and highways may encounter government checkpoints, which are often staffed by military personnel or law enforcement personnel. TCOs have erected their own unauthorized checkpoints, and killed or abducted motorists who have failed to stop at them. You should cooperate at all checkpoints.

I have a close friend whose mother lives near Monterrey and for years he drove down to visit her. He wouldn't even DREAM of doing it now, and he flies instead. It is extremely dangerous in the north, especially near the Texas border.

You do not need to drive hundreds of miles out of your way to cross. I am not interested in rekindling a discussion about safety but I strongly recommend one of two routes:

Cross at Laredo/Nuevo Laredo--- Autopista to Monterrey---Ring road (periferico) around north of Monterrey---Highway 40D to Saltillo----Hwy 57 south from Saltillo.

Cross at Eagle Pass/Piedras----Hwy 57 south.

Do not cross downriver from Laredo (ie. McAllen/Brownsville) and do not drive through central Tamaulipas to Ciudad Victoria and points south. Do not cross at Columbia which is between Laredo and Eagle Pass.

For reference, I live in Nuevo Laredo and travel in Tamaulipas, Coahuila and Nuevo Leon regularly. Ex-pat residents of the interior are not necessarily knowledgable about conditons in the northeastern border states from what I read here and on ex-pat boards.

A very volatile situation has been developing in Reynosa/Matamoros over the past couple of months and it erupted last Sunday night. Safe isn't a real precise term, but Nuevo Laredo and Piedras Negras don't have public violence anywhere on the scale of what is happening in the lower Rio Grande Valley area of Tamaulipas.

Since no one thinking clearly would enter Mexico at the crossings between Anzalduas/Mission and Laredo, that doesn't leave many options east of El Paso.