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Trekking the Copper Canyon |
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Zay Harding walks along the top of a waterfall
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Hiking the Copper Canyon, or Barranca del Cobre
as it is known to the locals, takes the adventurous through
the heart of the Sierra Madre Occidental in the Northwestern
province of Chihuahua, Mexico. In reality, the Copper
Canyon is not one, but twenty canyons, and is four times larger
than the Grand Canyon in Arizona. It is also home to one of
North Americas most mysterious tribes - the Tarahumara
Indians. Hiking in the Copper Canyon isn't for the faint-hearted.
The trails can be steep and slippery, the accommodation basic,
and it takes time to adjust to the heat and the altitude.
But if you can overcome this, and are fit and have the spirit
of adventure, let the Tarahumara people take you to truly
magical place.
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Highlights
- Sleeping in a cave by the light of a campfire.
- Meeting the Tarahumara people and learning about their culture.
- Relaxing in a hot spring on the floor of the canyon. |
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Our Journey Path (as featured
in Treks in a Wild World)
There are many routes crisscrossing the Copper Canyon so its
imperative to travel with a guide to prevent getting lost.
Trips can last two days or two weeks, depending on your stamina.
Zay Harding heads out of the Sierra Lodge near Cusarare
with ten burros, ten Tarahumara guides, cooks and tortilla
maker and of course, the illustrious Skip McWilliams. The
convoy travelled slowly through the plains near the Lodge
and headed towards one of the canyons. Walking at an easy
pace past Tarahumara homesteads and through forested mesas,
the group reach their campsite. After a chilly night around
the campfire, Zay and his companions hike one-thousand feet
to the bottom of the canyon. Along the canyon floor, caves
such as Basirecota make warm, dry places to sleep overnight.
There are several hot springs on the canyon floor that make
for a truly relaxing end to a tough days hiking. Imagine stretching
out in the sulfuric pools of hot water at midnight, with the
stars twinkling and the magical sounds of the canyon surrounding
you. From here, Zay and his guides trek along the canyon floor
and on up, finally reaching the Cusarare Falls at the
end of the journey. |
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travellers tips
To protect legs from snake bites, pack a pair of long
pants. A light shirt is necessary to keep cool. A fleece will
come in handy during the chilly nights.
Matches are multipurpose; keeping warm, cooking and lighting
the way when lost.
Once inside the canyons, emergency evacuation and helicopter
rescues are not an option, so smart to go with an experienced
guide. The Tarahumara people are the best bet.
The Tarahumara people are very private and do not like to
be photographed. |
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Did you know?
The Tarahumara are considered to be the world's best long
distance runners. In their native tradition, hunters would
actually chase their prey for days until the animal simply
collapsed with exhaustion.
Approximately 50,000 Tarahumara Indians live in the Copper
Canyon. |
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