A Neon Cactus in the Night

Sunset from Mount Lemmon

It’s just about that time of the month again. I finally left Texas and spent a few weeks in Mexico; the first time around for New Years with an old Army buddy who I deployed to Afghanistan with, and the second time around with Melissa who is no stranger to the adventures of Bertha. Will and I spent our time in El Potrero Chico which is the premier winter climbing destination in North America. Will doesn’t climb so we spent our time hiking around the mountains of Potrero and exploring the markets in the neighboring town of Hidalgo. Melissa and I split our time between Potrero Chico and another world class climbing destination called El Salto. After droping Melissa off at the airport, I made a split decision to drive to Tucson, Arizona instead of Key West, Florida which had been the original plan.

El Portrero Chico

Soaking up some sun

Even before Will and I first crossed the border we didn’t know what to expect. After speaking to many locals in the border towns of Texas, we were convinced that we were going to be kidnapped, hijacked, or both and then that would be the end. Crossing into Mexico was actually quite easy and we weren't even stopped but we knew that there is some paperwork necessary to legally travel further than the border cities, so we stopped to complete the paperwork and then set on our way. Within 10 minutes of crossing the border, we were stopped at a military check point and we thought that was where it all was going to go down hill. They searched the van and had the drug dog sniff around, of course all while BB was freaking out, and then sent us on our way. From there on it was smooth sailing. Mexico is definitely not as scary and dangerous as the mass public may think. There is most certainly a drug war going on and a huge show of military force complete with machine gun trucks driving all around but my impression was that the military was doing what they were supposed to and keeping the roads safe for those not involved in the drug trade. It felt strange to be playing the civilian role after spending so much time being the one up in the gun trucks during my deployments. Arriving at El Potrero Chico, we were in awe of the massive limestone cliffs rising up to 2500 feet high just south of the town of Hidalgo. We set up camp and spent the next couple days exploring the hillsides and even hiking to the peak of “El Toro” which is one of the highest peaks in Potrero. New Years was uneventful and we were in bed before midnight (this has become a reoccurring theme for my last couple New Years). We took the direct route back to Texas but made the noobie mistake of crossing the border at peak season and had to sit in line for 5 hours. It was brutal but somehow we survived. I dropped Will off in Ft. Worth then the journey continued.

“Home is where you park the van”

Melissa enjoying the Summit of Yankee Clipper after crushing the Crux final pitch

Melissa and I quickly made our way down to Potrero and got to work. We climbed the whole time that we had good weather. Unfortunately the weather was not quite cooperating but we made the best of it. The highlight for me was getting 1500 feet off the deck with nothing more than a handful of quick draws, belay device, and a rope. During some less than optimal weather, we found a hidden paradise at an underground developed hot spring. This place reminded me of an ancient Greek bathhouse and was another highlight of the adventure. With a dreary forecast looming over us, we decided to explore another climbing area about 2 hours from Potrero called “El Salto”. El Salto is the name of a waterfall high up in the mountains of the Sierra Madres just outside of a town called Cuenega De Gonzalez. We drove 25KM up into the mountains, gaining over 3000 feet of elevation, crawling and sliding up a partially washed out muddy road. It was almost like driving into a fantasy world or something you would see in a movie. When we made it to Cuenega De Gonzalez we found Kika, an older Mexican woman who runs the local convenience store, and for 30 Pesos (about $2) a night she let us camp in her yard. Whereas Potrero had well over 100 climbers scaling its cliffs, El Salto only had a handful and there were maybe 4 other cars parked at Kika’s aside from ours. We hiked along the riverbed for about a mile to the Las Animas Wall. I had never seen limestone tufas before but my jaw dropped when I saw this place. A tufa is a kind of bulbous rock formation similar to a stalactite that hangs down from the wall. These features create a totally unique climbing experience, an experience that is only found in a couple places around the world. We spent only one day climbing at this amazing location but found ourselves overly satisfied from the whole experience. From here we made our way back to the US. This time it only took us about 5 hours to drive from Monterey to Laredo as there was no wait at the border. Melissa and I said our goodbyes and it was time for the journey to continue.

“El Salto”

Tufa Madness

I had the general idea that I was going to drive to Key West after returning from Mexico but at the last minute, following those funny feelings you get deep down inside, I made a left instead of a right and drove out to Tucson, Arizona. That’s the beauty of living on the road. Since beginning this journey back in April, I have rarely spent more than a week and a half in one location before getting restless and moving to somewhere new. I have decided to spend a whole month here and try to immerse myself in the local community. I’m torn between continuing to bum around the city or disappear off into the woods where Van Life is much easier.

I have been thinking a lot in the last month; a lot about life, what I’m doing, the people around me, the way the world works; just a lot of thinking. I am not any closer to any kind of grand epiphany or enlightenment. I feel that I am searching for something but not quite sure what that something is. Of course I’d like to figure out what I want to do, what I want to be, who I am and all that but there’s still this something else I feel that I’m searching for. Maybe I’m running instead of searching? I feel like I don’t belong anywhere and so, after a week, I get anxious and leave. Or is that it? Maybe I’m destined to live this ever changing always moving nomadic lifestyle. At least it sure is an interesting way to live...

The road endlessly winds into the future