Here is the deal:

The first class train still leaves at 6a from both Chihuahua City and Los Mochis. Now the second train is hooked onto that first train, so they both leave at 6a. The second train still goes Chihuahua to Mochis on Thursday, Saturday and Monday. The it goes from Mochis to Chihuahua on Friday, Sunday, and Tuesday.

Cost for the second train is half that of first and it is about the same- just no bar or restaurant.

Most Copper Canyon tours still use the first train.

Chepe leaving Chihuahua at 6a on a fall day recently.

Here is the info from the CHEPE site:

Last update: September 29, 2011

Important Notes:
In the Divisadero station passengers have 15 minutes to get off the train and admire the canyon. For your safety, another station is not allowed down to its final destination.
On this train reservations are not dish locations.
Check with local time in Chihuahua City. Must report to the station 30 minutes before departure time.
Prices and schedules subject to change without notice. These fees already include 16% VAT. Ladas FREE: Nacional 01 800 122-4373 • International: 1 888 484-1623 RESERVATIONS AND TICKETS: 01 (614) 439-7212 Option 1 • chepe@ferromex.com.mx MANAGEMENT TOURISM: 01 (614) 439-7210 • FAX: 01 (614) 439-7208

1. Copper Canyon is so huge.

It is hard to get your mind around how vast this place is...several canyons deeper and bigger than our Grand Canyon.

2. The Rarámuri or Tarahumara- the indigenous people.

My little friend "Once" from Carichic- one of the some 70,000 Raramuri in the Sierra Nevadas- truly a "people apart".

3. The train through Copper Canyon- CHEPE.

This amazing railway stretches across the rugged Copper Canyon and includes 37 bridges and 86 tunnels.

4. The little towns – the heart of rural Chihuahua.

The main dreg of the tiny village of Cuiteco- one that few tourists ever visit or even notice.

5. History and lore abound in Copper Canyon.

The old church in Cerocahui- the mission dates to the late 1500s.

6. Adventure travel options abound in Copper Canyon.

Copper Canyon has ziplines, rock climbing, horse riding, hiking...and some of the best remote swimming holes on the planet.

7. The food in Chihuahua is unique- very different from other parts of Mexico.

One of the great dishes of the Sierras- Agua Chile- more shrimp than you can finish!

8. The Mata Ortiz pottery…a true treasure of the Sierra Madres!

Juan Quezada with Dave Hensleigh in his studio at Mata Ortiz.

9. Oh the view from those ridges in Copper Canyon!

The views go on forever in this amazing place.

10. Our team of local Mexican guides there can give you the best in a Copper Canyon tour.

Alfredo Murillo...the fave of many of our Copper Canyon guests.

So join us soon in this majestic place!

Call Dave today at 217.369.9897 or email davehensleigh@gmail.com to get on board.

Enjoy the train in Copper Canyon right after the Sun Bowl.

One thing you can know. There is a great way to cap off your Sun Bowl experience. Not far from El Paso is the incredible Copper Canyon (like it is bigger than Grand Canyon) and you can experience it and still be back home after New Year’s week.

Here is the itinerary for the Sun Bowl Copper Canyon trip for 2012:

Sun Bowl Copper Canyon Trip

January 1-5, 2011

This five day small group trip into the majestic Copper Canyon will be a true learning experience. How better to cap off your Sun Bowl experience than with a fascinating journey into one of Mexico’s most spectacular areas? Join the Copper Canyon experts from Authentic Copper Canyon on the train through the Sierra Madres!

Here is a brief itinerary:

Jan 1- You are picked up at your hotel in El Paso and we are off toward the big apple- Chihuahua City. Dinner together and perhaps an evening view of the gigantic cathedral in the central plaza. We check into the historic boutique hotel, the San Felipe el Real. Stroll the historic district and the vast market.

The journey- We get and introduction to Norteño food as we travel south through the high elevation of the Chihuahua Desert. Burritos and other delicious street foods will be ours to choose from in the little towns north of Chihuahua.

Chihuahua City- This bustling hub for commerce has its roots as a mining and ranching center. Several fascinating museums (including the Pancho Villa home) gather around the towering 1700s cathedral. The food here is a bit eclectic and reflects the melting pot that Chihuahua has become.

Jan 2-  Board the train in the morning headed west for Areponapuchi (Posada Barrancas station). We arrive at this tiny town and a lovely local lodge- above the canyon- Mansion Tarahumara. Dinner, relax as well as perhaps watch the sunset over the vast reaches of Copper Canyon. “Arepo”as we call it, is officially “nowhere Mexico”. The area around Arepo gives us a good long look at Copper Canyon, and we have plenty of time to look around.
Areponapuchi- Just call it Arepo and don’t expect the big city. This tiny place sits near the rim of some of the best views of Copper Canyon. The new gondola and ziplines are a scenic thrill, and you can walk or ride horses in and around the great canyon. Also a good place to pick up local souvenirs.

Jan 3 – All day to enjoy ziplines, gondola, hiking, etc….and relax! This is one of the most beautiful spots in Copper Canyon.

Jan 4 – Sunrise at the edge of Copper anyone? Breakfast and a walk down through a Tarahumara cave dwelling. Some last views of the canyon, then we catch our van to head for Casas Grandes As the evening cools a walk through the ancient Indian ruins at Paquime. Our home this evening is the lovely hacienda, Casa de Nopal.

Casas Grandes- Right on the edge of Casas are the Paquime Indian archaeological ruins- a UNESCO World Heritage site- and nearby is the tiny village of Mata Ortiz. The pottery from this area is very special and known around the world for its intricacy and character.

Food in the Casas area- This is the high desert area and truly ranch country. We will eat at an historic hacienda and savor the local restaurants.

Jan 5 – Plenty of time to finish our experience here. Later in the day we are off to El Paso. We drop into Janos on the way and get a warm welcome and tour with Celso and Emma at Don Cuco sotol. Sotol is THE drink of Chihuahua and is somewhat like tequila- but better…bring some home!

Sotol- This stop at Don Cuco will give you a full introduction (including a few sips) to this fine spirit from the enchanting Chihuahua area.

• Price for this trip is $999 USD per person. Single room, add $150.

• This includes all guides, transport, food, and hotels in Mexico except your visa, 2 meals, gondola and zipline, and alcohol. I will supply an overview of expected personal expenses.

• Payable to TopTrips, 514 South Edwin, Champaign, Il 61821 and due by December 20, 2011.

• Call Dave at 217.369.9897 or email davehensleigh@gmail.com with questions.

One of our recent groups taking a break at Gallego above Urique

People are often asking me about the best season to travel on the train in Copper Canyon. That is a hard one because every season has its draw. Fall is nice because it is usually green and the weather is moderate. Late Summer is nice because it usually rains and is very fresh. Spring is dry and usually is not too dusty.

But one season I really like is the holiday season, Christmas in Copper Canyon is hard to beat. The weather is usually cool, though the days at lower elevations can be very warm and nice. There is sometimes snow- a real treat.

The big draw for Navidad in the Sierras though is that the welcoming little towns seem to really carry the Christmas spirit. A trip during this season makes for a great memory.

Our Christmas trip to Copper Canyon will give you a full and personal immersion into the Copper Canyon culture at one of the most memorable times of the year.

And don’t forget- we also have a Sun Bowl Trip leaving El Paso on January 1, 2012!

There is no better way to bring in the New Year than on the train in Copper Canyon.

Well our experience is that it is and while there are concerns, even northern Mexico is much safer than other tourist destinations people use now- such as South Africa and Beliz. Still during this period, Europeans, Australians, Canadians and of course Mexicans are traveling extemsively in the country. Staistics show that tourism to the country has been up in the last 18 months.

I am walking this walk to connect and build a bridge.

Here is the info:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Dave Hensleigh, 217-369-9897

davehensleigh@gmail.com

“One Solitary Gringo” to “Walk across Juarez”

August 18-21, 2011

Walk Across What???

Juarez seems to be the LAST place any sane person would chose to even go to, let alone walk across. Most people assume that my body will end up filled with bullets, decapitated, and hung from some bridge with a scrawled cartel note tied to it.

But the actual situation and threat to US citizens is actually much different than what we expect based on most US press reports. I will walk across this border city from the Rio Grande to the south neighborhoods and simply report what I see moment by moment…and let the results speak some reality into the situation.

Who I am:

I am just “one solitary gringo” walking across Juarez.

I am also the owner and lead guide of Authentic Copper Canyon, the premier supplier of culturally rich small group experiences on the train through Copper Canyon, deeper and more vast than our Grand Canyon and 4 hrs south of Juarez.

I have a deep love and respect for the people and land of Mexico. Our groups often travel through the border in the Juarez/St Teresa area, and I am pursuing this walk as a small step in bringing understanding and connection across the border.

Purpose: To give a clear view of life right now on the streets of Juarez from an outsider’s point of view. People on the US side are filled with negative images only and this will give an actual moment by moment story of what it is actually like on the ground in Juarez.

Plan: Enter Juarez from El Paso by the Bridge of the Americas on Friday morning and simply walk across the city. I will stay overnight, interact with people, etc. Moment by moment I will send pictures, text, audio and videos via twitter and blog to followers across the USA and the world. Then I will follow with more in-depth articles and videos of the experience.

Rationale: Many of us who work or live in Mexico have been frustrated by the one-sided perspective that most US side folks hold to of everyday life in the border areas.

Of course there are serious problems there. Yet when people travel there, almost all of them are amazed at how tranquil it is. So if it is possible to take a larger number of people there via the internet, perhaps they can understand more accurately that actually, there are not serious concerns with tourist travel to Mexico now. More broadly this little journey may help to replace distrust and negativity with respect and interaction.

Perspective: The idea is not to make a political point, but rather to communicate an accurate, on the ground picture of what life is like. I will not carry signs, make political or policy statements, meet with officials, etc. I will simply walk a path across the city to include busy streets, parks, markets, stores, restaurants, etc, and the message will be whatever I experience.

Interestingly as I have been preparing for this walk, 100 % of the people who know something about Juarez have very strong cautions. On the other hand, 100% of the people who live there or who know it well are very positive. Perhaps my observations will help connect these two groups.

Find Dave at www.AuthenticCopperCanyon.com and follow him on twitter @CopperCanyonGuy.

So follow me this week starting Thursday night …

Just get onto twitter and follow @coppercanyonguy and also watch my facebook page.

Walk Across What???

Juarez seems to be the LAST place any sane person would chose to even go to, let alone walk across. Most people assume that my body will end up filled with bullets, decapitated, and hung from some bridge with a scrawled cartel note tied to it.

But the actual situation and threat to US citizens is actually much different than what we expect based on press reports. I will walk across this border city from the Rio Grande to the south neighborhoods and simply report what I see moment by moment…and let the results speak some reality into the situation.

When is this?

 For three days, Friday, August 19 to Sunday August 21, 2011 I will amble through this border city.

Who I am:

I am the owner and lead guide of Authentic Copper Canyon, the premier supplier of culturally rich small group experiences on the train through Copper Canyon, Mexico. I have a deep love and respect for the people and land of Mexico. Our groups often travel through the border in the Juarez/St Teresa area, and I am pursuing this walk as a small step in bringing understanding and connection across the border.

Purpose: To give a clear view of life right now on the streets of Juarez from an outsider’s point of view. People on the US side are filled with negative images only and this will give an actual moment by moment story of what it is actually like on the ground in Juarez.

Certainly some of the impetus for this comes from me and others in the guide community that wonder how we can do better. There have been zero incidents involving tourists and we aren’t sure how to improve that stat. Yet, the overwhelming assumption is that this area is deadly dangerous. The Mexicans there just wag their heads when we discuss it with them…and they often point out what an issue we or other countries have with insecurity and tourism.

Plan: Enter Juarez by the Bridge of the Americas on Thursday evening or Friday morning and simply walk across the city. I will stay overnight, interact with people, etc. Moment by moment I will send pictures, text, audio and videos via twitter and blog to followers across the USA and the world. Then I will follow with more in-depth articles and videos of the experience.

Rational: Many of us who work or live in Mexico have been frustrated by the one-sided perspective that most US side folks hold to of everyday life in the border areas.

Of course there are serious problems there. Yet when people travel there, almost all of them are amazed at how tranquil it is. So if it is possible to take a larger number of people there via the internet, perhaps they can understand more accurately how it is that there are not serious concerns with tourist travel to Mexico now. More broadly this little journey may help to renew respect and interaction.

Perspective: The idea is not to make a political point, but rather to communicate an accurate, on the ground picture of what life is like. I will not carry signs, make political or policy statements, meet with officials, etc. I will simply walk a path across the city to include busy streets, parks, markets, stores, restaurants, etc, and the message will be whatever I experience.

Interestingly as I have been preparing for this walk, 100 % of the people who know something about Juarez have very strong cautions. On the other hand, 100% of the people who live there or who know it well are very positive. Perhaps my observations will help connect those two groups.

Contact:

Dave Hensleigh, 217.369.9897, davehensleigh@gmail.com

Follow on Aug 19, 20, and 21 twitter @CopperCanyonGuy

www.AuthenticCopperCanyon.com

These are planned trips from Authentic Copper Canyon for 2011…we can plan your individualized experience for you on almost any date…small group trips for families, travel clubs, etc. are our specialty! 

September 1-8 - The Blue Corn Express – Our delicious culinary trip through the reaches of Copper and the incredible railway… with an emphasis on food!

September 9-17 – Classic train trip- This is such a beautiful time of year to experience Copper because it cames at the end of the rainy season. The whole environment is green, apples are on the trees, the pines glisten, and the waterfalls flow.

NOTE: Servive trip to Casas Grandes to work with an important project putting cement floors into dirt floor homes- Date is Oct 24 to 30 and cost is just $695. Has a possible Copper Canyon add on from Oct 29-Nov 2. Call Dave at 217.369.9897 right away for details.

October 28-Nov 4 – Classic train trip…and this is a wonderful season to be in the Sierras- some think it the best.

November 14-21 – Classic train trip

December 21-28 – 8 days in Copper during the special Christmas season.

December 28- Jan 4 – New Years in Copper Canyon…it’s a train trip and it’s a party Mexico style!

January 16-23, 2012 – Classic train trip

February 20-27- Classic train trip

Other trips can be scheduled at almost any time in the year and personalized for individual trips or small groups. Call Dave at 217.369.9897 or email davehensleigh@gmail.com for info.

A full list of excursions will be posted soon for each month in 2012.

In Copper Canyon near the saddle below Divisadero.

The horses in Copper Canyon are generally small in my experience and very tough. They are sure footed and very durable. The seem to exist on almost nothing.

Once I was in a precarious situation with a pony there and was so impressed with how she handled herself. We were on a ledge which fell off precipitously and became more and more narrow. Finally where the path was about a foot wide, it was washed out for about four feet and took up again in front of us. I slipped off her gingerly and worked my way over to the far ledge with the long rope in my hand. Just as I got to the other side on my knees she jumped- like almost on top of me. Her body glided over mine and to this day I am not sure how she kept from stomping me, but I was untouched. Fine horse.

The guides can be found here and there. One of my favorites is Jilo Mancinas in Areponapuchi. He is skilled, personable, inexpensive, and easy to work with. He lives west of the store on the “main drag” in Arepo.

Places to go? There are many. Around the Arepo/Divisadero area ther are numerous very scenic trails- including trails that are very easy to very very rugged. You can even do an overnight to the bottom of Copper from this area. I am also familiar with trails near Cuiteco, Cerocahui, Gallego overlook, Urique, Cusarare, Creel, Temoris, El Fuerte and many other places.

We even expect to be a part of a Cabalgata there next year- March, 2012. This is a 10-12 day group ride and traveling fiesta which passes through the Mata Ortiz, Casas Grandes, and Janosd area on its way to Palomas/Columbus, NM. It arrives at the border for the celebration of the anniversary of the invasion of the US by Pancho Villa on March 10.

The trails for horses are excellent in Copper Canyon.

One if the cool spots that people want to see but usually miss is the spot where the line loops around and goes under itself- if you are coming from the Chihuahua City end toward the west- or over itself if you are going east and climbing away from Los Mochis toward Chihuahua.

It is called “El Lazo” or the lasso in English and it means the loop. Near the highest point on the line, it is midway between Creel and Divisadero and as I said it is easy to miss. Most folks just sit in their seats and wonder where it is…perhaps noticing that the sun is coming from one direction and then another. But if you watch your kilometer markers (little white signs on the right of the train as you go west), hang out the window, and move from side to side, you will see it. (By the way, I encourage our guests- especially the train lovers- to leave their stuff in their seats and spend their train time at a window between the cars or in the bar car…great views from the bar car).

The reason for this engineering feat is to help the railway loose altitude quickly- switchbacks just don’t work for a train. Photo people should have their cameras ready just before and after the loop because there are some good looks at the railway as it works its way into the canyons area.

Note for those traveling to Copper Canyon: if you travel with us I will have kilometer by kilometer guides for you. If you are going alone or with another group, I am glad to send you a copy. Just email me at davehensleigh@gmail.com.

Quite to the contrary, the locals and every one of our guests shake their heads at the attitudes and assumptions of those who do not visit here. Our State Department and US press has done a good job over these many years of casting this area nd its people in a very negative light- and now the conflicts between the drug groups and Calderon’s initiative to attempt to quell their influence give more fuel to the fire.

Lately Reach Hispanic posted a note on one of our sites and their article is another voice of reason. Actually they also linked to a neat set of photos from Copper Canyon from New York Times photographer Matt Nager- they are excellent!

One good thing about the situation for our company is that some of the leading culturally rich, small group providers like REI Adventures and National Geographic Expeditions have stopped providing trips to Copper Canyon- at least I cannot find listings for Sierra Madre tours on their sites. Our guests have compared our trips to theirs and ours are much cheaper. So, now you can travel to Copper Canyon with Authentic Copper Canyon- we are actually increasing our trip offerings during this time!

Recently I put together my thoughts on the situation there:

Is it safe to travel on the train in Copper Canyon, Mexico?

Yes… in our experience, Copper Canyon is safe for travel.

Observations:

• No tourists have been involved in incidents in the Copper Canyon area.

• Many Mexicans and Europeans are currently traveling to the Sierra Madres and enjoying the train experience. I have been to several major travel shows and experienced travelers are confirming their understanding that this area is fine for travel.

• Our company has recently hosted several groups there (Dave was in Copper Canyon several times in the last year including most of December 2010 and January 2011, March 2011, April and May, 2011) and our experience is that things are secure and safe.

• Our guests have not reported any problems and have a sense of security while traveling in the Copper Canyon area. One woman recently wrote in a trip evaluation, “I felt quite safe at all times.”

• Typically on the train and in the lodges, our guides and guests will walk and visit freely with locals, go on horse rides and walks, ride the gondola and ziplines, etc.  with little concern…there is an atmosphere of security.

• Actually what our guests have been talking about lately is about how warm and welcoming the local Mexicans are and how peaceful things are.

• Local people along the train line are amazed that there is such concern on the part of US travelers and are welcoming us with open arms.

• Many blogs (including that of long- term resident Spencer MacAllum) and magazine articles (The Economist, Sept, 2010, Jan 2011) are reporting that things are calm there. Moreover they report that Mexico is among the most secure of Latin American destinations and one of the safest in the world.

• Neither American tourists nor local Mexicans are the target of the problems in the border areas. It is a turf war and will run its course in time. Meanwhile, with reasonable precautions we perceive (and others traveling there do as well) that there is very little risk for travel.

Travelers to any destination should take reasonable precautions. There are many areas of the world that are truly dangerous destinations (Brazil, South Africa, Honduras, certain war zones, etc), but Copper Canyon is not one of them. Still we cannot guarantee safety and we encourage our guests to take normal precautions such as not walking alone at night, exercising care when leaving an ATM, etc.

Disclaimer: This document is simply intended to relate our experience and does not constitute a guarantee of safety for travel in Copper Canyon. Guests travel at their own risk and neither this nor any other written or verbal statement from TopTrips LLC or Dave Hensleigh shall be taken to be or implied to be a guarantee for safe travel.