Karen and Eric of Trans Americas Journey at Paquime.

The road there is a wild and long one and their account is excellent- it starts as the leave Creel and wind down through San Rafael, leaving the pavement:

We left the pavement behind in San Rafael, not long after leaving Creel. Many of the simple dirt roads that eventually took us all the way to El Fuerte were built to give access to the mines in the region and most were not on the detailed maps in our Gia Roji road atlas. The locals and the mine employees all know exactly where they’re going so no one ever bothered putting up any signs either.

See the whole story here as well as many other adventures in Mexico…and all over.

The Sinforosa Canyon seemed more jagged than the chasms and slopes we’d been seeing for the past 10 days or so as we traveled through the Sierra Madre. From where we were standing the canyon walls were even too sheer for cactus, scrub trees or brush to cling to. This meant the underlying rock–with all it’s color, shape and striation variations–was much more visible than in other parts of the Copper Canyon that we’d visited. Here more than anywhere else, it felt like looking at the Grand Canyon as the evening light created contrast and surprisingly vibrant colors on the world of rock below us.

Our friends at 3 Amigos have a good description of the area and can get you connected to getting there….and this picture is on their site:

The great chasms in Sinforosa from 3 Amigos

One note: 3 Amigos is a great resource for equipment, guides, and info about the back country throughout the canyons. The are based in Creel and El Fuerte…Ivan and Yolanda are great folks!

The journey down to Batopilas- here is a snippet:

People talk about the drive down to the town of Batopilas deep in the Copper Canyon as a “white knuckle” trip invoking phrases like “death road” as their eyes widen. This is because of the narrow and bumpy condition of the steep and mostly-dirt road that descends 6,000 feet in six miles–and because of the conspicuous lack of guard rails (or guard anything) between you and the sheer drop-offs into the abyss that exist all along the way.

Of course, we had to do it.

Read it all at Death Drive (sort of) to Batopilas – Copper Canyon, Chihuahua, Mexico (Part 5)

Karen and Eric at Mirador.

I think they are in Beliz now…and the journey goes on!

Gondola construction at the saddle on the descent into Copper...this is discussed more in the Trans Americas blog.

Eric and Karen of Trans Americas Journey are not only great journalists, they are tough and eager hikers. They proved it on this descent into Copper on arguably one of the toughest trails I have seen. Here is their account…

“Honestly, this trail was one of the hardest we’ve ever done, not because it was any steeper or any longer than other canyon hikes. Actually, it was much shorter than the Grand Canyon. What wore us out was the quality of the trail. Much of the hike required total focus just to stay balanced and upright as we hiked down steep inclines that were covered with 4″ of sliding round rocks and gravel then strewn with ankle-twisting mini-boulders. At times it was like walking down a slide covered with ball bearings and volleyballs.”

So begins part 4 of this epic journey through the off the path areas of Copper Canyon…read the whole story here. You will enjoy The vivid writing as well as Eric’s stunning pics.

It was quite a journey…

Sunrise as we came out of Copper

Eric shooting at Paquime near Casas Grandes.

The way these two operate, the schedule is flex, the food will be tried, the good light will be waited for, the people will be met and enjoyed, the sunset will be taken in, the beer will be quaffed, the laughing will linger…you get the idea. Best “guests”- they seem like family now- I ever had.

Watch in the next few days for articles on Copper by this creative and hard working duo in your major newspapers- and perhaps a few bootlegged copies in your Schenectady (sp) Paralyzer (sp).

Eric studying Tarahumara weaver at Posada.

One of the pics in the blog is of this little lady weaving at the remote station at Posada Barrancas (near Areponapuchi). I was amazed to see him sit for an extended time taking in her skill…as Karen sat and scratched notes. We were all waiting for the train going westward.

We made contact on twitter and planned out a grand venture that has resulted in lots of excellent material from them on Copper…including this blog.

This entry takes you to Cuiteco (why more gringos don’t visit this place I know not- I have never seen a single American tourist here other than my groups). I love the pic of Karen by the fire there- here is my non-professional version:

Karen by the fire at the lodge in Cuiteco.

This place is so cool…their blog goes on to take you to Cerocahui, Urique and several other fascinating spots.

Enjoy it!

“We’ve done it plenty of times but we still feel a twinge of uneasiness whenever we cross a border. The sense of being in a no-man’s land where the rules are not your own and they come in a language you barely understand (yes, our Spanish still sucks) is bound is to create some tension.

Before re-entering Mexico this time we picked up Dave Hensleigh from Authentic Copper Canyon (he’s in the midst of a serious web site upgrade so excuse the work in progress). Every month or so Dave runs custom tours of the Copper Canyon that get well below the surface so he’s been back and forth across the border more than most.

With an expert like Dave on hand we asked him which of the three crossing points from El Paso into Mexico we should choose and without hesitation he suggested…”

Go see the rest of it at http://trans-americas.com/blog/2009/10/

Watch for their articles in print in major newspapers soon.

Check out this video and the pics below.

Eric Mohl of Trans Americas Journey shooting Juan

One of the many incredible Mata Ortiz pots.

I get a chance to meet and visit with the master potter.

Juan Quezada was a funny, thoughtful, down-to-earth guy

Cuiteco, Cursarare, Areponapuchi, and more. (See The Peoples Guide  for more info on these places).

These guys Mirlo Media really busted it shooting hours and hours of video and then putting together promo videos for us and our Mexican partners.

This time I took along Chris Whitney of Whitney Landscapes. Chris and his son do somew phenomenal work and I set him loose on the grand environs of Copper Canyon.

Look for the results in Chris’ work in the momths to come!

Here Chris is shooting at sunset near Areponapuchi. We were overnight there at the little ranchito of Armando and Herlinda Diaz.

The whole area around Arepo is huge…several big view points.

Obviously a photographers dream.