ran into this site. very sad state of affairs it seems. the video of the copper canyons shows the remarkable beauty of the landscape, for those who
have never been.
I have been to Copper Canyon four times in the past three years and assumed the area in and around was Indian owned. A few very nice hotels at the rim
and simple lodgings down at the bottom are all empty nowadays. I hope the Indians prevail.
Looks like you were at the same places I have been, Ken. Nice shots.
It is a tragedy, Blanca. Why don't they leave it as is.
In regards to the cartels, I have not noticed anything in that area. The end of the line (train) yes, Chiahuawa, or however you spell that, is a
problem spot. I will certainly look out for the book, Dennis. Should be an interesting read.
[Edited on 12-1-2012 by Leo]
The grass is always greener....
and so, there is always a better spot in Baja
Originally posted by Leo
In regards to the cartels, I have not noticed anything in that area. The end of the line (train) yes, Chiahuawa, or however you spell that, is a
problem spot. I will certainly look out for the book, Dennis. Should be an interesting read.
I hope you find the book, Leo. It will certainly change the way you see things there.
By the way....the military in the district are so entwined with the cartels, that there's very little distance between them.
I can still remember taking the train to Los Mochis from Texas very soon after they finished the railroad through the canyon.... something like 80+
tunnels and about half that many bridges... I think it was around 1963/64? If I ever get my slides transferred to the computer, I will share them... I
know my dad took lots of photos.
In regards to the cartels, I have not noticed anything in that area. The end of the line (train) yes, Chiahuawa, or however you spell that, is a
problem spot. I will certainly look out for the book, Dennis. Should be an interesting read.
[Edited on 12-1-2012 by Leo]
In Tubares, I had a verbal confrontation with some drunken "lookouts" who thought that Jay and I were sent by the CIA. The men assembled a group of 4
with arms and were ready to blow us away. Very tense moments. Jay is the bearded man in the 'Copper Canyon 2' video who removed the shock absorber
from his Jeep.
Cartels----------When we were there about 8 years ago, we went to a small country village one day at the bottom of the Urique Canyon, and noticed
several very high profile tricked-out and brand-new 4x4 pickups being driven by very young flamboyant Mexicanos---------you can guess what we thought
of THAT!!!!
Originally posted by Barry A.
Cartels----------When we were there about 8 years ago, we went to a small country village one day at the bottom of the Urique Canyon, and noticed
several very high profile tricked-out and brand-new 4x4 pickups being driven by very young flamboyant Mexicanos---------you can guess what we thought
of THAT!!!!
Barry
You thought right, I'm sure. The book mentions that these cartel kids will shoot a man just to make sure their gun is working. There is no law that
hasn't been bought and paid for in that gully.
I believe you guys, but when I was there for 2 weeks in 2007, nothing of that. Loved Batopilas, great hiking. Creel was a mess and snowy but never any
confrontations. I did order the book Dennis. One buck plus shipping and it's on its way as we correspond.
The grass is always greener....
and so, there is always a better spot in Baja
I read the book too - the author was literally looking for trouble. He was an amateur traveler of Mexico. His background was to seek out back alleys
and mingle with gangs and such for "that edgy, adrenaline-hyped feeling that comes with pushingy our luck in a place you dont' belong getting by on
your wits and charm and trying to make sense of it all at the same time." (at p. 17, par. 2). He went with an impression told to him that the Sierra
Madre "was a remote, barbarous hinterland peopled by sinister clanfolk. There was no reason for a civilized person to go there and nothing of value to
learn from such a place." He is, after all, a journalist. A journalist needs to write about something - with the best drama and incitement he can
muster. I further gleaned that his ideal was to be a man like his mentor J.P.S. Brown; adding fuel to the fire were his mounting notions of adventure
and history in the Sierra Madre. I'm not saying that the dark underside of violence does not exist in the Sierra Madre, but if you are a tourist
minding your own business, stay out of bars and don't inquire about drug trafficking (as he often did), it is more likely you will not encounter
unpleasantness. I have been to Copper Canyon twice, to Mata Ortiz 8 tmes, into the Sierra Madre for a week on a ranch. I know that near Pacheco
formerly abandoned ranches are now owned by narcotraffickers and their ranches are in better shape now, and they contribute to the general economy of
the region - in short, good neighbors. I intend to make another trip in April. I acknowledge that it is possible I could encounter a hyped-up crazy
person who would spoil my day, so to speak, but forewarnng and avoidance should prevail.
"If it were lush and rich, one could understand the pull, but it is fierce and hostile and sullen.
The stone mountains pile up to the sky and there is little fresh water. But we know we must go back
if we live, and we don't know why." - Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
"People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." - Theodore Roosevelt
"You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who they think can do nothing for them or to them." - Malcolm Forbes
"Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others
cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else's hands, but not you." - Jim Rohn
"The best way to get the right answer on the internet is not to ask a question; it's to post the wrong answer." - Cunningham's Law
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