Home » Mexico » Copper Canyon Diary

Wednesday May 13th, 1998
Unlike the majority of my other forays into the world beyond my own small one, this jaunt is not water related; there will not be a dive shop in sight!!

Copper Canyon Diary

Abbynormal
2004-09-14 17:19:05

Displayed times (last time: )

I had long heard stories of a huge canyon system in the heart of Mexico, one that dwarfed even the fabled Grand Canyon. For decades, travelers from the US have experienced this marvel from the windows of a train which has its railhead in Creel, deep in the heart of Mexico. And I know of many people who have taken advantage of this opportunity to visit Copper Canyon from the relative comfort of a rail car.

Mike and I chose to visit the great canyon in a more intimate manner, declining the famous train in favor of a more direct contact with the environment.

We departed from DFW at 1120 aboard a small commuter plane belonging to Aspen Mountain Air, associated with American Airlines. The flight to Chihuahua City took slightly over 2 hours and was essentially uneventful with the exception of my constant, hacking, irritating cough. I had been sick for 2 weeks with sinus and cough. The cough never seemed to stop, and had kept me awake all night - what a way to start a vacation! I'm sure the folks near me on the plane wondered how I escaped quarantine!

Chihuahua City was a pleasant surprise. It lies in a broad, level plain with craggy, desolate peaks rising on its perimeters , somewhat reminiscent of Alpine in the Davis Mountains. The area is a big agricultural center with huge fields of corn, potatoes, and onions. The livestock: horses, cattle, goats, and the usual huge complement of dogs, are fat and healthy. The city is clean and the residents friendly.

We were met at the airport by a small Mexican in a starched white shirt and our names on a scrap of paper. He spoke no English, but had no trouble making it clear that we were to accompany him. Obediently, we followed him to our vehicle - a white Suburban with a frame and 2 race car seats welded on its roof! We later found this to provide a wonderful and exhilarating vantage point from which to observe the canyon as we traveled from top to base.

...