Potrero Chico Mexico – Rock Climbing Adventure December 2008 – Photographs

What an amazing trip to El Potrero Chico, Mexico. Here are a few photographic highlights.
Here I am with my climbing partner Gary Falk at the entrance to Potrero Chico National Park near the small town of Hidalgo in Nuevo Leon, Mexico. This is about 45 minutes from Monterrey.  5 Minute approaches from our house to amazing bolted limestone routes. Climbing Paradise! 

This was our house we stayed in at La Pagoda. Ummm… SWEET!

Gary Falk on a “Warm-Up” pitch on Estrellita Canyon.
This was the beginning to a few hard 5.11 pitches and a big whipper on Fear of Flying (5.12). This was the most rattling of all my falls on the trip – maybe because I took two big falls in a row and was flash-pumped making crux moves to get through the climb! Quite a dynamic, flowing climb with beautiful hard moves. Highly recommended of all the 5.12 routes in Potrero.

Space Boyz – the classic multi-pitch in Potrero Chico.The line follows the worn path through the vertical jungle up some 700 feet. Incredible pocketed lime-stone pitches with a wild traverse near the top.

Gary and I returned a week later to climb the first four pitches (5.9 and 5.10 climbing) under the full moon. It was a bit like climbing via braille – smearing around with your feet until something FELT decent enough to pressure….

Gary Falk on Lead on Permanent Vacation -Meleski Wall – 5.11 B. The route finishes with an exciting, committing, and slightly overhanging lie-back. What a setting!

Walther on Dia de Dios – 5.11 D. Look down at those feet! I asked Gary what makes for great footwork. You know what he told me? Strong fingers! HA

This is the futbol pitch where we stayed – La Pagoda. Incredible backdrop. I got together a friendly match on a rest day, which turned out to be quite lively! At the end of the match I gave the ball to a small Mexican boy named Omero. He got all the players to sign his ball and dribbled it around like a prize possession! Soccer is such a great way to connect with locals on any international trip. And giving away the ball is also another great thing to do. Ryan and I had done the same thing in Morocco last year.

Walther on lead – Pitch # 21 on Time Wave Zero – 5.10 C
It was hot – real hot. And this is the moment I referred to in my other blog posting describing the Time Wave Zero Climb. The most vivid memories are those times where you “Step Up” in life. This was one of mine.