el potrero

Post by **absolutsugarsmurf** » Sat Dec 08, 2007 5:11 pm

Anyone been to el potrero chico in the winter / ever?

I'm thinking of heading there in early Jan and would appreciate any beta on travel, lodging, climbing, whatever you think I should know. Since knowing is half the battle.

Cheers.

Post by **pawilkes** » Sat Dec 08, 2007 5:43 pm

I'm heading down w/ a friend somewhere around Jan 2-4. a bunch of people from Madison are going to be down there. we are thinking of taking a bus from Lex to Laredo and then another bus across the border. busing into Mexico is alot cheap than flying into Monterrey b/c of the airport tax. i don't know where we're staying yet, haven't dealt with that yet but theres a place to camp down there w/ a cooking shelter that some friends of mine stayed at in the past. some of the websites for potrero have good beta on camping and stuff

Post by **climbboy** » Sat Dec 08, 2007 7:57 pm

If you fly into the airport Luis will come pick you up for free.

Most of the accomodations, if you don't camp, are basically cinderblock buildings with no heat. They are perfectly comfortable: bed, bathroom. The camping was about 5 bucks a night. We chose to go plush style and get a room it was between 18 and twentyfive dollars a night (between two, it wasn't bad). It was pretty cold, so we were psyched to have room.

Still, I was glad to have brought both my down jacket and my down sleeping bag. We took a down jacket with us when we climbed spaceboyz for the belayer as we swung leads and we were happy to have it. Two days later we were climbing in T-shirts and avoiding the sun on the crags.

The shared kitchens are sort of like miguels except there are about 5 or 6 double propane stoves already there and they are indoors. I might bring my own eating utensils and my own sponge or other scrubby supplies. The sponge situation is kind of gross for cleaning.

This is where we stayed:

http://www.elpotrerochico.com.mx/

Perhaps not as hip and "on the scene" as Homero's and perhaps not the cheapest, but Luis runs a tight ship and is super friendly.

We had a blast there. If you get a chance and can figure out how to get there, there are some hot springs about an hour away that are sort of surreal (they are natural springs, but the facility is a pay facility and totally modern . . .absurdly so, but worth the trip) Great rest day adventure.

PM if you have other questions.

Post by **ashtray** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 1:35 pm

Post by **jpexpress** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 1:45 pm

a good time in el porterro is mid july cheap cheap rates

Post by **pawilkes** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 3:04 pm

umm...isn't it really HOT in mid-july in el potrero?

Post by **Gaar** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 3:50 pm

Amy, and I, Possibly more are heading there in Jan

Post by **audball** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 4:32 pm

if any of y'all are going to be there--let me know. i live in san antonio, which is about a 5 hour drive. there are going to be a lot of climbers there for new years.

Post by **jpexpress** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 4:55 pm

july is toasty. you know i really like toast, french toast is really good

Post by **ThomClimber** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 11:36 am

Try contacting Milton-
miltontarros@hotmail.com

We were there three years ago and he helped us out a lot (picked us up at the airport, translated etc.) We had rented a house *inside* the park for about $30 a night right at the end of the season.

Th