Back for 2008! 

There was a significant community service element to each of our previous programs.  Community Service facets include: 1)Directing introductory camps for local youth in rock climbing.  Team members will do all the instruction under the guidance of OWA/Umarike Guides.  2). Continue a project begun in 2000 to further develop sport climbing/bouldeirng sites in the Creel area in a professional and responsible way.  3) Assist with preparation and implementation of La Onza-- the Creel Mountain Bike Festival held as part of the Chihuahua Adventure Festival each July.  This assistance includes course preparation and race marshalling.  The event has become one of THE main events in the town each year and draws participants and spectators from a wide ranging area.  4) Collecting oral histories and working on mapping the Silver Trail.    In carrying out the service portion of each expedition, team members have many opportunities for interaction with the locals including the Tarahumara.  This is a great opportunity to practice Spanish language skills and to get a real feel for a different culture.  . 

Logistics:   The team assembles at the Chihuahua, Mexico airport.  There are direct flights daily from the US on both American and Continental. At the airport they will be met by OWA guides and will spend their first night in Chihuahua before loading up in private vehicles for the 3 hour drive to Creel. The trek will consist of 11 days on the trail before returning to Chihuahua for the night before flying home. Nights in Chihuahua will be at hotels all nights on the trail will be spent in tents. 

In Mexico:  The base of operations while in Mexico is the bustling little town of Creel.  Located at 7600 feet, Creel has the feel of a New Mexico frontier town of the past with pine forests, rolling mountains and mesas rising up out of the valley where the town is situated.  Tourists arrive and depart everyday (often via the famed Copper Canyon train) from all over the world creating an everchanging mix of cultures and languages out on the street.  The weather is somewhat similar to areas of the same elevation in Colorado with afternoon showers, warm days and pleasant nights--- this is THE time to be in the area with pleasant weather and lot's of green and wildflowers.  While in town, the teams spend most nights in log cabins with bunks and bathrooms (with plenty of hot water!).  While trekking nights are obviously spent in trail tents.  Most meals are prepared by the group in a communal type kitchen or out on the trail. 

Leaders:  The program is under the leadership of at least 3 OWA Guides-- each directly experienced in working in the program locations.  Possibel guides include Creel local Arturo Gutierrez, Senior Guide Ryan Sullivan, OWA Director Emeritus David Appleton, Katherine Verburg and others, trip leader information will be posted when available (usually Feb. for summer programs)

Team Members:  This is a great experience for OWA vets and others with similar experience who are eager to explore a different culture while lending a hand and having a blast.  Positions have been available for climbing, biking, and service specialists or individuals with some experience in one or more areas.  For 2008 it will be all backcountry travel to really see the Canyon and meet the local Tarahumara. Spanish language proficiency is not required, but participants should come prepared to develop some basic skill in Spanish.  Team size for each the 2008 Copper Canyon Silver Trail trek program is limited to 12.  Community service hours should be over 40.

This is our 2002 almost daily web posting for the Copper Canyon Project (in reverse order)-- which gives a good overview of what goes on day to day:

August 1, 12 Noon: Those of us driving back to Base Camp returned last night and the 3 of the group that flew from El Paso actually appeared to get away in time yesterday.  A few of the group will stay with us for a while longer here in Colorado.  So.......the program ended up mighty well.  On the 29th, we travelled down to Humira (about 45 minutes south of Creel and down part way into the canyons).  Some of the group did some climbing on some sport routes previously explored by Todd Skinner some 15 years ago.  The skies were clear and the temps hot, but the group was able to do some nice climbs and didn't come face to face with any rattlesnakes.

The biking group did some exploring and it almost became a real epic.  After riding down the rio Humira some distance, we opted to head up onto one of the mesas along a periodically really nice trail (and periodically unrideable).  After continuing down into a side canyon, the trail eventually climbed some 1200 feet up to another mesa where we hoped it would link up with a straightforward route back to the road the vehicles.  Of course it didn't-- instead it ran into a feint trail that ran along the mesa top and then to a steep descent that we decided to avoid.  Instead, we continued along another mesa and did have about a half mile of truly unbelievable single track right along the canyon rim that ultimately did lead to a mostly unrideablew descent back to the valley where we began.  Maybe it wasn't the best overall riding, but it was a spectacular area and gave everyone a real taste of the expansiveness of the canyons.

Our last night in Creel involved hamburgers and packing.  We daparted mid morning on the 30th and arrived in El Paso just in time to have our first US meal and last banquet.  We discussed highlights of the two weeks and everyone agreed that it was neat to really contribute something to the area.  Everyone was also impressed with how friendly everyone was down in Creel.  Riley Charters and Sarah Williams were recognized for completing 4 years of OWA programs and actually got their rings upon returning to BC.

July 28 8pm:  It has been a busy weekend and things are still not real calm in Creel, although over at the KOA it is quiet and nice.  The last two days have been wild with all the La Onza festivities going on and the town loaded with people.  Our guys have done great-- helping with set up and logistics for the races and almost all of the group competing themselves.

On Friday afternoon, after a bunch of riding and climbing we set up the criterium course in downtown-- around and through the plaza.  There was a bit of a snag when an official from the state dept of Urban Development showed up and did not like the fact that we had drilled holes in the street for setting up the fencing to mark the course.  After quite a bit of discussion on the part of the officials we were allowed to continue and had a nice course that involved a lot of stairs and curbs set up.  The racing began first with some Tarahumara women who raced their traditional race that involves a stick and a double hoop (and has nothing to do with bikes) but was really interesting.  Then, there were three classes and the races involved some crashes (including our own Ryan P) with fans lining the entire course.  After the races we had pasta at the Pizza del Rey-- part of the race activities.

Saturday was the big cross country race day.  We got up early to put the finishing touches on the course with Robert L and Mark B setting up the fencing at the Resbelosa downhill section and in town.  There were some 420 racers this year including quite a few from the States-- 100 more than last year.  Brianna was in charge of the water handout at the plaza and everyone else raced-- and everyone did great.  Ryan S got 5th in the open expert, Wallis Spears took 3rd in the open women--- she's 11 and her competition were all in their 20's or so, Ryan P got 8th in the fast 17/18 yr old class, David A got 2nd in the Masters 40 and everyone else managed to finish in the middle of their classes-- pretty amazing considering this was the first race ever for all of them.  There was a nice awards ceremony right at sundown and then the night was mighty loud all over the area-- it was obvious that it was the busiest night of the year in Creel.

In spite of being tired, everyone was up early to watch the Downhill on Sunday.  We took the course down after the race and then had breakfast at the Best Western.  By noon, we were split up into two groups-- both headed towards the Valley of the Monks.  The climbers drove there and set up climbs on the magnificent towers there.  They found bolted anchors at the top of some of the towers and put some others in to make the climbing more efficient. The riders rode out via part of the race course and picked up all the trash and markings out on the course, then made their way to the Valley of the Monks for a late lunch, rode on up to the top of the mesa to the Rio Conchos overlook and then back to town via some nice single track.  It's amazing to see how much better all these guys have gotten at riding!  We had lentil soup and Ham/Cheese sandwiches for supper and everyone is mighty tired.  Tomorrow is our last day and we plan to make full use of it with a trip down to Humira to explore some new climbing and check out the trails in that area which lies part way down in the canyons.

July 25 4:30 pm:  Yesterday was a pretty stormy day, but we persevered and the climbers were able to do some good climbing at a new spot, also near the sewer plant-- the sewer plant is actually turning out to offer some mighty nice climbing and it doesn´t smell or look as bad as it sounds.  The bike group spent the morning working on the Onza race course and then went on a ride in the afternoon just as a big storm was letting loose.  The rain was a bit irritating at first, but the riding was good nonetheless.

Today, the sun has been brilliant and only now are a few clouds beginning to build.  People are arriving all the time for the race and this will be a busy few days for sure-- this is the busiest week of the year in Creel.  Our whole group went on a long ride to the Tararecua overlook today--- a total of some 12 miles or so on some mighty nice single track including a hard climb to start with.  Everyone did really well-- seems like the riding skills are picking up quickly. 

This is Ryan Sullivan´s 21st birthday.  His mom, Sally and her husband Roy (who is planning to race) are here to help celebrate.  We´re having supper prepared for us by the KOA tonight and will then have some cake.  Ryan knows this area mighty well-- having spent a few months here last year and can´t seem to get enough of the area.  Other Gringoes are showing up for the race and that is nice to see.

July 23 9:45 pm:  Today was a beautiful day in the Creel after an awful lot of rain yesterday.  Yesterday we had to change our plans a bit since it began raining early in the day and continued into the evening.  We drove about 30 miles east to the spectacular canyon overlook at Divisadero and were able to get in a nice hike along the rim between showers.

Today, the sun woke us up early and we had a quick breakfast before heading over to Chapultepec Park to do our day of rock climbing with the local kids---  an amazing event with some 100 kids descending upon the crag for a chance to do some real rock climbing.  Later in the afternoon, some of the group stayed at the crag to do some climbing and Mark Beardsley did some more route developing and bolting.  Some of the group opted for a mountain bike ride and after a few mechanicals, we were able to do a nice 3 hour ride out along the mesa toward the Valley of the Monks.  The riding was technical in spots, but the riders seem to be improving their skills quickly and there were only a few uneventful mishaps.  Lori A and Anna/Alix Spears took care of the cooking tonight and we had some mighty tastey spaghetti.  After supper everyone headed into town and most ended up at the Troje for dessert and coffee/tea/hot chocolate.

July 22 10:30 am: Finally we have time to communicate from Creel.  Things have been really busy ever since we arrived.  We got here pretty late Thursday evening, but by 10:30 pm had checked into the KOA and had everything unpacked, with a slow rain falling.  Friday morning was dedicated to getting our cooking process in order and then ground schools for both climbing and mt biking.  In the afternoon we split up with part of the group climbing and developing/bolting some new climbs just down from the sewage treatment plant-- a nicer spot than it may sound.  The riders rode part of the race course and then explored some of the other single track on the mesa above Creel with time spent working on some technical riding skills on some of the rock ledges along the way.  The riding and climbing all ended up in a downpour as the daily deluge descended upon the area late in the afternoon.  The whole group headed over to the hypnotist show which has been going on nightly next to the KOA-- complete with big tent and a lot of loud music and slapstick.  Don't be looking for the show to appear on prime time or tour the US anytime soon.

We have had some rain at some point every day or night.  The rains were slow coming to the area this year, but are mighty welcomed now.  They really haven't put a damper in any activities, but we do have some wet clothes..........

On Saturday, we spent the morning working on the La Onza race course at the Resbelosa-- the steep downhill that brings the riders right back into town each lap.  There was a lot of digging and cleaning up to be done to make it relatively safe and nice.  We then divided up into 7 teams for the afternoon adventure race.  Our teams of three mostly competed in the advanced class.  The race began with a hard uphill run beginning at Lake Arereko that included some scrambling to get back to the dam.  At the dam, each team put on life jackets, grabbed one inner tube and then had to swim back to the staging area-- a good mile of swimming made more difficult by the life jackets.  After the swim, the final leg was mountain biking some 6 miles back to Creel and the finish at the KOA.  In spite of having very little time to acclimate or prepare our teams all did quite well, with the team of Arturo Gutierrez, Wallis Spears and Ryan Plaisted taking 3rd in the advanced and 3rd overall.  The race was topped off with a burger cookout and then a dance/fiesta/rave that evening which competed for the noise award with the hypnotist show.

Yesterday, there was a bouldering competition and most of our group competed, doing quite well.  Brianna Page took third in the womens, Adam Lowenstein 2nd in the beginner men, Robert Lee 3rd in the Intermediate Men and guide Mark Beardsley winning the advanced and overall, being the only person to complete one of the harder problems.  After the comp, we returned to the KOA with Kyle, Adam, Ryan and Eric heading out on a ride back up on the mesa-- which ended once again in a downpour.

Today, the group is over at Chapultepec cleaning up the climbing crag and preparing to work with the local kids later today.  There is a bit of rain falling as I write, but hopefully it'll stop before noon.  Everyone is well.  We've had a few small bouts of stomach probs with a couple of people, but nothing to be concerned about.

July 18 10 am:We are about loaded and ready to go-- just awaiting the arrival of those documents. The weather is cloudy and it appears the monsoon has arrived, which bodes well for our weather.....

July 17 9 pm:We just completed supper at the nearby Applebee's-- one last bit of US style food. Everyone has now arrived including our friends Anna, Doodle (Adair Appleton's best friend), Alix and Wallis Spears. That makes our entire group number 24. We had an orientation session before supper and will do a bunch more organizing once we get to Creel, which should be early evening tomorrow. There was one issue with Riley C-- but his documentation is leaving NYC as I write and is due at our hotel in El Paso in the morning.

Wednesday, July 17 1 pm: The Colorado contingent has arrived in El Paso. Some of the group is off eating lunch while some of the staff are at the airport meeting the rest of the team who are arriving througout the afternoon. We're still doing a bit of last minute shopping for some climbing bolt hardware and a few more tools. There is a pool at the hte which will certainly get some use later today..

Tuesday, July 16 3pm:  We're putting the final touches on packing and are on track to depart by no later than 5 pm.  A bunch of the group are leaving with us from Base Camp and we'll be meeting the rest of the team during the afternoon tomorrow in El Paso.  There is certainly a lot of stuff between everyone's personal gear, hand tools for trail work, climbing gear, bike stuff, food, race things, etc.