Blue, blue sky and over-sized agave at 10,500 ft elevation.
Cool, clear air and pure tranquility.
Those crazy tall pompoms are the spectacular blooms of the giant agave, also known as century plants or maguey.
Someone said it looks like a Dr. Zeus landscape.
After sending up the flower stalk, which happens only once in its lifetime, the agave withers and dies.
Yes, if you are a hiker I'm sure you would enjoy it. I loved it, maybe my favourite hike ever.
Easy forest walking on traditional paths between villages, with some extra ups and downs to add a bit of spice.
No signage but you have trusty guides who were born and bred in these forests.
There are just a few tricky bits on narrow ledges and climbs through a canyon to add a little tension and excitement to keep you alert.
I have no photos of the short stretch where we held onto a rope and picked our footholds carefully along the mountainside.
But everyone managed fine, even the two oldies in the group. Us.
Dave climbed the back of this scary peak with most of the group. I had a hint of mareo, dizziness, for just a few minutes so stayed on solid ground.
We walked with a wonderful group of travellers from the U.S., Canada, Britain and the Netherlands, for the 20 kilometres over two days.
Amazing to meet young lawyers, an engineer, a dietician, a manager in BC Health, even a British anesthesiologist, all exploring the highlands of southern Mexico.
Their personalities and stories will stay with me for a long time.
Our four Zapotec guides pictured below were wonderful.
The two women spoke English and were full of knowledge about the medicinal uses of the plants and trees - one is an expert on wild mushrooms I later learned.
The two men were in the process of learning to guide in English. I enjoyed talking to them in Spanish and teaching them English words they wanted to know.
There are 25 guides in the small village, half of them women, all on a rotating schedule to share the work.
Bathrooms, hot water and a roaring fire were in each cabaña. Four blankets on the bed, frost on the grass in the morning. At 10,500 ft, it's twice the elevation of the city of Oaxaca.
Traditional meals in the comedor were included in our two-day package. Chicken, pork, stuffed peppers, rice, beans, vegetables, tortillas, soup, hot chocolate, local herbal teas, everything except dessert was on offer.
Many Mexican nationals also come here to enjoy a holiday in the mountains. I met one family during our evening snack in the comedor who invited me to their home in the city. I hope to go next week.
I loved the variety - pine forests, meadows, a canyon, a cave, streams, and the tidy town of Cuajimoloyas.
The trip was booked through our friend Juan at Expediciones Sierra Norte, an organization that promotes ecotourism in the villages known as the Pueblos Mancomunados.
All guides are local residents, laws prevent foreign development and logging; it's an admirable model of sustainable, responsible and co-operative tourism.
Highly recommended by us!
