A few years back we went w/a bus load of travelers to the mountains southwest of Mex. City where the monarchs migrate each year to the tall pines up there. Imagine this: you ride in a pickup with a large bed - big enough to handle 50+ people - w/plain wooden benches along the sides and a double row down the center. (I got to sit in the passenger seat next to the driver in the cab.) All that held those in back was sheer will power and a flimsy rope across the back opening. We couldn't travel even 5 MPH because it was uphill going and rocky - really a rough ride. It took almost an hour to get there to the first plateau. We got out and were then told we had to take a long trek even further up another mountain that should take about 2 hrs. going up, seeing, take some pictures and come down. I opted to stay on that first plateau and go to the shack - open air - that had beer and cooked to order tacos - cooked on the top of a wood stove that was at least 50 years old or looked it anyway. Almost all the others travelled up that mountain - climbed - to see the butterflies. When those who made it to the top returned they were awestruck with what they had seen - thousands of butterflies - literally - like an upside down delphinium but many feet long in these gigantic pines - practically one on top of the other to keep warm(?). Unfortunately the pictures couldn't do this all justice. It was a tiring day - long treks, blowing dust and we had left the box lunches in the bus! Coming down in the truck only took 20 mins. Depending on where you sat in the back you were covered w/dust and just glad you made it and got to be very good friends w/ your seatmates on either side as you leaned from side to side and up and down due to the "road".
When we got back to our motel everyone wanted a shower and a complete change of clothes and wash thwir filthy showlaces but that was not to be - the luggage was put in the rooms after we ate! My DH does not like to be dirty so he took a shower and had to put back on the same clothes. Now this was a group of senior citizens - not a one was younger than 65.
Iam glad we went , glad I didn't try the trek up the mountain and just happy to be sitting and walking on something better than that truck or the dusty, dusty mountain.
This is a once in a lifetime sort of thing up there.
I enjoyed the beer and tacos......only about 8 of group made it to the very top and the air was thin so they had to stop many times to catch their breath.
Ann
This message was edited Sep 26, 2006 11:27 AM
Monarch Butterfly Migration Site
We also took this wonderful trip.
Considering what Monarchs go thru just to exist,it was mind blowing to see thousands of tiny little miracles in the trees..It looked like a forest in Autumn colors..
All in all I think this was the best trip we've ever taken.. I'd go again..
Sounds like a great adventure! Hopefully I can do it one day, thanks for sharing the details of your trip.
I've also thought of doing that trip, there are some areas of Mexico that I really love that are only a few hours from there, but I've never been down there at the right time of year for the monarchs. One of these years I would love to go though! We have a place near here, Natural Bridges State Park near Santa Cruz, where the monarchs also congregate but not in nearly as large numbers (and you don't get the excitement of unreliable transportation, altitude, and tons of hiking to get there), I went one year in December and it was very cool to see as well, unfortunately it was too dark among the trees so my pictures didn't turn out very well.