We normally save our high country escapades for weekend campouts. It’s such a monstrous ascent that it makes sense to eek out your time up there, without plummeting straight back down into the hot valley again.
But Dhruba does love to climb, and he was into the idea of riding up to Cruz de la Peña at the very top of the La Mesita eco-park – which he hadn’t visited before – and getting back down again by the end of the day.
Here’s the route we did. Normally, I’d recommend hopping on Huerta trail for the descent. We did this in part, then exited via La Mesita and took the railroad back into the city, in the interests of the preservation of tired legs. What a reminder of how busy Oaxaca is these days – next time, I’ll definitely come back via the Libramento.!
Still, it was beautiful to be up there again, and reacquaint myself with my friends the flora, colourful characters who make this high-elevation zone so very special.
Down at the bottom of the La Mesita climb. A solid 1500m of climbing lies ahead!
From El Manzanal, things chill out a lot.
This is the 20-minute hike to the cross. The trail is packed with floral delights.
I ride-push my bike to this point, then continue on foot.
A fern with exposed sori on the left and a lil baby bromeliad on the right.
More male ferns and sori (spores).
I love this curly oak.
Another bromeliad, fallen to the ground, and a tiny baby pinecomb.
Waving to Emma and Huesos from up top. Up here, you’re close enough you can almost touch the clouds.
A taste of the Lake District… and some Wolf’s Milk slime mould.
Huerta trail is one of my very favourites. It’s spicy in just a few spots, but mostly flowy and fast.
1700m of climbing + a few hundred metres to get home = 2000m!
The Route
The last place to get food is in Viguera. I didn’t carry enough and was starved by the end!
It’s 40 pesos to pass through the centro ecoturistico La Mesita, which gets you access to beautiful forest and some primo trails. A bargain! Plus, the money goes to the San Pablo community.
mike
29 October 2023 at 8:20 pm
lovely to have that on your doorstep. super pics 🙂
Sam
4 November 2023 at 6:42 pm
Hey Cass! Love your routes + writings. I’m continuing through Mexico after tackling the GDMBR which I finished last month.
I’m in Baja currently, and am quickly falling in love with Mexico’s food, music, geography, and people.
I wanted to ask you, how long have you been living in Oaxaca, do you own property or rent, and what spurred you to make that decision? Do you have dual citizenship? Are there more articles you’ve written about life in Mexico? My curiosity stems from a lifelong path of experimenting with alternatives, and I am growing weary of the cost of living / culture of my native United States…
Any insight or direction you send my way would be greatly appreciated!
Be well,
Sam
Cass
8 November 2023 at 9:31 pm
Thanks Sam!
I ended up in Oaxaca by chance more than anything, and a twist of the pandemic… But I love it here, even if there city is getting noticeably busier and more congested with cars.
I rent a little place and I have Mexican temporary residency which will tide me through for the next year or two. Beyond that… I’m not too sure!
Mexico is a wonderful place for dirt road biking. I’ve ridden across its length, but it was a number of years ago, and there have been many changes since.
If you make it to Oaxaca, feel free to look me up for a ride!
Bryan
21 November 2023 at 12:32 am
Hi Cass, my wife and I will be flying into Huatulco around Jan 24. We will be bike packing and riding the area for about a month together, then she is heading back and I am carrying on solo for a bit. I will need to organize either keeping our bike boxes and storing them or getting a couple boxes for the flight home. Is there local shop that you can recommend in either Oaxaca or Huatulco that may have extra boxes?
Cass
5 December 2023 at 12:33 am
Hi Bryan,
I don’t know about Huatulco, but in Oaxaca, you could try Zona Bici in Reforma. They’re a big shop so they often have boxes.
More details here: https://stilloutriding.com/2022/10/general-info-for-bikepackers-in-oaxaca/
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