Cuesta de Melana and the del Carmen's

[The Distance]

OK, I'm desperate for information.

I'm leaving Oklahoma City on December 20 (today is the 15th) and hope to explore the del Carmens on the Mexican side of the river.

My plan, as of now is to drive to Cuesta de Melana and from there ask around for directions to Half Moon canyon and use the as my basecamp.

Information has been SCARCE. ANY help/info would be appreciated.


Thanks.

[kylecom]

Sounds like you're going through Acuna to Musquiz then to the Cuesta.
At the Cuesta, the road is probably unpaved (at least it was a few years ago).

I can't help you with the Maderas, but if you're going to the Del Carmens, go to Las Norias de Boquillas. From there you can either go to Mina Rico and hike up, or, go the the south end of the del Carmens and hike in from there.

There's a fairly reliable tinaja on the back side of the del Carmens.
You'll need climbing gear if you plan on getting on top of El Pico.

Take topographic maps and expect the trip to take longer than you expect.

[homerboy2u]

Hello The Distance...sure i can help out. Thing is i hve some errands to run, right now but whren i come back home tonight, i can dish out all that you want.

 In the meantime , something to ponder:
* Cuestade Melana is more Cuesta de Malena
* The Maderas del Carmen mountains, as Shane explains, they are offlimits. Unless you mean Sierra del Carmen that is another issue..no problem there as well. I can help out.



* Okei, is not wrong in what he says. Are you going alone?, i strongly suggest you DO NOT, specially if going to those areas and specifically if going for the first time. When i go there , i go with the equal of a military division of 4x4 vehicles because nobody is out there to lend a help, so if you get stranded, only you can help yourself. Nobody can scratch your back over there.

Homero. . .

I thank you in advance for the information. Let me prime you a bit on what I do and do not know.

I intend to enter Mexico at Piedras Negras, travel on highway 57 to Nueva Rosita and from there take 53 to La Cuesta.

To be honest, I thought that the Sierra del Carmens were within an area known as Maderas del Carmen . . .if these two are seperate entities then I do not know the difference.

The area I'm trying to get to--and again I have very little information--is one that I have heard is forested, has elevation exceeding that of the Chisos mountains of Big Bend Nat'l park and receives twice the annual rain fall of the Chisos mountains. Representitive of this area is a place called half-moon canyon.

I do not have to get there. The jouney, I'm sure, will be reward in itself.

Thanks.

 Okay, so you want to go Maderas del Carmen......the good news is that they are called the Sky Islands for a very good reason, they re SPECTACULAR  To compare them with any mountain top in the area is not even fair to pair them,they get an astronomical amount of rain and humidity from the Gulf Of Mexico,They have an array of breeding areas for the likes of Elk,Bighorn Sheep,Buffalo,Black Bear,Mule & Whitetail Deer,Coatimundi,moles, birds of many kinds,the most incredible gathering of Monarch Butterflies, and many many other Species. The bad news is that they are in a developing Biosphere coordinated by many Mexican Government Agencies and International Organizations speerheaded by a Mexican Global Corporate Group called CEMEX who dishes an anual budget well in excess of 10 million dollars to the cause...and for now, no civilian is allowed in unless you belong to one of those international scientific organizations conducting an array of experiments which i can't even begin to explain and field obsevations...SORRY  to break it to you , but i have to be honest here.

 I did a full trip report on this section, when my club was called in to assit the military and State Gvt. agencies to help locate a "lost" King Air plane, which it was never lost. It had landed there purposely. I was not available to go , at that time but my friends gave me the pictures and i presented them on this board in this section....Have a look at the presentation Right Here

 Here is a webpage dedicted solely to The El Carmen Project by CEMEX

 Bdann was kind enogh to lend us his cyberspace to upload a brochure that i found on the net, I think it is interesting to read: Here it is , enjoy.

 Now instead of staying in your pc reading the threads and getting dissapointed, because you are not going to be able to enter, why don't you go instead to The Protected Area Of Sierra del Carmen..it is breathtaking  and there are tons of places to go there as well... Here is the Thread in question

 Better yet, you are in the right section to get all the information you need to schedule your trip over to Cuesta de Malena and The Sierra del Carmen's, just do a search and you will get all the info you need . If you still have more detail questions, by all means please post them here and i will gladly help you out. I wish you good luck on your upcoming trip. BTW, I live in Piedras Negras The Distance

Homero

[The Distance]

On my first trip to Big Bend, I purchased a book of nature writing from the area--"God's Country, Devil's Playground." There was an essay that chronicled a trip to the upper del Carmens and since reading the description I have been lusting after the place. I guess I'll have to keep my eyes and ears open for an opportunity to get into the protected area via permit or as a research volunteer, etc.

I would like to express my sincerest thanks to all those who replied to my query. I found this site only about a week ago as I was searching for information on the Maderas del Carmen, and you, the users and stewards have provided the most information of any of my sources.

Perhaps now I'll just head back down to the park. . .or I still might venture into the back-country of Coahuila--it's still a coin flip.

I noticed there was a specific thread for introducing ones-self, and now that I have already taken advantage of your generous lending of information, I'll make use of it, and become part of the community in a more congenial fashion.

Thanks.

[homerboy2u]

Believe me ,The Distance . I have tried to get in formally but to no avail. Eventually the place will be open, maybe by the time they open up the La Linda Bridge , where there will be open roads, hiking trials and guides, trips to the inner parts of The Del Carmens, so on and so on but for the time being we have to wait a little bit to find the opportunity.

  If the opportunity should knock on the door, i would post it here right away. I dought it many would get in line to come , since it would an overnight notification, just like when were notified to go and assit on the Search for the Plane and all.

  Sierra del Carmen, the one with the beautiful vista from BiBe is still open. Many folks on this board have gone up there. It is incredible to be up there. The best pictures i have seen so far, are from Al. I hope he steps to the mound and pitch us some to see.

 There are guides to take you up there, very good trust worthy guides but you have to contact them thru Satellite phone to set up an appointment. It is worth the while , if you ask me.


 Welcome to the board

[homerboy2u]

I just recieved an email, from the Maderas del Carmen administrator:

 

Homero
That canyon is on the west side of the Maderas Del Carmen . It is in the ejido Jaboncillos . It is not a big canyon but has some interesting
rock formations .There is a old horse trail that goes out on top of the sierra ,the top is owned and operated by Cemex El Carmen .

 Ejido Jaboncillos is very easy to reach. You just continue the NEW highway off Cuesta de Malena. on the bottom part , there will be a "Y" intersection take the left side of follow the edge of Maderas del Carmen. The right side will take you to Ocampo, it will be the first village before entering The Maderas Gate. The rest, well you know what you are up against.

[The Distance]

I just recieved an email, from the Maderas del Carmen administrator: 

By the Maderas del Carmen administrator do you mean "Billy"?. . .the American that stays in the Maderas mostly, but otherwise lives in Del Rio?

Do you know this person I refer to? Do you know how I could get in touch with him?

[homerboy2u]

I just recieved an email, from the Maderas del Carmen administrator: 

By the Maderas del Carmen administrator do you mean "Billy"?. . .the American that stays in the Maderas mostly, but otherwise lives in Del Rio?

Do you know this person I refer to? Do you know how I could get in touch with him?

 Yes, he is the Americano who happens to be the director of The Maderas Project and ALWAYS lives in Maderas del Carmen. I am sure he goes to Del Rio once or twice a year. At the most.

  Try and contacting him thru the webpages of Maderas , here provided so you can reach him. They are so itchy , when it comes to sharing their emails and phone numbers. I don't want to push it.

 Or and send me a PM....will discuss this furhter more.

[skinny]

We are a small group of motorcyle riders (street legal dirt bikes) looking for info about the roads and trails between Acuna and La Linda...any info about routes and contact info for entrance into private areas would be appreciated...

thanks
skinny

[homerboy2u]

We are a small group of motorcyle riders (street legal dirt bikes) looking for info about the roads and trails between Acuna and La Linda...any info about routes and contact info for entrance into private areas would be appreciated...

thanks
skinny

 How is it going , Skinny?...sure man, check this Thread on La linda trip, there you will finde pics,headings,experiences , and most important..waypoint s for your interests. If you need more information, let me know. I will gladly help out.

Saludos

[skinny]

Thanks for the reply...I just found out 1 of our members' wife used to work for Cemex and her brother still does, so between you and her, we should be able to put a trip together...

muchas gracias...