Zipping To a Great Time!

Given the unobstructed view we had of the canyon, and knowing that our room faced due east, we both resolved to get up in the morning and watch the sunrise.  Problem was, we had no idea what time that might be.  We elected to leave the curtains open overnight, in hopes that we would wake up.  That wasn't really a problem, as we were still firmly on East Coast time, so I was awake before 5:00am.  While it was too early for the sun, the number of stars we could see were endless.  Around 5:45, I put on my coat and shoes and went out onto the balcony.  I had cell service, so I spent time catching up on the election news outside while I waited for anything to happen on the horizon.  K wrapped herself up really well and came out around 6:00am.  Our sunrise finally came around 6:15am, and was worth the wait, but we were both admittedly happy to go back inside and warm up.

After breakfast, K and I took a short hike to take in some amazing views out over Copper Canyon, which is five times larger and twice as deep as the Grand Canyon.  What still shocks me is how few people have ever even heard of Copper Canyon; even people who don't live too far away.  On three different occasions during our day in Tucson, we spoke with locals (shopkeepers, our waiter) who asked what had brought us to Arizona.  When we told them a trip to Copper Canyon, none of them had ever heard the name before.  Despite its impressive statistics, the area in and around the canyon is vastly (many would say refreshingly) undeveloped.  Aside from our hotel and one other, there are no others anywhere around.  The valley sides and floor are still occupied by Tarahumara Indians, and aside from the train, there are few easy ways to even get there.

Waiting for the Sunrise

Yes, It Was Cold!

20181107_062604 from Allen Steele on Vimeo.

In Our Hotel

View Back to the Hotel From Our Post-Breakfast Hike

Tarahumarah Women Making Baskets

After our hike, we boarded a smaller bus, run by the hotel, to take us over to an "adventure park" which had been built on a promontory over the canyon, not too far from our hotel.  Aside from the hotels, it was the only thing of substance in the area, and was still being developed.  It's main draw is a large cable car that brings people more than two miles across the canyon, to a large formation.  Unlike the Grand Canyon, Copper Canyon is volcanic in origin, rather than having been formed through erosion, so there are mountainous outcrops all over the place.  At this park, they also had repelling, rock climbing on the sheer canyon cliffs, and one of the world's longest zip lines.  The zip line ran the two miles to a lower point on the outcrop.  We had the option of taking the line out, and then hiking up about 800 meters to the far-side cable car depot.  Myself, and our new friends Mike and Debbie, jumped at the chance.  K wanted to go as well, but in filling out the requisite liability forms, they specifically said you should not do it if you've had surgery in the last year, or any kind of neck or spine injury.  That, unfortunately, took K out of the running.

Mike, Debbie, and I suited up, and with everyone watching, I went across first.  I had no idea how long the line was until later in the day, but I do remember thinking it would never end.  I was going so fast that I began to spin around.  I later learned that they advertise speeds of 60-80 miles per hour.  I wouldn't be surprised if I was going on the lower end of that scale.  On the far side, I was "caught" by two workers, and then I waited for Debbie and Mike to follow.  We all had a grand time; at least that was, until we started the very long hike almost straight up, carrying all of our gear, at the >8,000-foot altitude.  We were all pretty quickly sucking air, and our pace slowed considerably.  It took about 20 minutes to hike up, and we still arrived a few minutes before the cable car carrying everyone else from our group.  The views were, as before, simply stunning.

The Zip Line Departure Platform

All Suited Up

You Can't Even See the Other End of the Zip Line

Cable Car Bringing Katherine and the Others To Meet Us

We all rode back together on the tram about 30 minutes later, after lots of pictures and hiking around.  On the way back to our hotel, we made a couple of other scenic stops, primarily for pictures, and also to walk across a suspended bridge, which was very cool.  As we neared our hotel, our guide informed us that there was the possibility to take a helicopter ride into the canyon.  Evidently every once in a while, a pilot flies up and takes small groups.  K and I jumped at the chance, and immediately upon our return went to the front desk to sign up.  Alas, we were told they needed a minimum of three people in order to fly.  We failed to find anyone else in our group willing to go, and the hotel asked among another group staying there -- all locals, I believe -- and no one bit.  We were disappointed, but everything happens for a reason, I suppose.

The afternoon was at our leisure, even more so now that the helicopter ride never materialized, but Raul did offer to take anyone willing on a couple-hour hike along and slightly into the canyon.  We assembled at 3:00pm expecting to find only a few others, but aside from one couple -- the oldest on the trip -- everyone showed up.  Raul started his tour guide career supporting backwoods hiking trips, so his knowledge for the flora and fauna was put to great use during the hike.  He showed us so many things, past which I would have easily walked without a second glance.  The hike, however, far more challenging that I believe any of us were expecting, but no one complained.   At one point, when we got down to a small creek, we came across a small family of Tarahumara Indians who must have been making their way through the canyon and who had stopped to set up a very primitive campsite for the night.  It is still hard to believe that people can live such a basic existence, but I guess its been that way for centuries now.  They had a fire going and a small child, maybe five years old, was pounding hand-made dough into tortillas on a large rock.

On Our Afternoon Hike

Tarahumarah Family Setting Up Camp for the Night

We got back to the hotel not too soon before sunset.  To celebrate the hike, Raul treated us all to cocktails at the bar, which we then supplemented with "sun downers" on our balcony with Mike and Debbie.  By the time dinner was served, we were all blissfully comfortable and ready to eat.  All of the activity, and imbibing, had us more than ready for bed when we finally made our way back to our room.