Join us on our adventure to climb El Potrero Chico, the largest sport climbing area in North America.  The 2000 ft limestone cliffs are located about a half hour drive from Monterrey, MX in the beautiful North Mexican Desert.  We will spend the week in a resort campground named La Posada, complete with a restaurant and pool, within a 10 minute walk of most crags.  Each day we will be climbing in different areas that are appropriate to that day.  On the rest day and in the evenings we can do anything from exploring the small town of Hidalgo, rent mountain bikes, or just relax. 

This trip is designed for anyone from a beginner who’s never climbed before to a intermediate climber who would like to further their skills and explore a new country.  We will start off learning climbing technique on top rope, and simple skills like belaying.  As the week progresses we may venture into leading sport routes and sending multi-pitch climbs depending on personal skill and group level. 

El Potrero Chico Itinerary:

3/06/10 Saturday

4:00pm meet in Monterrey airport

5:00pm take taxi to La Posada

5:30pm arrive at La Posada

6:30pm check in at La Posada

7:00pm set up camp, eat dinner at Posada

9:30pm

-          Plan out climbs for Monday

-          Play games

-          RELAX for the next day!

-          Pool

3/07/10 Sunday

7:00am wake up

7:30am walk to store

8:00am buy food for the week (lunches and to cook)

9:30am climb in the Virgin Canyon section

-          Cover basic skills including belaying, climbing techniques, and anchors.

-          Get comfortable on the rock

-          Lead theory talk

5:00pm dinner

6:00pm climb/relax

3/08/10 Monday

7:30am wake up and prepare for the day

8:30am climb

-          More basic practice

-          Possible leads

5:00pm hike out for dinner

6:00pm climb till dark! Let people choose: climb, hike, rent mt bikes, relax, pool

3/09/10 Tuesday

7am wake up

8am climb

11:00am walk into town for the market

-          Get food for the rest of the week

-          Buy souvenirs and other cheap stuff

1:30pm hike back to camp

2:30pm take a break and get things ready to climb

3:30pm climb

-          Start leading

7:00pm dinner

8:00pm prep for the next day

3/10/10 Wednesday

7:30am wake up

8:30am Climb

-          Continue leading

-          Possible multi pitching

5:00pm dinner

6:00pm climb some more

3/11/10 Thursday

1. Explore town
2. CLIMB

-          Possible multi-pitching

-          Rock rescue, or advanced knot class

1. Rest Day

3/12/10 Friday

7:30 wake up

8:30 climb

-          Possible multi-pitching

5:00pm dinner

6:00pm climb or relax

3/13/10 Saturday

7:30 wake up

8:30 Climb

12:00pm pack to leave

Afternoon/evening fly out

3/14/10 Sunday

Fly out

Equipment List:

If you have equipment questions, please let me know. Some of this equipment (noted with star) Quest does have available for usage. We hold a deposit for the course.

Sleeping Gear:
Backpack –Daypack to carry gear food and water to the crag
Small Additional Duffle Bag – To store items you leave behind
*Sleeping Bag – Rated to 40 degrees.                                                       Compression Bag – To shrink sleeping bag and save pack space
*Sleeping Pad – Foam or inflatable. Bring repair kit if inflatable.
* 3/4 Tent

Technical Gear:

Head Lamp
*Climbing Helmet
*Climbing Harness     

Clothing:

Shorts

T-Shirts

Warm jacket

Pair of pants

Sleeping clothes

Approach sneakers

Flip/flops or sandals for in camp

Warm hat

Sun hat (ball cap)

Other gear to have:

passport
Sunscreen and lip protection. Bring spares.
2-3 quart sized water bottle, wide mouth. Hydration bladders are fine
Toiletries – toothbrush, deoderant, etc.
Ear Plugs
Camera – if you’re into that sort of thing, spare batteries/memory cards.
Personal Medical supplies – first aid kit (especially for blisters) and any prescription/non-prescription items
Reading Materials
Stuff sacks for organizing gear
Knife/Leatherman (put in checked luggage, not carry on).

       Payment Schedule

To Register for this Trip please contact our office via phone or e-mail.

A non-refundable deposit of $200 secures your place on the trip.

Full payment is due no later than eight weeks prior to the departure date.

In the Event of Cancellation:
All Extended Trips have a non-refundable deposit to reserve your place on the trip. If for any reason Quest cancels the trip, this will be fully refunded.

If you notify the Quest office of your cancellation after the full payment has been received you will be refunded as follows:

If cancellation notice is received five weeks prior to the trip departure date, you will receive 75% of the balance due after the deposit.

If cancellation notice is received four weeks prior to the trip departure date, you will receive 50% of the balance due after the deposit.

For cancellations received less than four weeks prior to the trip, there can be no refund.

Costs:

BU Students: $500

Community: $750

 Costs will include transport to course area from airport, lodging, guide fees, logistic fees, group climbing gear, mountain bikes one day. Costs will not include airfare, food, or transport back to the airport.

Trip leaders

This trip will be co-led by Ben Liken and Lee Herbert.  Ben is a senior at Bloomsburg University majoring in geology.  This will be Ben’s 2nd trip to El Potrero Chico and 3rd time to Mexico.  He has been climbing continuously for the last 3 years all over North America from the Pacific Northwest to New Hampshire to Mexico.  Ben has also recently completed a NOLS semester course with a large component of climbing and outdoor leadership.

Lee is a senior finance and accounting major at Bloomsburg University.  Himself and Ben are regular climbing partners and share many of the same experiences, but in addition he has climbed in Smith rocks, Oregon and Joshua Tree, California.  He got his Start with Quest 4 years ago and has been actively leading local and extended trips since then.