Matthew C. Brown:
A little sub-tropical trickle coming down to the road on the first day of our week-long driving trip to the Copper Canyons of southwest Chihuahua, Mexico. This was on Ruta 16 west of Yecora, Sonora.
Matthew C. Brown:
Matt birding the famous Ruta 16 spot, the "Barranca", west of Yecora, Sonora
Matthew C. Brown:
Sunset over our cabin in the hills above Yecora, Sonora
Matthew C. Brown:
We were thoroughly overcharged by the manager of this rustic, dusty, electricity- and hot water-free mouse farm we think his buddies use for drinking and flopping.
Matthew C. Brown:
Driving from Yecora towards the Barranca Country of southwest Chihuahua.
Matthew C. Brown:
We made it to the park at the top of Bassaseachi Falls in the afternoon, in the light rain.
Matthew C. Brown:
View of the river from the trail, both heading downstream to the top of the falls.
Matthew C. Brown:
Heavy rain made for a plethora of little side-cascades flowing onto the stone trail.
Matthew C. Brown:
Abbie and I took our shoes off for the wet walk down the sendero (trail). The well-masoned flagstones on the relatively new path were not slippery...yet.
Matthew C. Brown:
Only a few hundred yards from the top of the falls, the trail gets closer and closer to the swollen river.
Matthew C. Brown:
A railing prevents over-lookers from plunging 246 meters (807 ft.) to their deaths. This was thought to be the highest waterfall in Mexico until 1994.
Matthew C. Brown:
If you fall in here, you're about to become airborne along with the water you're floating in.
Matthew C. Brown:
Looking over the edge at the pour-off of Basaseachi Falls, in the Parque Nacional.
Matthew C. Brown:
Another view of the Bassaseachic River. The final "c" was added to the Tarahumara word to "Mexicanize" it.
Matthew C. Brown:
These parents decided to let their son run loose on the slippery rocks. There's no railing between them and the deadly torrent. Toughens 'em up, I guess.
Matthew C. Brown:
We stayed in one of the clean and cozy rental cabins available inside the National Park. Eared Quetzals were clearly heard nearby both mornings we stayed here.
Matthew C. Brown:
We were within easy walking distance of the top of the falls.
Matthew C. Brown:
Our goal was to see Mexico's highest waterfall, Cascada Piedra Volada, by hiring a local guide in Huajumar, a village a few miles from the town of Basaseachi. A crazy, two-day series of nearly-missed coincidences brought us to Cacho's front door. Eared Qu
Matthew C. Brown:
This was part of the roughly (pun intended) 7 kilometer ride from our guide Cacho's house in Huajumar, Chihuahua, through a maze of constantly climbing old logging roads, to a parking spot from where we would hike 2 kilometers to the mirador to view the m
Matthew C. Brown:
More of the bouncy, rocky seven kilometer 4WD ride to the hike to the mirador to view la Cascada Piedra Volada.
Matthew C. Brown:
This was the first good view on the 2 km trek to the mirador for the Cascada Piedra Volada. That's after the 12 km uphill drive on a rough, old 4WD logging road.
Matthew C. Brown:
Snake; our guide Cacho said it was poisonous, but I doubt it. He was an amazing spotter, though.
Matthew C. Brown:
A wider shot of our first good view of the canyon Piedra Volada flows, or rather plummets, into.
Matthew C. Brown:
Finally got out the real camera, a little Canon EOS. This is the same canyon, called Candemena below Basaseachi Falls, which Piedra Volada enters. It's out of frame way to the left.
Matthew C. Brown:
El Gigante (on right): the 2800' monolith is supposedly the tallest rock wall in North America. First ascent climbers in 1994 were also the first (outsiders?) to spot the falls from the opposite side of the canyon.
Matthew C. Brown:
At 366 meters (1201'), Cascada Piedra Volada is the highest waterfall in Mexico, and the 11th highest in the world.
Matthew C. Brown:
The falls only flows after rains. When we were there, the water seemed to turn to spray a couple of hundred feet after flowing over the precipice.
Matthew C. Brown:
The left wall, looking upstream, of Candamena Canyon where Piedra Volada enters seasonally from 1200 feet above.
Matthew C. Brown:
The top of El Gigante, right, showing its view of the narrow falls on the opposite side of the barranca.
Matthew C. Brown:
Top two-thirds of El Gigante, left, and the mirador, right edge of photo, where the falls is viewed from. Taken on hike back to car.
