Audubon hosts Los Picachos hike
By Linda Whyman, April 13, 2007

Audubon hike Sat, Apr 28, 7:30am–1:30pm Meet at Lucerniega parking lot in front of new Gigante 500/300/200/100 pesos 152-8159

As promised, Audubon San Miguel is presenting the much awaited and anticipated hike in Los Picachos. The hike is held, weather permitting, on April 28. Participants should meet at 7:30am in the new Lucerniega parking lot in front of the new Gigante. Pick-up trucks and 4-wheel drives are more than welcome to transport hikers since travel to the ascent is rugged. The hike is approximately 3.6 miles each way with an ascent of 2600 meters. The hike is difficult due to the altitude and hikers should bring water and lunch. We will return around 1:30pm. Fees are as follows: Audubon members 100 pesos; non members 200 pesos; membership in Audubon and the hike 300 pesos; hike and membership in Charco 500 pesos. Please call Al Lerner at 152-8159 for reservations or vellum1@mac.com .

This hike is a spectacular experience and not to be missed. Los Picachos, with peaks over 8000 feet high, is an extinct volcano that looms over the town of San Miguel de Allende.

 It is rarely explored due to a lack of vehicle access and the sparse population-characteristics that have preserved the unique habitat. The hike will be led by Mario Mendoza García, a naturalist who has made many visits to the Forest Reserve of La Cañada de los Pajaritos, located on Los Picachos and administered by El Charco del Ingenio.

The mountains are covered by grazing land and dry scrub on the lower slopes. Tropical deciduous trees, some rare and endangered, are found in the numerous canyons of Los Picachos, while higher up the volcano, one encounters extensive oak woodlands. The upland oak forests contain at least seven distinct species of the genus Quercus, as well as other species of trees. The greatest variety is found in the canyons, with some rare species of tropical deciduous trees in danger of extinction. Representatives of many other plant families (including a small but fascinating carnivorous plant), as well as native mammals, birds and reptiles are protected by the geographical isolation of Los Picachos.

It was precisely this natural diversity and its proximity to San Miguel that led the conservation group Cante to acquire, in 1991, a piece of land in one of the best preserved parts of the Picachos range. The concern that led to the purchase was the growing threat caused by a variety of long-established but destructive practices, such as overgrazing, land clearing, hunting, collection and capture of wild plants and animals, as well as the removal of timber, soil and stone. The planned objective was to work intensively to conserve a central area, La Cañada de los Pajaritos (The Canyon of the Little Birds), with the goal of having the entire range officially declared a protected natural area within the foreseeable future.

The purchased area was fenced, a modest encampment was built, minimal security was established to prevent depredation, and a preliminary survey of the flora and fauna was carried out. At the same time, filtrating dams were constructed by using stones available in the area. The purpose of these dams, built over the river bed, was to slow the rate of flow of water during the rainy season in order to conserve both soil and moisture. In addition, two more dams were built to hold water all year round, principally for the use by wildlife during the dry season. White-tailed deer were also introduced into the reserve. After a period of adjustment in captivity, they were released and adapted to their new habitat without difficulty.

During this initial phase, a variety of scientific and technical advisors (botanists, zoologists, geologists and so on) visited the reserve. Their observations helped greatly in assessing and conserving not only the reserve and its resources, but also those of the entire range. Nevertheless, and despite visits by state and federal officials, the conditions were not considered suitable for the entire Picachos range to be declared a protected natural area.

Over the years, a number of groups have organized visits to the reserve. These visits, although primarily focused on the appreciation of the landscape and nature, also offer a chance to see pre-Hispanic remains, such as rock paintings found in caves in the mountains.










Travel News You Can Use
By Judy Newell

The world’s largest yard sale

Bargain hunters, take note. If you’re traveling to the States soon, be sure to check out the annual Historic National Road Yard Sale from May 30 to June 3. It is 824 miles of antique furniture, glassware, knick knacks and fresh produce. 

Locals set up stalls along the National Road (US 40), which runs through Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.

Commissioned by Thomas Jefferson in 1806, the road was the first federally funded interstate highway and made territory west of the Appalachians accessible to settlers and traders. Weather-beaten stone mile markers can still be spotted in some sections of the route.

Nothing competes with the National Road’s scenery and the small-town vibe. You can find suggested itineraries and places to stay through the website www.bnbfinder.com. 

How dry I am 

Carnival Cruise Line has tightened its beverage policy and will allow guests over 21 years of age to bring only one bottle of wine or champagne on board during embarkation. Passengers will not be allowed to bring any other beverage, including water, on the ships. A Carnival spokesman said the policy change was made because too many nonalcoholic beverages were being brought on board.

Rock 'n roll cruise

The 15th Annual Concert at Sea Rock ‘n Roll Cruise will set sail on January 19, 2008. This year’s cruise is on the Costa Mediterrenea to the Eastern Caribbean. The cruise features Paul Revere and the Raiders, The Righteous Brothers’ Bill Medley, The Lovin’ Spoonful and Davy Jones of the Monkees. The onboard entertainment package is exclusive and passengers must purchase the package to attend the private concerts and other events. For more information, go to www.concertsatsea.com .

Sprint Airlines—lower fares but higher charges

Spirit Airlines announced that it would cut its fares by 10 to 40 percent across the board, including last-minute walk-up fares. Spirit is also offering 1-cent fares to and from selected destinations this month.

On the other hand, Spirit will begin charging for checked luggage this summer. Starting June 20, passengers will pay US$5 each for one or two checked bags for Web-reserved flights and US$10 each for flights reserved through other channels. The third checked bag will run US$100. There will be no fee for one carry-on bag.

On that same day, Spirit will also begin charging US$1 for soft drinks, juices, coffee and tea. And it will stop selling first-class tickets, promoting those seats on flights as “Big Front Seats” for sale at higher prices. www.spiritair.com . 

Marquis Los Cabos Resort wins tequila certification 

Marquis Los Cabos Beach, Golf, Spa & Casitas Resort has been honored with the “Distinctive T” certification from the Tequila Regulatory Council (TRC) in Mexico. To celebrate, Marquis Los Cabos hosted a worldwide launch of the new US$1,700 premium tequila Clase Azul Ultra from Tequilas Premium.

“Distinctive T” honors resorts, hotels and restaurants dedicated to promoting the quality, culture and prestige of tequila. For more information, visit www.marquisloscabos.com . 

Canada toughens entry policy

You could be unfit to enter Canada if you are “criminally inadmissible.” This applies to anyone who has been convicted of a DUI, shoplifting, driving dangerously, simple assault or anything that could be considered a misdemeanor in the US. And don’t forget those times back in the ‘60s and ‘70s when getting busted for smoking marijuana in college was a rite of passage. It could come back to haunt you.

It doesn’t matter if you have been visiting Canada over the years with no problem. It is now a problem. All this is the result of 9/11 and an agreement between the two countries.

So if you are on a cruise or tour that starts in Canada, or visits Canada, you might have problems. Insurance policies do not cover this, even a “cancel for any reason” policy won’t pay if you are denied entry. If you board a cruise in New York, for example, ending in Montreal, and you are in an “Inadmissible Class” you won’t be able to get off the ship in Canada for shore excursions.

Cruise lines will not give you a refund if you are found criminally inadmissible nor will tour operators. For more information on the infractions considered serious enough to make you “criminally inadmissible,” click on http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/applications/rehabil.html. 

Grand Canyon glass skywalk opens

Former astronaut Dr. Buzz Aldrin opened the Grand Canyon Skywalk by taking the “first steps” onto the glass Skywalk. The glass bottom bridge juts out over the Grand Canyon more than 1 km above the Colorado River. The Skywalk officially opened for the public on March 28 and visitors can now experience the Canyon from a totally new perspective. 

The horseshoe-shaped walk is a glass open-air walkway suspended 1,200 meters above the canyon’s floor and extends 21 meters from the west rim of the Grand Canyon. Engineers say the structure could safely hold the weight of 71 fully loaded 747 aircraft or the equivalent of 32,200 tons. It can sustain winds of over 160 km. an hour from eight different directions and it can withstand an 8.0 earthquake within 80 km. 

The Skywalk is about 120 miles from Las Vegas so it should become a popular day trip. Officials suggest it could be a wonderful place to hold a wedding.

Dengue Fever in Paraguay

Paraguay is experiencing an outbreak of Dengue Fever. The US Department of State has issued a Public Announcement advising Americans with plans to travel to Paraguay—especially to Asunción—to consider deferring their travel for the immediate future. There has been a growing number of cases of Dengue Fever and several fatalities. The Pan American Health Organization has said this could be a very active year for Dengue Fever in Latin America and preventative measures are strongly urged. 

Undersea tunnel to link Africa and Europe

Spain and Morocco have vowed to work together to build a tunnel under the Straight of Gibraltar to link Africa and Europe. Moroccan experts say the long-awaited 39 km rail tunnel would be among the world’s most sophisticated engineering works and would rival the Channel Tunnel. Spain has pledged to try and get support from the European Union. 

One of the major problems to building the tunnel is the seabed under the Straight of Gibraltar which is more permeable that it is around the Channel Tunnel and will require boring much deeper resulting in higher costs. 



(Sources: ARTA, Travel Weekly, Budget Travel Online)