GPS, Mountains, MTBing, Photos

Magdalena / Catalina Mixtepec Loop

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If you are looking for a high-country ride to enjoy mountain scenery and escape the heat of the Oaxaca valley, this loop through Magdalena Mixtepec and Santa Catalina Mixtepec may be just the ticket. These two small villages are tucked into steep mountain valleys about midway between Zaachila and San Miguel Peras. A shuttle takes bikes and riders to the intersection where the unpaved road to Magdalena branches off from the paved road between Santa Inez del Monte and San Miguel. The shuttle drive takes 90 minutes each way from Oaxaca. The ride itself utilizes a combination of paved and dirt roads and covers a distance of 35.4 km (22.0 miles), with an elevation gain and loss of 1094 meters (3590 feet). The various roads generally have a gradient of between 8% and 12% – not too strenuous until you reckon the uphill segments run for miles at a time. The highest point on the route is 2822 meters (9258 feet) and the lowest spot registers 1841 meters (6041 feet). Expect to spend about 4.5 hours completing the loop.

The four dedicated cyclists on today’s mountain adventure.
Biking buddies.
Riding an ebike makes the hill climbs easy!
If you look closely you can see Magdalena Mixtepec far down the valley to the left.
Santa Catalina Mixtepec resides in a different mountain valley.
A child’s birthday party was in progress at the municipal building in Santa Catalina.
Road signs along the way point out miradors and cascadas.

Countryside, GPS, MTBing

San Antonio Buena Vista

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This small village nestled in a quiet corner of the Tlocolula valley is completely unpretentious and seldom seen – except by mountain bikers looking for some out-of-the-way place to visit on a pleasant ride from Oaxaca city. The route to and from may vary slightly from time to time, and in any case is quite similar to other ventures into this part of the Central Valley of Oaxaca. The figures for today’s excursion are: 63.9 km (39.7 miles) traveled, with 319 meters (1048 feet) of elevation gain and loss.

Countryside, GPS, MTBing

Jalapa Lollipop

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A pleasant, moderate ride through the rolling hills of the western Etla valley to Jalapa del Valle and back, passing through San Andres Ixtlahuaca both going and coming. Distance traveled amounted to 48.4 km (30.7 miles), with an elevation gain and loss of 724 meters (2376 feet) along the way. Elapsed time was almost exactly three hours.

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GPS, Mountains, MTBing, Photos

Spanish Mining Haciendas

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The Spanish mined the hills and valleys around the Papaloapam River for silver and gold from the 1600 through the 1800’s. There were two significant ore processing haciendas not far from Amatlan and Lachatao, serving a rabbit warren of small mine tunnels in the area. Most of the extensive structures have fallen into ruin, leaving just foundations and a few walls to bear witness to a once-thriving industry. The remains of a couple of large stone aqueducts and their attendant water wheels still stand sentinel over the site. These make for a provocative stop on a 19.3 km (12.0 mile) loop ride on unpaved roads and a single track trail along the stream joining the two haciendas. Though the loop is relatively short, the hill climbs are rather intense (545 meters / 1789 feet), so strong biking ability is required. As an added bonus, there is a charming trout restaurant nearby which can be used as a staging area and a place for a delicious lunch at the conclusion of the ride.

Unpaved roads wind through the mountains around Amatlan and Lachatao.
Spanish moss drips from trees.
Merrily we roll along.
The centerpiece of today’s ride is the single track trail linking the mining haciendas.
The trail is little used and not maintained, so obstacles are commonplace.
Centuries old stone bridges cross the stream.
Pedaling past the ruins of some buildings.
A friendly burro was our welcoming committee at the Cinco Señores hacienda.
A trout restaurant on the river was the start and end point of today’s ride.

Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos

Sunday Fiestas

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Cyclists who take part in our regular Sunday excursions are looking for exercise and some good comaraderie. The exercise comes from the rides, which are mostly of moderate difficulty and cover between 32 and 64 kilometers (20 to 40 miles). The socializing happens on the trail and when the group stops for brunch along the way. With this latter in mind, the route on any given Sunday will likely visit a village which is holding a fiesta that day. There is almost always a town somewhere in the Valles Centrales celebrating a patron’s feast or marking some similar occasion. So it was Santo Domingto Tomaltepec sponsoring a mountain bike race and community celebration this last day in March, which also happened to be Easter Sunday. The streets around the zocalo were tented over, with vendors displaying all sorts of merchandise and multiple stalls selling street food. A brass band and a parade added to the festivities. All of which added spice to the day’s bike adventure.

Bikers – but no Easter bunnies – on the trail today.
There are five reservoirs along the Mil Rios trail,
but none had a drop of water on account of severe drought.
A contestant crosses the finish line in today’s mountain bike race in Santo Domingo Tomaltepec.
Cyclists mingle among the display tents set up in the zocalo.
A colenda added to the festive nature of the occasion.
Streets around the town square were tented over and lined with merchandise.
Women of the village were busy fixing all sorts of good things to eat.
A wheelbarrow pressed into service as a comal to cook tortillas.
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