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GPS, Mountains, MTBing, Photos, Uncategorized

Climbing The Wall – Part II

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This post is a companion to the earlier entry of 10 October describing the brutal climb to the top of the ridge just west of Jalapa del Valle. There is a newly-paved road winding up the long, steep mountainside leading to Santiago Tlazoyaltepec. Getting to the top is a real challenge, even for riders with strong legs and powerful lungs. Two adventurous cyclists did the climb of 1087.5 meters (3568 feet) over 28.3 kilometers (17.6 miles) in 3 hours, 20 minutes, having first used a shuttle to get from Oaxaca to Jalapa del Valle. Jalapa sits at an elevation of 1721 meters (5645 feet), while the road hits a high point of 2808 meters (9213 feet). The brake-burning descent, by comparison, took just 28 minutes, after which the riders enjoyed a well-deserved lunch at the rustic but competent Comedor Campestre in the center of Jalapa. (Suggestion: try the wonderful shrimp platter for just 150 pesos.)

The new pavement on the road to Tlazayotepec gives a smooth ride but is still a formidable climb.
A memorial marker along the way.
Was Noe, perhaps, a cyclist who succumbed on the long haul up the mountain?
The turnoff to El Portezuelo, a tiny village near the top of the mountain.
A pet parrot enlivens lunch at the rustic comedor in Jalapa del Valle.

Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos, Uncategorized

Fiesta de Carrizo in Santa Cruz Papalutla

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The rural village of Santa Cruz Papalutla, situated near the center of the Tlacolula Valley, often sees mountain bikers pass through but rarely stop there. Today was an exception, as the townspeople held a festival celebrating the weaving of hats, baskets and other items from straw and carrizo (a form of bamboo which looks like sugar cane). The main street was cordoned off and covered with tents, beneath which artisans displayed their wares and ladies served fresh-made local foods. The eight cyclists on today’s ride stopped there for a tasty brunch before pedaling on to San Juan Teitipac and then circling back to Oaxaca city. The map below shows the route followed, which entailed pedaling 59.5 kilometers (37.0 miles) with an elevation gain and loss of 303.6 meters (996 feet) on the circuit.

Rendezvous at Santo Doming for the weekly Sunday ride.
On the bike path to Santa Maria el Tule.
Arrived at Papalutla for the Fiesta de Carrizo.
Andrew trades his old bike helmet for a woven one.
Local women serving up delicious treats.
Continuing the ride.

Countryside, MTBing, Photos, Uncategorized

Back To Jalapa del Valle

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Sunday, 8 October 2023, dawned bright and crisp, holding the promise of being a great day for a mountain bike ride. Six of the usual suspects showed up at the plaza in front of Santo Domingo church at 8 am to begin a 70.8 kilometer (44 mile) round trip excursion to Jalapa del Valle. There are four different routes to choose from to accomplish this ride, ranging from easy to very difficult. Today’s riders chose the easy way, which is a few miles longer but avoids any serious hill climbs. Pedaling at a leisurely pace, the gang reached their destination at the three-hour mark and settled in for a nice brunch at the Rio Jalapilla restaurant a few miles upvalley from Jalapa. There were no surprises – either good or bad – to mark the day’s outing. All in all, a very pleasant trip!

Manuel was the instigator and leader for today’s ride in the country.
Very little vehicular traffic on Oaxaca streets on a Sunday morning.
Out in the countryside for most of today’s excursion.
A woman selling flowers and fruit at a rural intersection.
Pedaling merrily along.
We encountered dozens of other mountain bikers riding in the hills on this bright Sunday morning.
Our very own cookie monsters.
The valley of the Jalapilla River is lined with farm fields.
On the bridge over the stream leading to a country restaurant.
Cranking up one of many moderate inclines.

GPS, Mountains, MTBing, Uncategorized

Climbing The Wall

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The rural village of Jalapa del Valle, situated in the valley of the Rio Jalapilla some 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) west of Oaxaca city, is a favorite destination for many a solo or group bike ride. Few cyclists, though, climb the steep, rocky and eroded logging road that runs from Jalapa to the top of the mountain ridge demarcating the edge of the Valley of Oaxaca. That is what this post is about. The map below shows the trail one way from the center of Jalapa to almost the top of that ridge, so the round trip distance comes to 15.7 kilometers (9.8 miles). The elevation gain and loss remains at 648 meters (2127 feet). This is a serious and unrelenting uphill challenge, made more difficult by the poor condition of the road, which is strewn with loose rubble and gouged by erosion. Going back down – though much faster than the climb – is no picnic, either. The gradient varies between 12% and 16% much of the way, so your brakes get a good workout, as does your ability to pick a good line through the many water channels cut across the trail. The dedicated cyclist who ventures this way has the option of riding the entire distance from Oaxaca or using a shuttle to start the ride in Jalapa del Valle.

The dirt road leading west from Jalapa del Valle to the top of the ridge five miles distant.
Herding a flock of sheep and cattle up the valley.
The view from the ridgetop looking east over the Valley of Oaxaca.

Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos, Uncategorized

Danzante of Zimatlan (Again!)

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Our Sunday ride group tries to go in a different direction each week. Even so, there are only so many directions and a limited number of routes and trails. Consequently it is inevitable that often rides duplicate some that have gone before. So it was this bright Sunday in late September. Five cyclists showed up at the appointed time and place, eager to get out into the countryside and away from the city. Our destination: the statue of the Danzante near Zimatlan. Normally September is the wettest month of the rainy season, which historically begins in June and runs through October. This year, however, regular and heavy rains commenced in early April and thus far September has been dry. That anomaly may be a result of climate change. In any case it is a concern for local farmers, whose fields of corn are drying out too early for harvest. As for our bikers, the sunshine was welcome and it was nice to ride country roads not mired in mud and to cross creeks which carried little water. Weather aside, the gang enjoyed the outing, which covered 58.4 kilometers (36.3 miles) with a modest 191 meters (627 feet) of elevation gain and loss. Time on the road was an even five hours, counting time spent at the mercado gastronomico in Zaachila on the final leg of the day’s ride.

The bronze colored statue of the Danzante is imposing for size, but . . .
. . . it fails to capture the color and action of the actual Danza de la Pluma.
Are you sure this is the way?
The danza costumes are wondrously colorful, but I would not want to ride a bike
with a headdress and leggings like these . . .
. . . when bushwhacking through a cane field, as happened on today’s outing.
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