Ethan provided the trip reports for the first 3 days of the trip with Bob and Roger before I arrived. Here is his report.
We had a 6am flight out of Philadelphia. This meant getting up at 3:00am arriving at the airport at 4:00am. Check in, check the bags.... I had a bad feeling - it was the last I would see of them. Everything we needed was in those bags. Tents, sleeping bags, gear, food. Oh well, certainly couldn't take it on board with us.
Bob and I met Roger at the airport. Things were pretty quiet there at 4:00am. The concourse gates didn't open till 5:00am. A long line was forming to go through security. We got in line.
The flight to Houston was uneventful. We met a young couple named Rob and Lisa. We didn't know it, but they were climbers headed to Potrero - can you believe it!!!??? Arrived on time in Houston, transferred planes, on to Monterrey, Mexico. This is when we realized that Rob and Lisa were not only going to Mexico but were climbers as well. Arrived in Monterrey. Blew thru customs, 30 seconds maybe... got to the luggage carousel... I couldn't believe it! Our bags had beat us there and they were all accounted for!
Our cab was waiting for us as arranged. Had a hell of a time getting all the gear and 4 men into a little Dodge Neon. Bob and Rog had to ride all squished up with luggage in the back seat. Me...I hopped up front! When you see the 3000 foot cliffs of Potrero De Chico, for the first time, even from 20 miles away, there is no doubt, you have arrived. They stick up vertically among the towering peaks of The Sierra Madre Mountains. Huge fins, breathtaking beauty - words and photos cannot describe these cliffs. You just have to go there.
The taxi deposited us and our 300 pounds of gear in front of Rancho Cerro Gordo. Tomas came out to greet us. Showed us our sites. Very nice campground. We hauled all that gear down and set up shop. Quickly!
We wanted to sample all that rock!!!! OH MY GOD!!!! The view of the cliff even from a mile away at the campground, was........AWESOME. We caught a ride with Tomas up to the canyon ASAP. Almost all the climbing is in a canyon to the west of the huge cliffs.
We had no clue as to what was what but Tomas pointed us to the Super Mini Wall. We figured we get a feel for the rock on some easy moderates. Our first climb was "Hey Buddy You Gonna Eat That" a 5.8 one pitch. Next up was "Left Over Man" a 5.9. And after that "Cerveza" a 5.10. Pretty good. All that travel and climbing....all on the same day!
We went back to camp, then hoofed it up to Checo's for dinner just around dark. When we got to Checo's, the local resturant, and walked inside - I was not the least bit suprised to see many of our Gunks friends. Yep....there was Jim....and Johnny....and Paul. We didn't know they were in Mexico and they didn't know we were coming. Along with our friends who flew down with us, Rob and Lisa... well it was a Gunks South Reunion - right there in sunny Mexico. But that wasn't all... Paul (a Gunks guide) had two clients - and you guessed it! They were Gunks climbers too!!!. From the same part of New Jersey as Bob, Roger and I. I quickly dubbed them... "The Jerzey Girlz". What great people...having the time of their lives! Oh this was going to be a unforgettable trip, myself, my close friends AND all these other friends down here as well. Life is good!
Sunday. It seemed no one started early in these parts. We kinda lounged around. Roger slept for 12 hours. We had some breakfast. Eventually we hiked up to the canyon, about a mile hike from our campground.
We had decided to hit The Mota Wall today. There were a couple of multi pitch routes on this wall but we were going to stick to the one pitch routes this day. I led "Emilios Posse" a 5.9. Roger and Bob then led it or TR'ed, I forget. Next we moved over to "Caguama Queen". I think Bob led this one, then I pulled the rope and led it as well. Another 5.9. We were getting the feel for the ratings as well as the rock so Bob led a 5.11a called Monkey Boy. Roger and I toproped this. Bob was goin' strong! So he led another 5.11a "Motavation". Roger toproped it as did I. I called it a day at this point. Roger and Bob did a couple more one pitch climbs.