Mexico - Butterfly Migration Feb '13

Craneguy · 11-26-2012, 12:15 PM

A few of us are planning a trip in February 2013 (duration unknown, 3 to 5 days probably) to see the millions of migrating Monarch butterflies in Michoacán. (between Guadalajara and Queretaro)

If anyone's interested in coming along, post here and I'll keep you up to date. It's supposed to be quite a sight.

http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/1...michoac%C3%A1n

jimmex · 11-26-2012, 05:02 PM

I'd love to do that; those are some of my favorite little creatures. They come through our ranch on the way down. Some years you can look up and see thousands of them as far up as the eye can see.

kantuckid · 11-27-2012, 07:36 AM

I can suggest a hotel there-I need to look it up. Several there are pricey & not as nice as the price either & also full of bus groups but this one is newer & good restaurant too. Stay posted. The "hike" up is a cool one so have a jacket. Maybe a mile or two from where you park. Typically commercialized "Mexican style" for the part of the walk that's private land then in the high altitude firs from there. Rangers are up there to insure it's quiet & not people bothering the Monarchs. I'd allow a ~1/2 day to go up. Also a nice area to look for narco types-LOL!

It's one of their main locales there in Michoacan but also friendly locals that will treat you right. Don't go to the hotel on S.Bakkers list in town as the old grouch that runs it may bite you-I found him on his bad day & he same as ran me off for just for asking about a room!
If you haven't read about them- they are very endangered as the milkweed plant here in USA that they need for their life cycle is less available due to roadside spraying & various other activities,pesticides/ herbicide use that encroach on them,so less Monarchs every year. See them while you can I suppose...

Craneguy · 11-27-2012, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kantuckid

I can suggest a hotel there-I need to look it up. Several there are pricey & not as nice as the price either & also full of bus groups but this one is newer & good restaurant too. Stay posted. The "hike" up is a cool one so have a jacket. Maybe a mile or two from where you park. Typically commercialized "Mexican style" for the part of the walk that's private land then in the high altitude firs from there. Rangers are up there to insure it's quiet & not people bothering the Monarchs. I'd allow a ~1/2 day to go up. Also a nice area to look for narco types-LOL!

It's one of their main locales there in Michoacan but also friendly locals that will treat you right. Don't go to the hotel on S.Bakkers list in town as the old grouch that runs it may bite you-I found him on his bad day & he same as ran me off for just for asking about a room!
If you haven't read about them- they are very endangered as the milkweed plant here in USA that they need for their life cycle is less available due to roadside spraying & various other activities,pesticides/ herbicide use that encroach on them,so less Monarchs every year. See them while you can I suppose...

Good information, thanks!

mark883 · 11-27-2012, 11:12 AM

I'd love to come down there if my schedule permits. I wanna see those things.

Craneguy · 11-27-2012, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark883

I'd love to come down there if my schedule permits. I wanna see those things.

I'm only going so I can add to the extensive collection of exotic fauna that's welded to the front of my bike and riding gear.

David Attenborough could do a whole series based on the creatures stuck to the front of my bike.

Planet Vstrom?

MikeMike · 11-28-2012, 04:37 AM

It's been cancelled this year. The undocumented air travelers are now on the "no fly" list of US Homeland Security.
Someone had to put a stop to the inherent danger of a "butterfly jihad".

Don't believe me, do you?

Well, look at how those Canadian geese put old Captain Sully to the test on the Hudson!

They lurk among us and only fear some 00 buckshot and a drunk hunter or two. Maybe Dick Cheney?

Public Enemy #1

Ringleader of Al QuackQuack

kantuckid · 11-28-2012, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark883

I'd love to come down there if my schedule permits. I wanna see those things.

The basic scene is high alt. mature fir forest with jillions of monarchs hanging from the limbs above you with wings folded and they are jittering as if they are also as cold as you are. Picture a misty fog swirling and about 45/50 deg farenheit temps. Actually not so colorful as the backside of the wings is more subdued & then you have the rangers there to protect them by making sure you don't talk too loud or do some other stupid thing I guess such as throw something,whatever. The pathway up is at first private & "highly entrepreneurial" what with food,baskets,all the regular stuff. I did see some very nicely crafted pine needle baskets there. They are much like the ones still found in SE USA(my wife has been collecting baskets until recently had enough for ever & a day...) & I bought a nice tortilla basket there with lid. Lots of "guides" that you don't need too as all thats involved is walking upwards until you reach the top-which is fine for anyone that has "normal" fitness but obviously not a heart attack prone person. The village below will charge you to gain access then the parking lot will get theirs & then the actual govmt. will sell you a ticket where the trail starts. The same area has lots of greenhouses in the valleys where they raise poinsettas for the wholesale trade. And of course something else thats profitable- nearby.
It might be worth surfing the net a bit before you go to determine which other spots give you access to the monarchs but I suspect that Mexicans have found a way to glean some cash out of that spot too.

Craneguy · 11-28-2012, 06:23 AM

There's supposed to be several places to see them. It's more about the ride for me.
We are suspicious of anyone with a "destination" It's not the ADV way! ;)

I might have my family meet me there. The kids will get a kick out of it and my wife also has a basket addiction :)

Craneguy · 11-28-2012, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeMike

Ringleader of Al QuackQuack

Is that where the phrase "duck and cover" comes from?

Now if we could strap 0.001 grams of "product" to each one for the return trip... hmmm?

gring0loc0 · 11-28-2012, 10:31 AM

Is the trip you're planning going to be from Cuernavaca to Michoacan? If so, I'm in!

Craneguy · 11-28-2012, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gring0loc0

Is the trip you're planning going to be from Cuernavaca to Michoacan? If so, I'm in!

That's the plan. So far it's two of us from Cuerna and MikeMike from Vera Cruz (but he doesn't know it yet) :-D

MikeMike · 11-29-2012, 06:28 PM

Well I guess I do now!

Craneguy · 11-29-2012, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeMike

Well I guess I do now!

Oh hi Mike! So, are you in? I'm sort of hijacking Doug's plan. You know how he feels about group rides! :)

MikeMike · 11-30-2012, 10:03 AM

Will there be: dirt roads, gravel roads, naked women, cold beer, along with the butterfly migration?

Or will it be cuotas, cussing, cursing, carsick kiddies (yours and mine), and a visit to Liverpool or Palacio de Hierro, followed by sushi, siestas, and the butterflies?

We are men, manly men, we are our own men, and we have choices.
We can do this either way. Well, sort of, if our wives let us!

11-26-2012, 05:02 PM	#2
jimmex Guero from SanAngelo Joined: Jan 2003 Location: West Texas Oddometer: 1,432	I'd love to do that; those are some of my favorite little creatures. They come through our ranch on the way down. Some years you can look up and see thousands of them as far up as the eye can see. __________________ Guero from San Angelo

11-28-2012, 06:23 AM	#9
Craneguy ^OP British Hooligan Joined: Apr 2011 Location: Cuernavaca, Mexico Oddometer: 903	There's supposed to be several places to see them. It's more about the ride for me. We are suspicious of anyone with a "destination" It's not the ADV way! ;) I might have my family meet me there. The kids will get a kick out of it and my wife also has a basket addiction :) __________________ *“The problem with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and putting things in it.”*

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11-26-2012, 12:15 PM	#1
Craneguy ^OP British Hooligan Joined: Apr 2011 Location: Cuernavaca, Mexico Oddometer: 903	Mexico - Butterfly Migration Feb '13 A few of us are planning a trip in February 2013 (duration unknown, 3 to 5 days probably) to see the millions of migrating Monarch butterflies in Michoacán. (between Guadalajara and Queretaro) If anyone's interested in coming along, post here and I'll keep you up to date. It's supposed to be quite a sight. http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/1...michoac%C3%A1n __________________ *“The problem with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and putting things in it.”* Craneguy screwed with this post 11-26-2012 at 12:23 PM

11-27-2012, 07:36 AM	#3
kantuckid Beastly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2007 Location: Kentucky-Eastern that is! Oddometer: 1,661	I can suggest a hotel there-I need to look it up. Several there are pricey & not as nice as the price either & also full of bus groups but this one is newer & good restaurant too. Stay posted. The "hike" up is a cool one so have a jacket. Maybe a mile or two from where you park. Typically commercialized "Mexican style" for the part of the walk that's private land then in the high altitude firs from there. Rangers are up there to insure it's quiet & not people bothering the Monarchs. I'd allow a ~1/2 day to go up. Also a nice area to look for narco types-LOL! It's one of their main locales there in Michoacan but also friendly locals that will treat you right. Don't go to the hotel on S.Bakkers list in town as the old grouch that runs it may bite you-I found him on his bad day & he same as ran me off for just for asking about a room! If you haven't read about them- they are very endangered as the milkweed plant here in USA that they need for their life cycle is less available due to roadside spraying & various other activities,pesticides/ herbicide use that encroach on them,so less Monarchs every year. See them while you can I suppose...

11-27-2012, 11:12 AM	#5
mark883 Holding up Michoagán Joined: Feb 2007 Location: Buckeyeland Oddometer: 1,390	I'd love to come down there if my schedule permits. I wanna see those things.

11-28-2012, 04:37 AM	#7
MikeMike Beastly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2009 Location: South east Mexico Oddometer: 2,407	It's been cancelled this year. The undocumented air travelers are now on the "no fly" list of US Homeland Security. Someone had to put a stop to the inherent danger of a "butterfly jihad". Don't believe me, do you? Well, look at how those Canadian geese put old Captain Sully to the test on the Hudson! They lurk among us and only fear some 00 buckshot and a drunk hunter or two. Maybe Dick Cheney? Public Enemy #1 Ringleader of Al QuackQuack

11-28-2012, 10:31 AM	#11
gring0loc0 lane splitter Joined: Oct 2012 Location: Mexico City Oddometer: 28	Is the trip you're planning going to be from Cuernavaca to Michoacan? If so, I'm in!

11-29-2012, 06:28 PM	#13
MikeMike Beastly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2009 Location: South east Mexico Oddometer: 2,407	Well I guess I do now!

11-30-2012, 10:03 AM	#15
MikeMike Beastly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2009 Location: South east Mexico Oddometer: 2,407	Will there be: dirt roads, gravel roads, naked women, cold beer, along with the butterfly migration? Or will it be cuotas, cussing, cursing, carsick kiddies (yours and mine), and a visit to Liverpool or Palacio de Hierro, followed by sushi, siestas, and the butterflies? We are men, manly men, we are our own men, and we have choices. We can do this either way. Well, sort of, if our wives let us!