We left the town of Creel about 9 am and headed to the Canyon, Divisadero. About 11 am we got our first glimpse of the Copper Canyon. Our tour guide was here, having driven up in a bus, to take us on a tour of the area and to visit interesting sites and explain the area history. The Canyon is formed from volcanoes and earthquakes, millions upon millions of years ago. This area is home to the many Tarahumara Indians. The woman carry their baskets and woven scarfs up from the canyon floor to sell to the tourists.
The baskets are made from grasses found in the region. Their method of weaving is unique and much sort after by museums. At the canyon floor you will find an almost tropic climate and this is where they spend their winters eating the mangoes and avocados and citrus fruits found there. The men do the wood carvings although we have yet to see an Indian man. They are very shy and tend to stay away letting the woman do all the selling, and the work.
The children learn at a very early age how to beg. They are all over trying to sell the baskets that their mothers have made and have even learned how to make a "photo" opt. This little girl made a haul when she walked over to our group with a baby goat in her arms and posed for pictures. Everyone gave her some pesos and she was very happy.
The area has well adapted itself for tourism, this is an airfield on the top of the Canyon rim for small craft to fly in rich tourists. The train runs two passenger trains, one for tourists and one for the Mexicans. You can guess how different they look as the Mexicans are know to even bring along livestock.
We crossed the Continental Divide, again, and reached the highest point on the line, altitude 8,071 feet.
