Reserva Huitepec

This is a hike I found on Wikiloc, but it mostly ignores the domain of Reserva Huitepec and is following minor paths that are sometimes very steep, both upwards and downwards. Although the number of altitudemeters doesn't seem very spectacular this is a route that should not be underestimated. On the other hand you get an unparalleled jungle feeling near a major city. And there was also that time I got lost and had to backtrack in order to find the correct way...

This route is basically an ascent and descent of the Cerro Huitepec, the highest peak near San Cristobal. It starts with a clear path, but not for very long. After a kilometer the path becomes narrow, muddy and sometimes quite steep. This can sometimes pose a challenge to continue your climb. After more than two kilometers it's a bit of a weird location to see a small cemetary popping up. I used it for taking a break as the climb upwards is more exausting than I initially thought, especially given the warm climate.

Little did I know that the paths become more narrow and steep from here on and I even have to use my hands and feet to climb these paths. Moreover, sometimes the edge of the mountain is very near so this hike is not meant for the faint of hearth. I stop a couple of times to take a break as the slope of the climb is demanding, certainly in combination with the very narrow dirt paths. When I near the top of the peak the gradient becomes less challenging.

I thought the descent would be a lot easier, but I was wrong again. At first, the descent seemed pretty normal, but then it became so steep I just sat on my behind and slided down the mountain with the aid of the many leaves. It sounds ridiculous - because it actually is - but it was without a doubt the safest option to get down. Around kilometer six I got totally lost and I had to backtrack in order to find my way.

Earlier I stepped over barbed wire and I don't think this part is really meant for hiking. I did it anyway and that was probably not a good idea. Most of these paths are covered with greenery and are not so easy to find. With the aid of my satellite navigation I found my way, but I must admit this was a pretty intense and tense moment. You can imagine how relieved I was when I heard other hikers. The last kilometer was more a formality and the local people couldn't suppress a smile when they saw that sweaty, weird looking gringo coming out of the bushes.

This hike was way more adventurous then I would have liked. The first part is demanding, but actually quite nice to do if you don't mind the steep, narrow paths and balancing around the ridges of this mountain. It's actually the descent that doesn't make any sense and should be avoided. Be it due to the very steep descent or the "forbidden" part with the narrow paths when I stepped over the barbed wire. I can't imagine someone would do this voluntarily.