Pilgrimage to Talpa, Jal. Day 2

After a good night's sleep due to pure exhaustion from the day before and 7:30 am departure, we started our second day of riding to Talpa. I was fully expecting to wake up and be in pain still from the day before of 10 hours of riding. I woke up full of energy and no aches or pains anywhere. I was excited to get back on the trail.

After packing camp up, feeding the horses and tacking up we had enough time for a quick bite to eat and a coffee before hitting the trail.

Heading into the mountains.

Photo Credit: V.Gray

Enjoying the sunshine

We were off of course nothing ever goes smoothly, Napo lost his phone somewhere between camp and the start of the trail. Luckily it was not that large of an area to look at so Napo, Triny and his daughter Emily went back and looked for it. They caught up with us half way up the trail. 

Photo Credit: R.Cowie

Taking in the view at the half way point.

The group left at different times, some cowboys left earlier or a bit later than we did. Which worked out well throughout the day, as we ended up riding with a couple different cowboys throughout the day. 

Riding through the memorials to the peak.

Photo Credit: V.Gray

As we rode up the mountain the scenery changed and closer to the top we got the more memorials we found along the trail. We stopped at the top for a quick rest before heading down the mountain towards the Devil's Back Pass. 

Photo Credit: V.Gray

At this point in the trip all the cowboys were now talking and joking with us. As we came to the starting point of the Devils Back Pass, we stopped at a small church to water the horse then rang the bell to signal our start of the pass. 

Taking a break on the Devil's Back Pass.

Photo Credit: R.Cowie

A minor piece of information was not shared with us until AFTER we had rang the bell. At this point we were riding with Enrique and a few other cowboys.We found out the tradition is, however many times you ring the bell is how many more times you have to return to do this pilgrimage. Ryan one, myself three.

Only up from here.

Photo Credit: V.Gray

The Devil’s Back Pass this part of the ride is not for the faint of heart. This was a very challenging part of the ride and if you don’t know what you’re doing this could very quickly become a very dangerous part. This section is straight up the mountain on a very flat slippery rock face with cliff edges matching the incline up. 

The trail down after the Devil's Back Pass.

Photo Credit: V.Gray

We took our time with this section, going one at a time paying attention to where we were going and stopping at different points allowing the horses to take a break. We had to pay a lot of attention to where our horses were going and direct them safely. At one point going up the trail, I was following Ryan and his mare decided she was going to try and turn around half way up on the very flat smooth rock face. Ryan quickly corrected her, turning her back up the mountain but this was one of those situations that could have turned out very very badly for everyone. 

Triny & I taking in the views.

When we finally reached the top, we took a long winding route down. This was a lot easier  than the ride up. Once we were done we crossed the highway and road through a different scenic area, through a dessert-like section of the ride.

Photo Credit: R.Cowie

Riding through the woods between the mountains.

This was a nice change after the nerve wrecking challenge of the Devil’s Back Pass walking through some wide open spaces and then more wooden. The landscape changes were very diverse and drastic.

Photo Credit: R.Cowie

We paused for lunch, allowing everyone to enjoy a well-earned break. Post-lunch, we were just 2.5 hours away from our planned camping spot for the night. We rode leisurely through several small villages, traversed some farm fields, and then took a break by a river. 

Taking the horses swimming in the river.

Photo Credit: V.Gray

We took our break at the river for the afternoon, removing our saddles and letting the horses get a good rest in. Then Napo, Ryan and Paul took the horses through the river swimming to cool off from the afternoon sun. Everyone else laid by the river enjoying the afternoon heat in the shade with snacks, beverages and quick little siesta.

Ryan & Napo swimming with the horses.

Photo Credit: V.Gray

We took our time and hung out at the river, we were only a half an hour from where we were camping for the night. When we rode into the town where we were camping, the group got separated. Half of the group was on one side of the highway with other riders and horses and the other half was in a field. 

The end of the day.

Photo Credit: V.Gray

We decided to all move to the field as we were the only ones in the field. We had more room to spread out the horses and it would be a quieter place to camp for the night. We had the opportunity to shower, have a good meal and just hang out with everyone. We ended up staying up and having a campfire with some of the guys and listening to their stories and jokes.

Our campsite for the night.

Photo Credit: V.Gray

We weren’t leaving until 9 or 10 the next morning as we were only 3 hours out of Talpa, our end destination.  Nothing could have prepared us for what we rode into in Talpa. 

Cheers!

***Please note that all opinions and views expressed in this post are my own, from my own experiences. If you would like to see more pictures follow me on Instagram @vikki.gray  ***