La Huasteca & Rompe Picos

Is this the way to Rompe Picos?

Provided it isn't raining - yes. Just so you understand - there is a river that runs through Monterrey, I say river but i actually haven't ever seen any water in it, but it is there and historically when it did eventually rain the river would suddenly have an awful lot of water in it and all in a bit of a hurry, this tragically would lead to the drowning of a lot of the good citizens of Monterrey, many of whom work and live on the normally dry river banks. The Solution? Rompe Picos (The Peak Breaker). its effectively a dam designed to control the flow of water down the river to Monterrey - keeping it within manageable limits and so far it has worked.

The drive to the dam itself is one of the most interesting and spectacular you will find as it involves driving up the dry river bed through the valley between the mountains, there are traces of what used to be a road but it has largely been washed away by the river so 90% of the journey is spent driving on the actual river bed itself. Obviously the trip is only possible in the dry season (Why obviously? its a river bed - think about it) 4 wheel drive is advisable but as we discovered this area is a very popular weekend excursion for the local families of Monterrey who will make their way up here in pretty much anything (It must be the promise of maybe finding some water that drives them)

The First Area you drive through is known as La Huasteca and features some of the most spectacular mountains and rock faces

The entrance to La Huasteca leading on to Rompe PicosThe sheer blade like mountains of La HuastecaIn this area in particular caves in the mountainside inspire stories about a bird man who lives thereRompe picosThe canyon where Rompe Picos was builtA lot of the mountains and canyon sides are pretty shearA lot of the mountains and canyon sides are pretty shearThe drive up the river bedThe drive up the river bedA lot of the mountains and canyon sides are pretty shearThe drive up the river bedThe drive up the river bedNumber 37 bus anyone? don't remember seeing any bus stopsView from the river bedView from the river bedRompe picosThe drive up the river bedThe mountain walls that channel the river to Monterrey (when it rains enough )The drive up the river bedA lot of the mountains and canyon sides are pretty shearLike i said the locals make there way up here with whatever they canGrab shelter where you canA lot of the mountains and canyon sides are pretty shearA bend in the riverWild donkeys - it is Mexico after allThe drive up the river bedThe drive up the river bedThe drive up the river bedView of the canyonRompe Picos

La Huasteca in its full glory, at night when there is a full moon - the moonlight shines on the white rock and illuminates it spectacularly