Strange Rumblings in EPC: Local news report

I also posted this in international, thought I'd post it here too for exposure. 

If this post is too long, here's the summary: Established state politician and owner of Rancho El Sendero is attempting to squeeze or eliminate local businesses through power and influence, has effectively banned locals from the park via local ordinances, has local police in pockets, all for the benefit of his business.

All quiet on the Northern entrance. Not a single car blaring rancheros, cumbia, or corridos. Crossing the Potrero Chico park entrance we were stopped by a man in some loose government official clothing and asked if we were registered. There was a hand written sign posted to a traffic cone that read "Registration is Obligatory." This was my fourth time in El Potrero Chico and was caught off-guard by this new process. We were guided into an office where a woman was waiting for us behind a desk. She explained that there is a new policy in place. All climbers must register at the entrance for access. This registration also carried a fee, which was explained was completely donation based, of $220 pesos or USD $12. The fee, she explained, would go towards rescue efforts incase you required them. It was a one time fee that covers the entire season, January through April. Whatever was going on here, I didn't mind much. We have to pay for entrance to parks in the states so why not support the park and its rescue efforts with a small fee and also receive a commemorative bottle opener. They also now maintained clean restrooms stocked with soap, that alone is worth the cash. 

As we made our way towards Mota wall, I noticed there wasn't any local activity whatsoever. It was a Thursday afternoon, maybe it was too early for the locals to gather and surely they'd be around later in the evening. On our walk back, nothing but a lone sprinter van parked in the quiet valley. No locals with music playing through their open doors gathered around offering you a beer or practicing their english in asking you how the climb was. On the walk out, we noticed fresh signs prohibiting drinking, open containers, and loud music. After half a dozen beers with various locals it started to become clear who was behind this new policy, and all signs pointed to Rancho El Sendero. 

Rancho El Sendero, as I came to find out, is owned and operated by a powerful and influential Mexican politician. If you've stayed there you might know him as Mario. Mario Alberto Garza Castillo is the President of the State Electoral Commission in Nuevo Leon and has held this office since 2014. I thought the same thing, why the hell would a politician open what is essentially a glorified hostel for climbers in a tiny town an hour outside of one of Mexico's biggest bustling state capitals? Considering the explosion of popularity of climbing in the recent years, paired with EPCs fairly easy access and developing tourism putting it well on its way to becoming a world class climbing destination, there's hard cash money to be made. Kick out the locals, starve the businesses at the entrance, make it gringo safe and you're set. Now instead of stopping there, you're more likely to hold your thirst and hunger until you get back to Rancho El Sendero, where there's a nice warm bar and kitchen waiting to serve you. That's exactly what's happening. Those businesses at the entrance are no longer selling to locals because they don't show up anymore. Having a beer outside the business? Illegal. If the business is caught having patrons with alcohol a foot outside its doors, they get a warning. Three warnings and according to new government policy, the business is permanently shutdown. One of the businesses already had two warnings. A climber walked out with his beer while a federale passed by. Federale left the climber alone but cited the business. I urged the local businesses to band together and fight to oppose this laughable policy, but they all expressed the same uneasiness and concern. Politicians in Mexico are almost untouchable. They do what they want, own the local police, and answer to no one. 

Oh, and that unsightly, overpriced Hotel Lemuria is also in-partnership with Rancho El Sendero.

All of this is not good for the future of El Potrero Chico. The locals have always been an integral part of the experience, providing the music, food and fiesta that one comes to expect from visiting Mexico. Frank Madden, author of EPC Climbing guidebook, states in his 1st edition, "expect to see a lot of locals in the canyon enjoying their weekends with loud music, good food, and beer." This entire experience for visitors, along with the livelihood of local businesses are in danger if we don't move to protect it. Please do your research when booking accommodations and use your dollar, whether Canadian or USD, wisely. I also heard there are some new places to stay opening up on the Southern entrance, check them out.

And before I wrap this more-than-lengthy post up, I'm not letting El Buho Coffee off the hook. This coffee shop posing as a Christian climber outreach is nothing more than your classic American grift. They do not contribute to the local community whatsoever, but only perpetuate the homogenization that one is trying to escape. Local people can't afford their coffee, and their employees don't get paid. Bring your own coffee and enjoy it without the taint. 

People may have their opinions, but I tried to present the facts of the situation to the best of my ability. 

As Mexican climbing advocade.. I am happy with the new EPC regulations in order to get a regenerative and sustainable EPC for present and future generations and biodiversity conservation. Maybe local government needs to be more clearly about decision makers, local stakeholders participation process and financial statements of EPC... But Mexican climbers are really happy with the positive changes. 

This post clearly reflects the interest of return to the past status quo... Noise, garbage and messy tourism. I respect the opinion but I don't support it.

And finally.. to be aware and avoid confusion... This is the president of Comisión Estatal Electoral of Nuevo Leon. Google it Lol

Seems likes you reposted because your last post got called out for being mostly bullshit.

Paul-B wrote:

Seems likes you reposted because your last post got called out for being mostly bullshit.

This was not reposted. This was posted the same day and time as the other post.

If you look on the Rancho El Sendeor website, https://www.ranchoelsendero.com.mx/en/faqs/ under the Deposit section you will see:

Beholder: Mario Alberto Garza, and yes, that is his photo. 

Where exactly did I get called out? If you want to call me out, do it on the original thread in International, let's at least keep it all together. 

Zuleyma Rincon wrote:

As Mexican climbing advocade.. I am happy with the new EPC regulations in order to get a regenerative and sustainable EPC for present and future generations and biodiversity conservation. Maybe local government needs to be more clearly about decision makers, local stakeholders participation process and financial statements of EPC... But Mexican climbers are really happy with the positive changes. 

This post clearly reflects the interest of return to the past status quo... Noise, garbage and messy tourism. I respect the opinion but I don't support it.

And finally.. to be aware and avoid confusion... This is the president of Comisión Estatal Electoral of Nuevo Leon. Google it Lol

Some people will be happy with those changes, and I won’t deny it can use some organizing, but not like this. Keep it local. I respect your opinion as well, and as I state in my original post, people will have opinions and that’s completely fine.

I’m not sure if you posted that photo because you weren’t aware, but yeah, that is him. Although those photos are a bit older. If you’ve stayed in Rancho El Sendero, you’ve definitely seen him.

There’s a bigger discussion on International if you’d like to share your opinion and information there. 

Randy Zzyzx wrote:

There’s a bigger discussion on International if you’d like to share your opinion and information there. 

Yes, I recommend anyone reading this and considering anything he says to be factual go over to the thread on the international forum to read numerous posts from locals systematically debunking the BS this troll is spreading.

It sure seems like the OP is rather uniformed about this topic.