Lyle VanNorman is a resident immigrant of Mexico and has almost forty years experience in traveling the back roads of Mexico. Growing up on the border in San Diego he first enjoyed Mexico with his parents, camping with Boy Scouts, and then on his own. His construction firm in California employed many Mexicans over the years. He has had the opportunity to visit their homes in Mexico for traditional family gatherings, holidays, and fiestas. Lyle's vast experience gives him a unique insite into the real Mexico he will share with each and every one of you.

Based in Creel (pronounced "crēl"), a frontier logging village in the State of Chihuahua, at an altitude of almost 8,000 feet, this city is in the center of the Sierra Madre's and was chosen as our base of operation because of it's mild climate 40 - 70 F and it's central location to all points of interest in the region. It is served by bus from El Paso, Texas passing to Ciudad Juarez on the Mexican side of the border through Chihuahua, Chihuahua. Creel can also be reached by train from Chihuahua or Topolobampo near Los Mochis, on the shore of the Sea of Cortés. The general area called the Sierra Madre is located in what is known locally as Barranca del Cobre (Copper Canyon). It is a series of interconnecting canyons that make up a unique pictorial area of fabulous panoramas, and spectacular valleys seeming to go on forever. Mountains climb to over 12,000 feet and rivers flow most agressivaly after the summer rains. The entire canyon complex is almost four times larger and 280 feet deeper than the grand canyon in the United States.

Creel is the next to the last train stop for the west bound trains prior to crossing the eastbound train at El Divisadero. The view from this point has been compared by many to the view from the south rim of the U.S. Grand Canyon. At this point most tourists get their only glimpse of one of many spectacular panoramas of the Copper Canyon.

The Chihuahua-Pacifico Railway is an engineering marvel of approximately 415 miles. It begins at the Sea of Cortés at an elevantion of 250 feet climbing to over 2,400 meters or almost 8,000 feet at its highest point then descending to Chihuahua at 1,400 meters or 4593 feet in altitude. Accomplishing this feat required the construction of 87 tunnels and 39 bridges beginning in the late 19th century and finally completed in 1961. Construction was halted several times because of political unrest and lack of funding.