 |
Lookout Point
|
 |
| Oyamel Fir Forest |
After about 3000 curves and more than 3 hours in a beat up ford van we arrived at this lookout point. I was a little green in the gills by that point but managed to hold down my breakfast. Soon after we arrived at the gates of the El Rosario Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary. It was an opportunity we had passed up in previous years but we were happy that we had finally made it. We began our ascent winding through the oyamel fir trees that make up the unique and delicate habitat for the butterflies. The oyamel forest ecosystem is Mexico's most endangered.
 |
| Monarch Butterflies |
The temperature was dipping noticeably as we climbed but it was perfect hiking weather. I was already feeling much better and enjoying the fresh air despite the increase in altitude. We were soon rewarded further as the sun began to poke out of the clouds and the trail levelled out. We passed through some meadows and up a steeper, more rugged section of trail and were informed by the guide that we had arrived.
 |
| Female Monarch Butterfly |
The monarchs had been evident earlier in the day and we had spotted a few at the lookout point. Throughout our ascent the numbers steadily increased. We still weren't exactly sure what to expect but as we gained the maximum elevation allowable in the sanctuary it became clear that it was certainly worth the trip. There was a grand finale after all. We had arrived at 3600 m. and butterflies filled the sky. After some time, increased cloud cover caused thousands to swarm into the trees.
 |
| Male Monarch Butterfly |
The male monarch butterfly is easily distinguished from the female by the black spots that are visible on the hind wings.
No comments:
Post a Comment