La Huasteca (climbing area)

It was first established by president Lázaro Cárdenas in november 1939, then in october 2006, it was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

[2][3] Having nearly 400 bolted routes with grades from 5.4 to 5.14, and no entrance fee for most climbing areas, it has become a very popular site for climbers.

They bolted and climbed the hardest routes in La Huasteca, Veneno and El Sueño que de Niño, both 5.13c.

The area appears in the larger English-Spanish Guía de Escalada en México (Zona Norte), using the exact drawings and contents of the original Huasteca guidebook without permission from the author.

[2] By 2010 UDEM suspend the climbing courses because of Mexico's recession and the increase in violence in the city during the ongoing "War on Drugs".

In 2014, at-risk youth program Escalando Fronteras joined forces with volunteers to further develop the park for visitors and eco-tourism.

The same year, British climber Gareth "Gaz" Leah completed the direct line to Huastecas famous Pico Independencia, named "The Life You Can Save" 5.12+ 350m.

The route name was donated by Alex Honnold who took part in the Escalando Fronteras Kickstarter campaign.

Thanks to the wide ranging topography of La Huasteca, we can find temperate zones, mainly being conformed of pine and oak forests.

People number in the hundreds every day, and more in the rare occasions when the river is swollen from heavy rains.

Although La Huasteca was improved, much work remained to be done, as the waste was being generated faster than it was being removed.

In recent years la Huasteca has seen an increase in accidents involving climbers and campers.

This route has seen the death of at least one person acting as a guide when he did not have the credentials required, and the rescue of another overweight excursionist who couldn't continue and got stuck in the middle of a Tyrolean traverse of 100 metres.

A non-climbing-related death of a camper occurred by gunfire during a robbery attempt, and another person drowned in the river under the influence of alcohol.