Prize Winners Report

The Grand Prize winners of the 2006 Oregon Benefit Raffle report on their trip to Copper Canyon.

In October, 2006, my husband, Gerry Luckow, and I were the lucky winners of the Copper Canyon trip held by Tarahumara Children's Hospital Fund(TCHF).  We live in Oregon City, Oregon. 

This 8 day/7 night "Western Explorer" trip was sponsored by Emilio Kufuri of Canyon Travel in Belverde, TX and was FIRST CLASS all the way. 

On March 15, 2007, we began one of the most memorable trips we have ever taken. We flew on our own to Los Mochis, Mexico, where the trip began with a native tour guide who spoke excellent English.  His name was Chal.  A driver drove our assembled group of 6 people to El Fuerte, Mexico, where we stayed at Rio Vista Lodge, a small hotel with a great history.  A few years ago, Chal had a vision to build a hotel.  He started by digging, pouring foundation, and building 3 rooms with Adobe bricks.  He did it in his spare time, not able to think of anything else but building his hotel.  Everybody told him he was crazy, even his wife and family, but this did not stop him from pursuing his dream. 

Now, with the help of Emilio Kufuri and his own tenacity, Chal has a little hotel with more than 20 rooms.  Each room was designed and decorated in a different theme.  My first room's theme was "La Piedra," The  Rock, because one wall has a rock so big it covers part of one wall in the bathroom and bedroom. 

The next morning, we had a delicious breakfast (all authentic mexican meals were included in the tour package).  Before  breakfast,  we were invited to have a look at all the different species of birds from the region through Chal's telescope.  He is a knowledgeable and avid birdwatcher.  He taught us how to take pictures through his telescope.  After breakfast, he took us on a river boat to different places to see more birds and a part of the region.  That afternoon, we traveled on the Chihuahua Pacifico Train to the Porochi Inn in Cerocahui, Mexico. 

We stayed in another quaint, enjoyable small hotel where we had a tour of that part of the canyon.  We had a beautiful view and then went on a long hike to have lunch at a home of one of our guide's relatives where they made us a very tasty barbecue.  Then we went to the river and some of the people decided to have a swim.  After the swim we were invited to an important baseball game between the teams that were hoping to become the champions.  Our guide was supposed to be one of the players, but because he was showing us around, he could not play.  This game was at the bottom of the canyon with the great mountains in the background.  The view was unimaginable combining the beauty of nature with the modern world of baseball. I taught our group a cheer so we could encourage "our" team.

Our last stop was at UNO Lodge in Divisadero, Mexico. (now that was a thrilling train ride!!!)  It is one of the most spectacular and thrilling sites we have ever seen.  It is difficult to really describe the beauty and grandeur of this place.  Gerry and I have done extensive world traveling; however, this train ride was spectacular, the food and service were very personal at all locations. Everything was included. 

An unexpected bonus was a side trip with Antonio, an employee of the Tarahumara Mission in Creel, Mexico.  He especially drove to the UNO Lodge to get us so we could visit the Tarahumara Mission Hospital in Creel, 11/2 hours away. Sr. Martha, the Administrator, gave us a tour through the immaculate hospital with its friendly atmosphere and the shy Tarahumara people.  We saw first-hand the Gasometer machine purchased by the Oregon Benefit October 2006. I am a native of Mexico City, teaching Spanish in Milwaukie, OR for the past 30 years: yet I was really humbled to see this important work being done by the TCHF group in Oregon for "my people in Mexico". 

You cannot imagine the beauty of the Copper Canyon unless you are there. We are urging everyone we know to make this trip or buy a raffle ticket.  You could be as lucky as we were!.  Also we would like to thank John and Peggy, for the thousands of hours they have dedicated to this worthy cause as well as Mr. Emilio Kufuri and all the people in the background that have also contributed in one way or another.  It is wonderful to know that every penny of your contribution is spent properly.

 Dolores and Gerry Luckow

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