While soaking in a pool of hot mineralized water at the Primavera Forest’s famous Caliente River, I was introduced to a remarkable man.  “I’d like you to meet Cam Honan,” said my friend Diarmuid Milligan. “Like you, he enjoys hiking.”

Archaeologist Carlos Lopez Cruz, 47, died in El Amarillo, a tiny community in the municipality of Amatitan, Jalisco, around 2 a.m. on May 4, during a local religious festival.  

The celebration of June 5, World Environment Day, began in 1972 and is one of the main ways the United Nations fosters worldwide awareness of the environment.

It was celebrated in Jalisco by a full week of eco-activities starting with an Eco-Fair held in the little town of La Primavera on Sunday, June 2. La Primavera is located 17 kilometers west of Guadalajara and marks the principal entrance to Bosque La Primavera, the celebrated pine-and-oak forest often referred to as “the lung of Guadalajara.”

Chuyville is the name I gave to an area in the Primavera Forest where naturalist Jesús “Chuy” Moreno has been teaching kids about science, nature and survival for many years.

During a walk in the woods last week, the subject of Africanized bees came up. I asked my fellow hikers what was the worst bee attack they had ever heard about.

Veteran excursionista Mario Guerrero responded, “Without a doubt, it was the death of Enedino Luna.” Luna, he explained, had been a guide and trainer for Grupo Colli, Guadalajara’s most active organization for hiking and camping. Approximately 12 years ago, Luna took a group of young climbers into the hills near Magdalena to practice rappelling. “He stood on the edge of a cliff supervising the descent of the others. Somehow the rappellers disturbed a hive of bees on the way down and were immediately attacked. They responded by sliding down the rope even faster, and managed to reach the bottom and escape. Unfortunately, the bees also swarmed upwards, discovered Enedino Luna at the top of the drop and totally engulfed him.

My friend Yoryet Román offers some suggestions for staying healthy and fit.