The Caballo Blanco

In the book Born to Run the author Christopher McDougall describes his journey into the middle of a Mexican canyon in search of an ancient supernatural tribe, the Tarahumara. The book starts off with a story about McDougall’s first encounter with the famous Caballo Blanco, the “White Horse”. This guy was a traveling legend; no one really knew where he came from or where he was heading. Two different people that lived hundred miles apart would confess that they saw him on the same day, running. McDougall’s interest in the “White Horse” and the Tarahumara came from his personal passion for running. The passion crushed by constant pain and meetings with doctors. As a sports magazine editor he made it his personal mission to discover the secrets of running hidden among ancient civilizations. After researching ancient world, McDougall claims that people among other wild animals were one of the least lethal species in the jungle. Before any tools were even discovered human populations survived in the wilderness. The only way to capture a creature without the appropriate tools must have been to outrun it. Following his mission McDougall set out across the border form Texas into Mexico where he hired a guide that would take him into the Copper Canyons. They set on in a little four by four on a trail that soon turned into uncharted jungles ruled by the drug cartels. McDougall’s guide was a local musician who provided plenty of entertainment during their adventure. Going through the heart of the marijuana territory the two lonely explorers encountered one of the drug smuggling trucks. Out in the middle of nowhere stopped alongside a huge pickup filled with aggressive drug mafia members was a heart stopping experience for McDougall. After a minute of silence the drug cartel moved along leaving McDougall and his guide unharmed. Finally upon the arrival to the top of the canyon they had to leave the truck behind and hike down into the valley. The scary adventure down the canyon rewarded McDougall with his first face to face meeting with a Tarahumaran. Arnulfo Quimare was offended by McDougall’s surprising approach. However he was obligated to fulfill his duty as a host and he provided them with a place to stay and some limes for refreshment. When McDougall tried to ask a question Quimare would remain silent. The Tarahumarans are very shy and consider such interrogations rude. In their search of the Caballo Blanco they stumble upon a hybrid Tarahumaran who follows the traditional way of life, however slips out into the civilization form time to time. He describes a day when his students came to him claimed they have seen a ghost. McDougall recognized by description of the "ghost" that in fact it is the "White Horse" he has been searching for. They follow his trail and end up in the hotel from the beginning of the book. There Caballo Blanco almost flees form McDougall once again, however he recognized the Tarahumaran names McDougall continued to scream out loud. McDoughall invites the Caballo Blaco for dinner and some beer. The "White Horse" finally opens to McDougall. So far the book is very interesting and easy to read. The story continues to draw my attention making the experience this much better. I cannot wait to find out what happens next.