[todopoderoso]

If you want to see where the Monarch butterflies migrate to in the winter and what such a thing looks like, there's a great reserve near the city of Angangueo, Mexico (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angangueo). 3.5hr bus ride from Mexico City.

You get up in the morning and take a taxi higher into the mountains to the reserve, getting out and walking further up the mountain's roped off trail.

The trail terminates into a small, flat observation area. And if you go early enough, you might wonder where the hell all the butterflies are. But on closer inspection of the tall trees around you, you'll notice most of what you thought were leaves and bark are really clumps and clumps of sleeping (and half-frozen?) butterflies.

Once the sun comes out, these masses of butterflies seem to wake up and stretch their wings, warming them up before descending the mountain in one never-ending flock, landing in a grassy clearing (about 50m back down the trail) to drink from a stream and frolic in the sun. Butterflies will be everywhere, swooping past you in incredible numbers or landing on you -- especially if you're wearing bright colors.

Cool experience, charming little town, and beautiful landscape. As things become more dire for these little guys, might be worth a visit.

I thought Angangueo would've been warm since it's a migratory winter destination, but it's super cold and colder than most of the climates the butterflies abandoned in the north. The place we stayed at had no hot water or fireplace. But a little bit of adversity, like seeing your own breath while trying to fall asleep, makes a travel experience a little richer upon recollection. :)

[klenwell]

One of the most magical experiences I've had in my life was a morning out surfing alone in Huntington Beach years ago. It was a weekday in... I don't remember the time of year. October? May? When do they usually end up in Southern California?[0] The details are in a journal or lost text file somewhere.

It was a beautiful Southern California morning. Clear skies, a breath of offshores, clean inconsistent chest-high waves. I was sitting outside waiting for the next wave. And all of the sudden a few Monarch butterflies flew past me. And they were followed by a few more. And more after that.

A steady stream of orange and black butterflies fluttering past me. Coming in OFF the ocean towards shore. Was it 5 minutes? 15 minutes? An hour? The procession ended. I remember spotting the butterflies here and there the rest of the day, even many miles inland.

C-beams glittering in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. Moments that will be lost to those who follow us.

[0] https://www.tripsavvy.com/monarch-butterflies-in-california-...

[sethammons]

I grew up in the mountains near there (near Big Bear). I used to love the monarchs flying through our canyon every year. I've not seen them in what feels like a decade.

[kilroy123]

There's actually two different places where you can see them. There are that many living in central Mexico.

I agree, it was a really cool experience seeing them!

The craziest part is, we had to do some hiking to see them. I looked at my watch and it told me I was over 10,000 feet!

The tree line is higher in central Mexico than in northern North America. No wonder why I was so out of breath.