I have long been a backpacker who is in love with Big Bend National Park. Dr. Ed McGuire introduced me to the Park in the mid 80's and we have been back many times. I originally began this blog as a prelude for my first backpacking trip with my son and nephew. We returned in January from a shortened but successful trip and now the planning and training begin again.
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Friday, December 31, 2010
Get Away Day
Thursday, December 30, 2010
My log book of my first trip to Big Bend
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Future Big Bender during Christmas
I thought I would post a few photos of my future hiking partner to Big Bend. Of course, I am being optimistic about my abilities to continue to backpack and as Les Miles would say "His having the wont to go". But as the old saying goes, Hope springs eternal.
Jack Wesley Keith is now 19 months old and these are pictures with Pam's granddaughter Samantha (Sam) and Holly's daughter Evie. They are both about 6 months older than Jack Wesley but I hear he likes older women.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Finally!! After 63 years.....
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Heaux, Heaux, Heaux
A Facebook friend of mine greeted me this way yesterday and I thought it was unique, so I borrowed it. I hope each and everyone of you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. This time next week I will be somewhere in southeast Texas heading along I-10 to Fort Stockton, Texas to spend the night before the last push into Big Bend National Park.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Eight Days and a Wake Up
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Single Digit Midget
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Fifteen Days and a wake up
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Odds and Ends
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Remembering My First Trip to Big Bend-Part 2
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Remembering My First Trip to Big Bend
As I was preparing to take my first trip to Big Bend National Park in 1984, I was trying to visualize the park in my mind. I always envisioned Texas as rolling pine hills in the east followed by the desolate mesa area of west Texas. I was not aware that mountains even existed in Texas. I had seen some pictures taken by my friend Ed but these did not really prepare me for what I was to find.
On the initial trip to the park, Ed, his son Lane and I left early on the first Saturday of the new year for the 14 hour drive into Big Bend. We were in Ed’s Chevrolet pickup truck with all three of us crowded into the front seat. I remember being very apprehensive about this adventure. I had not backpacked since my days as a Boy Scout and I was not in great physical shape.
We arrived in Big Bend around 8:30 pm. It was a very dark and cold night when we stopped at Panther Junction Ranger Station for a bathroom break and a quick pay phone call to let everyone know that we had arrived. The most amazing sight was directly overhead. I had never seen so many stars in all my life. I was a real novice as to star constellations but as Ed began to point out the different collections I was totally awed. Until one has seen the sky in the absence of light it is hard to describe. The Milky Way on a moonless night in the vast Chihuahuan Desert of Big Bend is a must see.
We proceeded to a spot in the desert along Ross Maxwell Scenic Highway where our hiking trail will near the road. We hiked a short distance into the desert and hid 3 gallons of water to resupply as we work our way through the trip. My apprehension level continued to escalate as this exercise left me breathing very hard as we climbed back up the hill back to the truck.
Since it was very dark I had no real feeling as to my surroundings. At night, the mountains surrounding me took little form and had no reference as to their height. We continued on to the Chisos Mountain into what is known as the Basin, a bowl seemingly carved out of the mountains where the park lodge, store and campgrounds are. After a short night’s sleep in the back of the truck, I awoke to see what this place really looked like.
As the dawn began to break, I was stunned by the enormity of the Chisos Mountains. All the features seemed to be super-sized. The landmarks I had read about-Casa Grande, Lost Mine Peak, the South Rim- all were much larger than I had imagined. The Chisos was much greener and lusher in vegetation. I remember thinking “Is this really a desert?” I was to later learn that there was plenty of desert for me to see.
After getting our gear situated and back in the truck, we headed back to Panther Junction to get our backcountry permit and head to the trailhead. I was not prepared for the absolute enormity of the park. The drive from Panther Junction to Elephant Tusk Trailhead, our starting point, was well over an hour of some of the worst 4 wheel drive roads I have ever been on. It was not the muddy Louisiana swamp roads but rocky, rutty, wash-board, dusty desert roads that will rattle your teeth.
We finally arrived at our trailhead in the middle of nowhere. Actually we were at the Elephant Tusk Trailhead off of Black Gap Road looking north into the Chisos Mountains. The elevation was probably around 2000 feet and the Chisos were two and a half days and 5800 feet in elevation away. I could now since the wildness of this place. For all the beauty around me, I also knew that one must respect Big Bend for what it is-an inhospitable, uncompromising environment that must be taken seriously.
To Be Continued…..
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Dark Desert Highway
- December 31-Leave Birmingham around 9 am to travel to Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Spend the night at Mother's
- January 1-Leave Baton Rouge no later than 6 am to head to Big Bend National Park
- Arrive Fort Stockton, Texas early in the evening
- Eat dinner and stay at a cheap motel in Fort Stockton
- January 2-Leave Ft. Stockton no later than 6 am
- Arrive Panther Junction Park Headquarters by 8:30 am
- Get back-country permit
- Make water cache at Homer Wilson Ranch House on Ross Maxwell Scenic Highway
- Drive to the Chisos Basin, have lunch and prepare to begin the trip
- Hike up Pinnacles Trail into the Chisos. This will be a 5 mile hike gaining 1700 feet in elevation
- Take Boot Canyon Trail to the Southeast Rim Trail and find designated campsite
- January 3-Break camp and hike up to Emory Peak the last part being a rock scramble and great photo op of the desert looking over the Rio Grande into Mexico
- Explore the Chisos before working our way over to Boot Canyon campsite for the evening
- January 4-Head down Juniper Canyon Trail to the Dodson Trailhead. This will be about a 6.2 mile hike downhill.
- Eat lunch at the trailhead and then hike over to the Dodson Ranch House to set up camp
- January 5-Break camp and hike to Fresno Creek to find water. Hike over to Homer Wilson Ranch House and get water cache for the next day. Make camp in the Red Rock area of Blue Creek Canyon Trail.
- January 6-Hike up Blue Creek Canyon Trail to the high Chisos. Elevation change on this trail will be about 2000+ feet. Find our campsite in Laguna Meadow and make camp.
- January 7-Break camp and hike back down to the Basin and the truck. Easy downhill 3.5 mile hike.
- Pack up the truck and head out of the park.
- Spend the night somewhere on I-10 to shower and rest up.
- January 8-Arrive in Baton Rouge with time tba
- January 9 or late January 8 head to Birmingham.