copuswalker

It can get nippy. Don't push to hard and have a great time. Update us when you can.

__________________
There are those that hike and those that don't and those that say they will but won't.

ploddinTod

Copus, What's that cop's name in OK? Does he post on backpacker.com? If so, under what name? I just want to avoid a similar situation as what you had.

copuswalker

I have not seen him on backpacker.com for some time. Steve is his first name and in all fairness I shouldn't give his last name. If you end up with a cop named Steve from Ok. You may talk to me again. Good luck

__________________
There are those that hike and those that don't and those that say they will but won't.

ploddinTod

Alright, thanks buddy. Nothing against cops--they do a tough job. But an occasional jerk can be found in any walk of life.

ploddinTod

If you guys have the time when you get back from the trail, post a brief trip report. Of particular interest is where you cached water and how much water you carried with you until you refilled. I assume that in addition to the Dodson trail, you also did the Blue Creek trail and that other trail on the east side (name escapes me) that completes the loop. Thanks

copuswalker

Todd, That would be Juniper trail.
Water is sometimes avaliable at Boot Spring in the Chisos. i have been told at the bottom of Juniper is a cross road Approx 1/3 of the way. There is a fairly reliable spring around the midway popint and the Homer Wilso ranch about 2/3 of the way. Carrying water is the pits. Usually I will call over and ask about Boot spring. I feel that if Boot Spring is running then most in the area will have some water. Though it is wise to have a back up plan unless you can talk with someone that just finished it?

__________________
There are those that hike and those that don't and those that say they will but won't.

oceanus

Hey Y'all,

I did the Dodson Trail in December and one of the trip members, Plockey from Backpacker.com, did this report. Check it out.

http://www.swt.edu/~pl1004/bigbendtr...rt2003home.htm

Enjoy.

copuswalker

Hey Oceanus, Welcome back. I saw Plokeys post and really enjoyed it. I am thinking of heading out that way on my bike soon. Do a little riding and camping. Do not know if I will do the Dodson though. Want to hit to many parks. Am working on submitting an article to Ride Texas magazine. Where you can leave bikes while hiking. That makes me the guinea pig.

__________________
There are those that hike and those that don't and those that say they will but won't.

oceanus

Hey Copus,

Yeah, the page Plockey did is great. It shows his courses are paying off. It was a heck of a lot of fun! The best for me, was the last two days on the trail, when we hiked through the Sierra Quemada; down in the desert, with the South Rim of the Chisos in view, as well as views of the other ranges.

My son and I stayed in west Texas for a week, we went through Big Bend Ranch State Park and saw the trailheads for the Rancherias Loop (nice,) checked out the Marfa lights and hung out in Alpine. After that, I was in Mexico for two weeks, solo. I was in Copper Canyon for 5 days doing dayhikes and bike riding. It's awesome! A huge canyon, river, Spanish mission, adobe everywhere, and very traditional Indigeneous people.

As for the bike riding, that sounds great. It would be really cool to ride to parks like that. I don't ride, but I definitely think it would awesome.

copuswalker

I have heard the hike at Big Bend Ranch S.P. is a very nice hike. Some say if you want solitude it is the place to go? May have to try it.
Sounds like you had a great time. Glad your son held up.

__________________
There are those that hike and those that don't and those that say they will but won't.

oceanus

I think it'd be a great place for solitude. There were no cars at either trailhead, and I didn't see many along the way. And it's very beautiful, probably the most beautiful road I've drove in Texas; though that is tough to say.

As for my son, he loved it! And he was setting the pace the last couple of days! We had to get him to slow down.

I see y'all are making plans for a hike. Sounds great, but I just got back and need to find a job now that I'm done with school, so I wouldn't be able to make it. Y'all have a great time.