01ACRViper

the 2nd weekend of May, my climbing buddy and I went to climb a peak that has been calling our name for quite a while. for those that have been camping in the Basin in Big Bend, the mountain making the right frame of the window, Vernon Bailey Peak, was our goal. according to rough topographic guesses, it was going to be 4 miles one way, no problem on flat terrain. we left our site later than we wanted to at 7, we were trying to get out before 6 to avoid the may heat. we started down the window trail, leaving it where it meets up with the creek, about half a mile down. then we bushwacked to the small creek at the base of the peak, and started our way up the gulley. to avoid the thick underbrush in the creek, we followed the ridge to the right untill the brush cleared. we were hoping on 2 hours to gain the 1600+ ft to the North Rim's summit, but it ended up being 9:30 before we got there. not having any trails on this side of the basin, pathfinding isn't the easiest thing to do. we eventually got along the ridge heading toward Vernon Bailey. we were thinking another hour and a half, which turned out to be VERY wishful thinking. the terrain was much worse than the gulley, and, being behind a ridge, we had no way to scout before we were already up here. even the topo map flatened things out more than they really were. scaling the ridge right next to the cliff, we summited the ridge around 12:15. a small pile of rocks marked the summit, but there wasn't much sign of people being up there. we ate our pbj's, some candy for quick energy, and a power bar before heading back down. we scouted the south face of the peak for a way down, but the terrain was too steep. so back up to the top to go back from whence we came :eek: we had brought 3 nalgenes a person, plus another half gallon bottle. on the way up, we both drank 2 nalgenes, and figured the rest would be sufficient for the faster trip back down. more wishful thinking. we were both down to half a nalgene by the time we recahed the summit of the gulley. it had taken nearly 2 hours to reach it, and it was in the mid 90's with no cloud cover. not a good situation at all we had another 2-2.5 hours to go, so we only drank enough water to keep our mouths wet every 15 minutes or so, while stopping in the shade so as to not overexert ourselves. by the time we made it back to camp, it was 4:30, we had run out of water for at least 30 minutes. so we drove to the hot springs to make dinner, and soak in the hot springs, but a enormous storm halted that plan.

the climb was well worth the drive, but you have to be very careful in Big Bend, no matter how well prepared you think you are. the rangers said at the rate of our drinking the water, the heat, and the elevation, we would have had roughly 15 more minutes to walk before we couldn't walk any further. me and my friend have been climbing for 10 years or so, and we still weren't smart enough. just be careful people BUT, we did see 2 mountain lions heading home from the hot springs, that alone made the trip worth it

here are some of the pictures

www.beckerphoto.net/galleries/Big_Bend_May

copuswalker

Well at least you made it Heat can be a killer. We ran low at Big Bend Ranch last year. Not a nice feeling!

I remember as a kid hiking the Blue Hills area in Mass. We left for a 12 mile return hike with a small canteen of water each. Got 3/4 of the way out and ran out but kept going because we wanted to make the whole trail.
Really sucked..Crossed a road about 3 miles from the end and almost started waving cars down..Unfortunately the ego would not allow it?

Ryan, I see you are at U.T.? My third child is starting there this fall.

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

Michael

The heat can really be rough. I did the backpack to the southwest rim the last part of April & the heat was already tough then, but the view from the top was still worth it. Big Bend is really a neat place for hiking, backpacking & I can imagine climbing as well. I should try it.

Michael

ploddinTod

Again, very nice photos, Ryan. I can see a future for you in that area (photography). To my eye (non-photographer), it appears that you put some time and thought into your compositions. No shots of the cougars??

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PloddinTod

Shannon

Indeed, all of the photos that have been posted here recently, either in our Wild Texas 'Your Photos' gallery or via links to member's own websites have been superb. Some of Ryan's summit shots remind me of a classic Laurence Parent photo from the Rockies, with his son on a summit peak in the foreground and the snow-capped mountains in the background.

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01ACRViper

thank you, comments like yours keep me going, even when i don't like my pictures. and no, i didn't get any shots of the cougars they were both crossing the road, right before and after Panther Pass, and the camera was in the trunk. the first one, we only saw the back half as he darted into the bushes. but the second cat jumped off a rock on the right side of the road, landed in the middle, the made one more leap well off to the other side of the road. one of the coolest wildlife moments i've experienced.

01ACRViper

Yes, i'm starting my 3rd year, and i'm a recently declared Geology major what is your child planning on studying? they are going to love it here

copuswalker

One graduated accounting and hated it so is is becoming a firefighter. The oldest graduated with a philosophy and sociology degree and is attending Harvard Law School. And the daughter is starting this fall in communications?
My brother graduated with a geology major and now works in environmental engineering? Mixed up bunch :eek:

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

Shannon

I'm a UTSA grad, which doesn't have the clout of UT Austin, but it doesn't have the price tag, either.

BBA in Information Systems here. Result? Programmer, web developer, photographer, writer, geek. Self-employed (partner with Justin, who now brings home the bacon we used to bring home dually). Brother's also a UTSA grad, Bachelors of Fine Arts and in management at a retail store with hopes to teach someday and get his art exhibited again.

Justin was a Biology/Pre-Med major but work intruded and he resumed his studies after several years, graduating from the University of the Incarnate Word (thanks to employer-funded schooling) with an Applied Arts & Sciences degree. Weird degree title, but he's smarter than I am, so I don't make fun of the sound of it (too much... )

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- Shannon Moore
Your Host @ WildTexas.com

Purchases in the Wild Texas Gear Shop support our continued operation. Thank you!