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The first time I tried the Outer Mountain Loop at Big Bend, I failed. I just couldn't hack it physically, and we turned back on the morning of the second day, having barely made it out of the basin. (Getting a few hours of fitful sleep in the cab of a pickup in freezing temps the night before starting didn't help, but I doubt it made a difference in the outcome. I was soft.) I trained hard the next year year and did it in 2 1/2 easy days on my second try. It was great motivation for training and a great feeling when I finished.

Now I'm looking for a new challenge. I'll be back to the Dodson Trail, but for the sights, not to stretch myself. What are some challenging point-to-point or loop backpacking trips in North America, preferably close to Texas? I'm looking for a 1-5 day physical challenge for spring or summer 2007 that will make the OML look like cake. Please be as specific as possible about the difficulty. I have a day job and have no special aptitude for endurance sports, and I don't want to die I just want a reason to work extra hard during the next 10-14 months....

01ACRViper

Check out Guadalupe Mtns National Park. You can make the Tejas Trail connect to several other trails in the park, making for a long loop, or an out and back if you wish. It will be like Big Bend in the fact that you will have to carry all of your water, but there will be more vertical loss and gain.

for more info on the park:

http://www.summitpost.org/area/range...onal-Park.html

ploddinTod

Does it have to be in the desert? I've got a couple of choices for you on forested trails, if you're interested. :confused:

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PloddinTod

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ploddinTod: Any type of scenery is fine. I don't plan on picking up any technical skills, so I need to avoid technical climbing, mountaineering, and probably deep snow, now that I think of it.

01ACRViper: I've had my eye on the Guadalupe Mountains for a while. I just read a post from a guy who climbed El Capitan, Bartlett Peak, Bush Mountain, Shumard Peak, and Guadalupe Peak -- in the same day! (He's a Rocky Mountain guy who evidently took a look at our Texas mountains and decided that if he shoved a bunch together he could make one good one.) Obviously that guy is in a league beyond me, but something about that turned me off. Burning through a bunch of fairly accessible places in record time would be challenging, but too much like running a track.

What would be coolest would be to go someplace where I couldn't go at all without a huge effort. Someplace where the terrain and distance makes the destination a reward that can't be earned any other way. I haven't found that hike yet. I bet some of the remote places in Big Bend qualify. I plan on doing the Cross Canyon trail (roughly from the Talley campsite to the Solis campsite), but that doesn't look tougher than the Outer Mountain Loop. I know nothing about the Mesa de Anguila.

I haven't seen anything about the parts of the Guadalupe Mountains away from the major trails. What's out there?

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Hmm, other than the original post, nothing I've posted shows up yet. Is this message board moderated?

Answer: Yes, posts by all unregistered users are moderated and are not displayed until approved, generally well within a couple hours' of posting. This cuts down on some of the more egregious spam we receive. - Shannon (WildTexas.com host)

01ACRViper

the Mesa de Anguilla and would give you the remote challenge you want. there are 2 approaches: one from Terlingua Abaja that requires some tricky rock climbing (not reccomended with a full pack) and from the NP trails that begin in Lajitas. Most trips up there are 2 day: one to hike to camp, the next day, hike to the rim and back down. there won't be any water up there, unless you go quickly and get water from the Tinajas after this most recent storm. you are guranteed to not see anyone, save maybe a few rafters on the river far below. this is on my list for next winter, should be fun.

another place to look into is Big Bend Ranch SP. the Rancherias loop is the Outer Mtn Loop of the Bofecillos mountains: long, remote, dry, and beautiful. it's a 3 day hike, but can be done in 2 semi long days or 1 hellish day. something I did over my spring break would work nicely for you. it was also in the ranch, though it isn't a marked trail. I walked up fresno creek to Madrid Falls, the second highest waterfall in Texas. it was roughly 8 miles one way, and flat until the very end. gorgeous hike, i plan on going back very soon. for a longer trek, conitnue north on the creek up into the Solitario, just be warned the last reliable springs are near MAdrid falls.

as for the Guadalupe Mtns, up the Tejas Trail to bush mtn, down blue ridge trail back to the tejas trail and down McKIttrick Canyon is my favorite hike in the park.

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Thanks for the replies. Are Fresno Creek and Madrid Falls marked on the USGS maps?

The Mesa de Anguila also looks good. Is Bruja Canyon accessible from the west? Many sources (including the official Mesa de Anguila handout from the NPS) mention that access from the east requires climbing skills. (Or is it access to the mesa from the canyon that requires climbing?) In January I could make a 2 1/2 day trip to the canyon from Lajitas, one day in, one day out, half a day for exploring, and still carry all my water. What's it like camping on the mesa?

01ACRViper

Fresno Creek and Madrid Falls are both on the USGS map. refer to this LINK for more information. also, check in my user profile there for a link to my website, it has pictures of my trip up the creek (big bend ranch SP, march 2006)

Bruja Canyon is full of large boulders, house sized that is. the climbing the NPS talks about is concerning access to Bruja Canyon, then up the canyon onto the Mesa is another mile or so of 3rd class bouldering. Bruja Canyon technically is accessible, but if you are alrady in Lajitas, it would be much much faster to use the NPS trails already in place. i haven't personaly camped on the mesa, but it's going to be primitive badlands style camping, ie. no trees, only small schrubs, and lots of typical abusive desert plant life. i'm not sure if there are designated spots or if there is only zone camping

Unregistered

Excellent info, thanks for the link.

Yeah, I just want to see the inside of the canyon. Plus, the long hike makes it a challenge.

I take it this is the scale you're referring to. So class 3 means I might survive a fall, and I don't need ropes. The "you might not die" part gives me pause (yeah, I'm a wuss ), but I'll definitely consider this as a destination.

toejam

Are you trying to kill yourself? I'd stay out of the desert after March. Between now and then you need to do a bunch of trips and work yourself up to the more challenging ones. You need to be aware of the seasons and conditions before you set your heart on some great adventure you aren't ready for. New Mexico has some really challenging places to hike. Gila Wilderness is very challenging in the spring. Pecos Wilderness is a great summer destination. Do your homework and plan to get out more often - there's plenty of challenge to go around.