Big Bend - Wild Texas Forums: Parks, Travel & Recreation

copuswalker · 11-13-2003, 02:27 PM

Just returned from 3 nights up in the Chisos. As is always the case it is a fascinating park. I went with a person who was hiking his second time so the pace was slower than I would have liked.
Took Toll Mountain, Ne4 and Sw3 as sites. All three were superb.

Also took a 1/2 day and explored the desert roads. Something I will do more of in the future.

I will return soon and hike the Dobson trail.... a 3-4 day rugged and hard hike (so they say). Just gotta figure out how to put the pieces together!!

If you have not been you need to go.

11-13-2003, 10:35 PM

Glad to hear you had a good time. Was there any snow in the mountains? I want to do the Dodson Loop also. I may do it with my son in late December if I don't head to southern Arizona. Take care.

copuswalker · 11-14-2003, 06:41 AM

No snow. It is a rare event I am told. I have two boys at U.T. that have expressed interest in a hike during xmas break. Maybe I'll see you out there?

11-14-2003, 02:50 PM

If I go it'll be Dec. 19th - Dec. 25th. It is going to be my son's first "big" hike. He's done small backpacking trips in the hill country: Hill Country Natural Area, Colorado Bend, Lake Georgetown, and Pedernales. Never anything more than about five miles in a day, but he's only eleven.

It is looking more likely that we'll head there instead of further west, because of time restraints. If you go what days are you looking at?

copuswalker · 11-14-2003, 11:25 PM

It would be after xmas for us if it happens. College kids have no minds..... I hope you have a good time. I have a 12 year old that shows no interest at all. I think it's great that you have a young one that will go. Best of luck

copuswalker · 11-16-2003, 08:48 AM

A note some may find interesting. My cell phone (cingular) actually worked at the s.w. rim. My external antennae was not working but the phone itself got a decent signal. It almost worked at the basin and ne4.
I was always told not to bother bringing the phone. I have kids so like to check in when possible.

Shannon · 11-16-2003, 10:55 AM

Great to hear -- I love my Cingular! Justin's Sprint cell phone, on the other hand, can't keep a decent signal even in metro San Antonio.

A new law goes into effect on November 24th that will allow existing cell phone customers to keep their current cellular phone number when transitioning to a new phone. Guess who's getting a new phone, then?

His Sprint phone was also no good in parts of Dallas... yes, the city. I don't get it.

11-17-2003, 10:30 PM

It's good to know that cell phones work out there, in case they're needed. However, there's something nice about them not being ubiquitous.

I have a good cell phone story.

In March, I was on a trip with some students from U.T. in Texas, New Mexico, and Chihuahua. In New Mexico we were in a stretch of land known as La Jornada del Muerto - The Journey of Death. It's named that because many a Spaniard died trying to cross the inhospitable environment on their way to Santa Fe. Well, every girl on the trip was upset because they were unable to use their cell phones. I told them "you're on the journey of death; there are no cell phones on the journey of death." We all laughed.

Nonetheless, they are good for safety purposes. Take care.

01-02-2004, 09:01 PM

There have been a few people talking about visiting Big Bend over Christmas. Just checking in to see how the trips went. I'm thinking about going with my son over Spring Break. Any suggestions, comments on the weather? Also wondering about water availability during that time.

Yes, I'm doing my research but looking for some more inputs.

Thanks in advance.

copuswalker · 01-03-2004, 07:02 AM

Get there early/ It is a busy time. If in the Chisos toll mountain TM1, NE4, Sw3 are nice sites. Sw3 the nicest unless it is windy. Look at the sites on the web page. Shows photos. Good Luck

toejam · 01-17-2004, 01:16 PM

I went to Big Bend last weekend for a post-holiday get-away. I drove out Thursday evening - wasn't looking forward to the 8 hour drive, but I napped partway through and when I got to the park I pulled onto the Hannold Draw campsite road and slept until after 7 a.m. when it got light. My Grand Cherokee is a great trailhead sleeping vehicle. Got to see the sun rise behind El Pico on the Alto Relex, or whatever that cool mountain is.

I got to Panther Junction just after they opened at 8, paid $15 to use public land, and reserved 2 nights at NE5 on the southeast rim. Then cruised on into the Basin. The 20 lbs of water in my pack weighed me down a bit, but it took less than 2 hours to get to the top of the Pinnacles Trail. The Pinnacles Trail is one of my favorite trails in the world and I've always wondered why anybody who's hiked both would take the Laguna Meadows trail. There were a bunch of college students who hadn't gone back to school yet on the trail. Most were leaving.

I could feel the altitude more than I expected to - maybe that 20 lbs of water. The temperature was around 60 degrees and it was overcast. I climbed up on the rocks by the TM1 campsite to enjoy a break with a view and got blasted by a chilly south wind. I moved on soon and took a long break on the rocks by Boot Spring, which was dry as a bone. There were several of those big blue birds with long black beaks eating acorns close by.

I took the NE rim trail to my camp so I could ditch the pack and walk along the rim without it. The sky was clearing from the southwest and the sun lit things up for a few hours before setting. Staring off the south rim is one of my favorite things to do. The best location for this in my opinion is right by the SE3 & SE4 sights. NE5, where I was, was the next closest - close enough to have meals at the top of the cliff and stroll to the edge by moonlight - inspiring! NE4 is one of the 5-tent sights and is a good distance from the other sights. This would be a great place for a good sized group that didn't want a lot of interaction with others. The NE1 and SE2 sights are a long way from a good cliff-top perch.

Saturday morning I climbed to the top of the mountain to the north of my camp and worked my way to an airy rock with a good view of Emory Peak & Toll Mountain. I called home with my cell phone but got the answering machine. I said I'd call back later but couldn't get a connection from up in the mountains the rest of the trip.

That day I walked around the south rim. I sat in the sun a long time at the far southwest point and tried to follow the Dodson trail below. I decided to stop by one of the toilets on my walk, but after I saw it I decided it would be more sanitary to dig a hole. It was a big plastic composting thing high enough to expose your head & shoulders above the wall when seated. The bolts holding the seat on were rusted away and the thing was exceedingly foul smelling.

I planned on hiking to the top of Emory Peak but when I got to Boot Spring I decided I'd rather get back to sitting on top of the rim and looking off, so I headed back that way. The rocky top of Emory Peak is awesome but I've been there several times. This was the second time I've backpacked in the Chisos in January and both times it was mostly sunny, highs around 60, lows around freezing, and windy.

Sunday morning I took my time leaving the rim. I'd been looking across Juniper Canyon at the top of the Lost Mine Trail and decided I should hike that before leaving. I got back to the car around noon and speed-hiked up the Lost Mine Trail to check it out. I was surprised at how cool it is at the top with the bare rocks and view.

Anyway, I was glad I did the 8 hour drive and got a bunch of time on the southeast rim before they close it off next month and leave it for the falcons.

copuswalker · 01-17-2004, 02:02 PM

Always loved Big Bend. Did two trips in 03 and spent 3 nights each. I am going to drive my motorcycle over in the next few weeks (or when a nice stretch of weather happens). I was going to hit the Dobson but am thinking of trying Big Bend Ranch State Park. Did tm1 ne4 and sw3 last trip. Enjoyed them all. Phone wroked at sw3

ploddinTod · 01-17-2004, 07:26 PM

Toejam, Nice trip report. A lot of good info on campsites and vistas. I didn't know about the closure of the rim due to falcon habitation.

02-08-2004, 09:25 PM

Think I'm going to take the family to Big Bend Ranch this weekend. Weather looks great (as of now) for sat & sun. I can't seem to find a lot of info online for this park. I hear it has four pretty good waterfalls. Anyone have any experience here? I do have a 4wd and would love to visit some of the more secluded areas.

Shannon · 02-09-2004, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sportscars

Think I'm going to take the family to Big Bend Ranch this weekend. Weather looks great (as of now) for sat & sun. I can't seem to find a lot of info online for this park. I hear it has four pretty good waterfalls. Anyone have any experience here? I do have a 4wd and would love to visit some of the more secluded areas.

We haven't visited Big Bend Ranch SP yet, so unfortunately there's no park profile for that park on WildTexas.com yet.

Here are some other online resources you may or may not have already explored while seeking info about the park: