Big Bend Expedition - February 2007: Planning Thread

[flyingwil]

I checked that place out City of Rocks and it looks really cool, but it's 70 miles of backtrack, and only 3.5 hours from Tucson, leaving us at least 7 hours on Thu morn. Any suggestions further down the line?

nope, that was all she recommended, I'll ask for another one, though.

Wil, how early on Wed are you able to leave?

ummm when ever my alarm goes off is fine with me.

EVERYONE: Would you please PM me your full names and home #s, mobile phone #s, and emails? I'll put together a list for distribution (for families at home too to have). Right now, we're planning on meeting before 12 noon on Thu at Study Butte. Please let me know if you'll be meeting us there, or at the Ranger Station? I will be on the 2m frequencies listed and we'll also be on CB channel 2 and FRS Ch2.

PM sent. CB ONLY (I have not graduated to 2M yet)

 

[RoundOut]

EVERYONE: Would you please PM me your full names and home #s, mobile phone #s, and emails? I'll put together a list for distribution (for families at home too to have). Right now, we're planning on meeting before 12 noon on Thu at Study Butte. Please let me know if you'll be meeting us there, or at the Ranger Station? I will be on the 2m frequencies listed and we'll also be on CB channel 2 and FRS Ch2.

PM Sent. I'll also have 2M, CB, & FRS/GMRS. Can't wait to get there, guys & gals. It's going to be a sweet adventure, for sure!

 

[RoundOut]

Gang from AZ & NM - What's your route to BiBe?

What route are you guys coming to Big Bend on? I-10 the whole way to Alpine,then south on 180 to Study Butte, or cutting off at Marfa, south on 67 and coming through Presidio and Lajitas and then along the Rio Grande?

If you take the trip through Presidio, Fort Leaton State Historic Area and Big Bend State Natural Area are pretty nice. There are great camping facilities close to the river there, as well as some on a back-track backcountry road, but it puts you almost all the way to Big Bend National Park. It will only be about a half hour to an hour and a half or so from Study Butte depending on where you camp, if I remember correctly.

I've attached a State Park map for your info. About half way between Presidio and Lajitas is the Arenosa and Colorado Canyon tent camping, and closer to Lajitas is some RV camping areas.

 

[RoundOut]

I will not be caravaning back though... headed to Houston afterwards..

We can caravan back to Houston, if you're interested.:26_7_2:

 

[LexusAllTerrain]

I checked that place out City of Rocks and it looks really cool, but it's 70 miles of backtrack, and only 3.5 hours from Tucson, leaving us at least 7 hours on Thu morn. Any suggestions further down the line?

Wil, how early on Wed are you able to leave?

EVERYONE: Would you please PM me your full names and home #s, mobile phone #s, and emails? I'll put together a list for distribution (for families at home too to have). Right now, we're planning on meeting before 12 noon on Thu at Study Butte. Please let me know if you'll be meeting us there, or at the Ranger Station? I will be on the 2m frequencies listed and we'll also be on CB channel 2 and FRS Ch2.


EL PASO FOLKS: Can anyone suggest camping areas south of El Paso? Most of TX is so private I'm finding a hard time locating a reasonable & safe spot.

The only place that I could think of could be Hueco Tanks, here is a link to an area map, however it is a little off course to Big bend by 32 miles!

http://aolsearch.aol.com/aol/redir?src=websearch&requestId=a7d153914c0b06db&clickedItemRank=5&userQuery=el+paso+texas+camping&clickedItemURN=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.texasoutside.com%2Felpaso%2Felpaso.htm&title=El+Paso+Outside+Map+Guide+for+Hiking%2C+Biking%2C+Camping%2C+Golf+...&moduleId=matchingsites.jsp.M&clickedItemPageRanking=5&clickedItemPage=1&clickedItemDescription=WebResults

 

[flyingwil]

We can caravan back to Houston, if you're interested.:26_7_2:

Oh yeah, sounds good! We'll talk about it when we are there.

 

[RoundOut]

Houston Auto Show Toyota Offroad event

Toyota Off Road On Site Adventure

My wife just pointed this out to me. I told her that's the weekend we'll be in Big Bend. She said, don't you want to drive the new Toyotas? I said, "No, I want to drive my Toyota." LOL

:truck:

 

[Pskhaat]

How about the Franklin Mountains? Looks close to I10 (6 miles out). Though that still leaves a 5 hour drive in the morning...

 

[Pskhaat]

What route are you guys coming to Big Bend

I'd like to drop South of Marfa in, but we'll see how we're doing on time.

Quite honestly, it'd be a blast some time to do a Rio Grande Expedition which I've mapped years before that is a set of dirt roads that stretch the length from El Paso down to BiBe (and further). That's after I win the lottery though...

 

[The BN Guy]

PM sent. Forgot to add that Xterrain might be caravaning with Dad and me.

I'll miss you guys at Study Butte but will see you at Loop Camp Road.

BTW, anyone know about open fires? If not I'll call this afternoon.

 

[tdesanto]

BTW, anyone know about open fires? If not I'll call this afternoon.

Campfires not allowed in the park since the huge fire in 1980.


Regarding camping location outside of BiBe for Wednesday night:

It may be a bit of a stretch for you guys coming in from the West, but I'm thinking about staying at Davis Mountains SP. It's about 80 miles north of Study Butte on hwy 118. I figure I can knock out the bulk of the drive on Wednesday afternoon/evening and then have a shorter trip on Thursday morning.

Here's a link to the park: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/davis_mountains/

http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8...585908,-103.271484&spn=1.754372,2.554321&om=1

 

[Pskhaat]

Davis Mountains SP.

That's a great suggestion! I have no idea if we can make it there on Wed but I don't know why not. Question for everyone: just to give us all some more play time on Thursday in the BiBe Park, what is everyone's thoughts on meeting before noon on Thursday at Study Butte? What about 9-10am? Is that doable, or is noon still required for everyone's time sake?

 

[tdesanto]

I could probably do 10:30

 

[RoundOut]

Timing of rendesvous

Scott, When you guys get the Study Butte timing settled, let us know and we'll plan on arrival at Castalon at an appropriate time afterwards, since we'll be coming from the east.

 

[RoundOut]

Regarding camping location outside of BiBe for Wednesday night:

It may be a bit of a stretch for you guys coming in from the West, but I'm thinking about staying at Davis Mountains SP. It's about 80 miles north of Study Butte on hwy 118. I figure I can knock out the bulk of the drive on Wednesday afternoon/evening and then have a shorter trip on Thursday morning.

Another location, slightly less of a drive, and one of the premier spots to see at least once in your lifetime, is Balmorhea State Park. It's just off I-10 a few miles. There is a natural spring, that flows millions of gallons a day and the CCC made an awesome swimming pool out of it during one of the World Wars. The water temp is almost always a few degrees around 70, if I remember correctly. Lots of diving lessons are offered there, as the pool has a depth of about 20-30 feet in some locations. It is a spot we stay at on the way to Buffalo Trails Scout Ranch for summer camp.

Here's a linke to their website, too, and I included a pic of the pool from their website.