Big Bend Expedition Report - February 2007

[XJINTX]

OK, I'm back but wish I was still there This was one of my better times and trips to Big Bend. No fires allowed and it got down to 32 in the evenings but the full moon and warm cloths made it fine. It made it up to the 60's in daytime and very sunny Sorry I did not see Patrick or meet Scott.. I am sure they may post their stories.

I can't thank Will and Tony enough for putting up with me, feeding me all their GR8 food and just plain making it a good trip!

Here's some teasers

 

[The BN Guy]

Great pix Roger!

Yep, I had some mechanical problems: bad, bad ball joints making lotsa noises, steering box leaking fluid, very squeaky fan belt. Then after I loaded up and headed out on Sunday found out that I had blown the bead on one tire while it was on the trailer. Got home and fixed the tire, sprayed the belts (which now are silent), and no new fluid from the box.

Had a total blast. Just wish I coulda made it back to Juniper for more camping.

Hope things go smoother for BiBe 2008.

Scott hope your boy is doing better! Wish you coulda made it but family is number one! Next year you'll get there.

Wil and Tony, great travelling companions. Wil, thanks for helping me on Black Gap. I really could taste the seat!

 

[flyingwil]

Great pix Roger!

Yep, I had some mechanical problems: bad, bad ball joints making lotsa noises, steering box leaking fluid, very squeaky fan belt. Then after I loaded up and headed out on Sunday found out that I had blown the bead on one tire while it was on the trailer. Got home and fixed the tire, sprayed the belts (which now are silent), and no new fluid from the box.

Had a total blast. Just wish I coulda made it back to Juniper for more camping.

Hope things go smoother for BiBe 2008.

Scott hope your boy is doing better! Wish you coulda made it but family is number one! Next year you'll get there.

Wil and Tony, great travelling companions. Wil, thanks for helping me on Black Gap. I really could taste the seat!

No problems man! It was a blast meeting you all! I am still in TX right now, hope to be home late this evening.

It was a blast meeting Patrick, Rodger, and Tony! We might have been better off keeping Rodger and Patrick seperated, that fore sure would have been problems.

I am on my Blackberry right now, I'll post more when I return home.

 

[The BN Guy]

Getting that bumper? Coolness!

How're you going back home? If you're coming through San Antonio drop me a line. I'll talk with the Handbrake and see if we can spare a room for you if you need it. 'Course you might have to deal with my snoring again!

 

[flyingwil]

Getting that bumper? Coolness!

How're you going back home? If you're coming through San Antonio drop me a line. I'll talk with the Handbrake and see if we can spare a room for you if you need it. 'Course you might have to deal with my snoring again!

LOL. Yeah, not too sure when Jim will be done with my truck though. Flew home.

 

[RoundOut]

Is that 4th pic Ernst Tenaja?

Roger, Is this Ernst Tenaja? Did you guys see the animal claw marks on the sides? Pretty eerie. Animal falls in and cannot get out, dies trying.

 

[flyingwil]

Roger, Is this Ernst Tenaja? Did you guys see the animal claw marks on the sides? Pretty eerie. Animal falls in and cannot get out, dies trying.

Yeah that is Ernest Tenaja, and that is me. We did not see any animal claw marks. They had just gotten over massive amounts of rain. (2.7" since 1 Jan).

 

[RoundOut]

Describe the roads...

They had just gotten over massive amounts of rain. (2.7" since 1 Jan).

Wow, I saw that as I was imagining where you guys were, LOL. That is a ton of rain for that area. It's going to be a green spring in Big Bend. With that much rain, what were the roads like? I was wondering if the arroyos crossing Black Gap would be trouble for you.

Did you guys take the original route, or what? Did Scott not make the trip? I've been itching to read the debrief.

 

[Willman]

Nice run!!

Keep the pictures and stories coming!!!

:camping:

 

[The BN Guy]

Nope. Black Gap was pretty tame. Well except the part where my fear of heights kicked in but that was not arroyo/water related, just off-camber with a 200'+ drop off.

 

[ox4mag]

Did you guys see the gravesite near Ernest Tenaja?

 

[XJINTX]

We did see the gravesite. The last time I was there people had placed all sorts of "momentos" like school ID's and such. This time there was just coins like a wishing well Did not get any pics maybe we should have

 

[flyingwil]

abbreviated route rundown

We stuck pretty close to the plan.

Here is the abbreviated rundown:

Day 1: Camp at Ft. Davis. Scott and I meet Tony at camp.

Day 2: Ran into a situation and Scott had to return to Phoenix. Tony and I continued as planned (with a three hour delay) and attempted to meet Patrick. We looked for Patrick in Study Butte, but did not see Stormy. We thought that Rodger was close behind Patrick, but wasn't. Tony and I decided to continue on and got our Back-country permits at Panther Junction and head on in hopes of meeting Patrick en route.

Still no signs of Patrick. We left a note card up on the visitor board, that we were continuing on as planned. We headed off to Castolon Visitor center to try and see if Patrick was there (the rangers had seen him, and told us he went to Rio Grande Village). We thought the ranger was confused, but he told us right. Rio Grande is on the opposite side of the park as camp 1.

We stopped to watch the sun set at Buenos Aires Camp Road, as we knew we wouldn't be setting up camp in daylight. As soon as we had set up our chairs, Stormy came cruising along. We watched the sun set and continued to camp 1, Loop Camp.

Day 3: We took the remainder of River Road West to Black Gap Road. Stormy was having some difficulties and cut out at the intersection of Juniper Canyon and Glenn Springs to go back to the trailer at Rio Grande Village. Tony and I head to camp 2, Robber's Roost. The original plan was to camp at Juniper Canyon, but the trail head camps had all been closed. When arriving into camp we meet Rodger and enjoyed the sunset.

Day 4: We too Glenn Spings on back to to River Road and headed towards the Hot Springs and Rio Grande Village in hopes of reuniting with Patrick (we had not heard that Patrick had dropped out yet). The ranger brought us out a note and we had heard that Stormy was under the weather, and loaded back on to the trailer. We continued on to camp 3, Telephone canyon.

We somehow missed it, and ended up at Roy's Peak Camp. It was a much better camp and had views of the Chisos rather than in a valley, and set up camp.

Day 5: took the remainder of Old Ore Road and parted ways.

Day 6: Dropped my truck off in Houston, TX and caught a flight home.

Great trip. Great Friends. Great Fun.

 

[LexusAllTerrain]

That Montero looks great!

 

[flyingwil]

That Montero looks great!

Yeah, I was encouraging Tony to start a thread on his Montero!