kai38
Explorer
I'll try my hand at a trip report,
Big Bend State Park & Big Bend National Park trip report for 3-13-17-2011
I was invited to come along with a friend and his family during spring break to both parks.
We looked over maps for weeks then got together & discussed the routes we wanted to take and areas we wanted to see.
Up to a week before the day we were planning to leave we were going to enter BBNP from Marathon TX get our permits then drive Old Ore road, get to our camp site then follow the river rd from east to west.
That changed since people that were coming from the east canceled. So since we were coming from the west he would now hit BBSP first.
We meet at 700am and hit the I-10 to Van Horn stopped and looked at a Prada display out side of Valentine TX. Why this is here I don't understand. There were women drooling at the displays inside the building when we stopped.
I got a call from a friend that was watching my route on SPOT from Iraq (which is pretty cool) & said we needed to eat at the Pizza Foundation in Marfa TX. We were ahead of him, a pizza was already ordered by phone and was ready when we walked in to the old converted gas station. This was some of the best pizza I've had. Sorry no picture it was eatten too fast to get a shot.People coming in behind us were told it would take 45 min to an hr to get their order out.
After lunch we back tracked to TX 2810 Pinto Canyon Rd following it to TX 170 after a stop at the Hot springs. Saw a few dual sport bikes there great scenery awesome views back in this area.
After the springs it was a mad dash for the BBSP headquarters before 4:30 when they lock the gates.
We arrived late but found out they were there till 5:30. Got some backcountry camp permits and headed into the backcountry. We stayed at McGurik campgrounds for our 1st night in BBSP (N29 28.244 W103 49.056)
After breakfast we headed to trails that were marked in yellow on the map. These were un-maintained 4 wheel drive only roads. After about 500 yds into the trail we were stopped by erosion in the road.
No chance to back out because of the condition of the road so we had to use the pull pal & winch on the 80 to get us through. After that we need to use the strap to pull the 80 backwards off a small rut in the rd & for the FJ Cruiser to get up the hill also.
The controller was left on the front bumper when we got going again and the plug got torn off, luckily we didn't need the winch for the rest of the trip.
After wheeling through the park we had to go back to the park headquarters for the next nights permits. We talked the ranger into selling us the permits for the next night for the northern end of the park so we wouldn't have to come back for them.
We got to our camp site Las Burras 3 (N29 25.771 W104 04.139)for a great sun set dinner, cigars and discussion on how to cure the worlds problems.
Day 3 we headed for the northern end of the park. This place is huge & the people that ranched out here were some tough people.
We headed up 169 to a trail that took us to a river crossing, water was very low, but seeing how wide the wash was I was amazed how much water flows through a desert. The river was at least 100yds across, big trees on the sides with lots of shade for lunch.
After looking for a half hour for the trail we found it and kept climbing higher where we had our only flat. A stick the size of a pencil stabbed the side wall on the front tire on the FZJ80. Easy fix with 2 plugs, high lift & compressor.
On to some ruins at a spring.(N29 43.806 W104 10.258) When we arrived some Javalina took off to hide till we left.
From there we headed for the 3rd night camp at Papalote De La Sierra CG (N29 44.863 W104 07.562). The road was really washed out, steep & loose rocks, the road looked like it hadn't be used in a long time, not tire tracks were seen.
We planned the next day's route to BBNP
Another great sunrise and we were off to BBNP this morning.
We followed the park map & 2 different GPSs and came across 2 small cemeteries & 2 adobe ruins.
We had lunch in this area re-fueled both cruisers & headed to a LOCKED gate. We had cell phone coverage, one of the few times we did & called the park headquarters. They advised us we had wandered on to private property and missed the turn to go along the fence line.
After back tracking with the 80 in the lead he came to a dead stop on an off cambered section. The pucker factor was high with his kids and brother inside.
I went to help and stood on the sliders while his brother and son climbed out the rear passenger side window and all counter balanced the 80 to get through.
He was loaded down pretty good on the rack, RTT and gear. It was nerve wracking. We discussed later what the plan would be for a rolled vehicles to get it back on its wheel if it had just fallen over. Hopefully we don't need to try our theories out.
After airing up we now had the mad dash to get to BBNP in time before they closed, no chance, we stopped and took pics along the river rd TX 170 to Study Butte, all the campgrounds were taken & only back country campgrounds were open.
We dry camped and went to the park headquarters in the morning.
No permits were needed for travel in the back country so we took off for the river rd. Stopping to get pictures along the way.
We got to the river road and followed it from west to east. Got stuck behind a dual sport mo-ped that was having a rough time back in there. Also stopped to talk to someone in a very nice set up FJ62 with NY State plates. Stopped at the intersection to Black Gap rd for lunch & headed to the Gap.
I drove the rd 5 yrs ago & thought it was tougher then it was this time. There was some off camber parts of the road going up hill but nothing to worry about if going slow & being careful.
We got back on the hard pack headed to Marathon, topped off our tanks with the spare fuel we had and headed home.
998.7 miles round trip from driveway to driveway. Great views, a fun group to travel with.
I have more pictures to posted here http://www.pbase.com/kai38/big_bend_tx_2011 I'll also be posting up pictures from everyone else too.
Big Bend State Park & Big Bend National Park trip report for 3-13-17-2011
I was invited to come along with a friend and his family during spring break to both parks.
We looked over maps for weeks then got together & discussed the routes we wanted to take and areas we wanted to see.
Up to a week before the day we were planning to leave we were going to enter BBNP from Marathon TX get our permits then drive Old Ore road, get to our camp site then follow the river rd from east to west.
That changed since people that were coming from the east canceled. So since we were coming from the west he would now hit BBSP first.
We meet at 700am and hit the I-10 to Van Horn stopped and looked at a Prada display out side of Valentine TX. Why this is here I don't understand. There were women drooling at the displays inside the building when we stopped.
I got a call from a friend that was watching my route on SPOT from Iraq (which is pretty cool) & said we needed to eat at the Pizza Foundation in Marfa TX. We were ahead of him, a pizza was already ordered by phone and was ready when we walked in to the old converted gas station. This was some of the best pizza I've had. Sorry no picture it was eatten too fast to get a shot.People coming in behind us were told it would take 45 min to an hr to get their order out.
After lunch we back tracked to TX 2810 Pinto Canyon Rd following it to TX 170 after a stop at the Hot springs. Saw a few dual sport bikes there great scenery awesome views back in this area.
After the springs it was a mad dash for the BBSP headquarters before 4:30 when they lock the gates.
We arrived late but found out they were there till 5:30. Got some backcountry camp permits and headed into the backcountry. We stayed at McGurik campgrounds for our 1st night in BBSP (N29 28.244 W103 49.056)
After breakfast we headed to trails that were marked in yellow on the map. These were un-maintained 4 wheel drive only roads. After about 500 yds into the trail we were stopped by erosion in the road.
No chance to back out because of the condition of the road so we had to use the pull pal & winch on the 80 to get us through. After that we need to use the strap to pull the 80 backwards off a small rut in the rd & for the FJ Cruiser to get up the hill also.
The controller was left on the front bumper when we got going again and the plug got torn off, luckily we didn't need the winch for the rest of the trip.
After wheeling through the park we had to go back to the park headquarters for the next nights permits. We talked the ranger into selling us the permits for the next night for the northern end of the park so we wouldn't have to come back for them.
We got to our camp site Las Burras 3 (N29 25.771 W104 04.139)for a great sun set dinner, cigars and discussion on how to cure the worlds problems.
Day 3 we headed for the northern end of the park. This place is huge & the people that ranched out here were some tough people.
We headed up 169 to a trail that took us to a river crossing, water was very low, but seeing how wide the wash was I was amazed how much water flows through a desert. The river was at least 100yds across, big trees on the sides with lots of shade for lunch.
After looking for a half hour for the trail we found it and kept climbing higher where we had our only flat. A stick the size of a pencil stabbed the side wall on the front tire on the FZJ80. Easy fix with 2 plugs, high lift & compressor.
On to some ruins at a spring.(N29 43.806 W104 10.258) When we arrived some Javalina took off to hide till we left.
From there we headed for the 3rd night camp at Papalote De La Sierra CG (N29 44.863 W104 07.562). The road was really washed out, steep & loose rocks, the road looked like it hadn't be used in a long time, not tire tracks were seen.
We planned the next day's route to BBNP
Another great sunrise and we were off to BBNP this morning.
We followed the park map & 2 different GPSs and came across 2 small cemeteries & 2 adobe ruins.
We had lunch in this area re-fueled both cruisers & headed to a LOCKED gate. We had cell phone coverage, one of the few times we did & called the park headquarters. They advised us we had wandered on to private property and missed the turn to go along the fence line.
After back tracking with the 80 in the lead he came to a dead stop on an off cambered section. The pucker factor was high with his kids and brother inside.
I went to help and stood on the sliders while his brother and son climbed out the rear passenger side window and all counter balanced the 80 to get through.
He was loaded down pretty good on the rack, RTT and gear. It was nerve wracking. We discussed later what the plan would be for a rolled vehicles to get it back on its wheel if it had just fallen over. Hopefully we don't need to try our theories out.
After airing up we now had the mad dash to get to BBNP in time before they closed, no chance, we stopped and took pics along the river rd TX 170 to Study Butte, all the campgrounds were taken & only back country campgrounds were open.
We dry camped and went to the park headquarters in the morning.
No permits were needed for travel in the back country so we took off for the river rd. Stopping to get pictures along the way.
We got to the river road and followed it from west to east. Got stuck behind a dual sport mo-ped that was having a rough time back in there. Also stopped to talk to someone in a very nice set up FJ62 with NY State plates. Stopped at the intersection to Black Gap rd for lunch & headed to the Gap.
I drove the rd 5 yrs ago & thought it was tougher then it was this time. There was some off camber parts of the road going up hill but nothing to worry about if going slow & being careful.
We got back on the hard pack headed to Marathon, topped off our tanks with the spare fuel we had and headed home.
998.7 miles round trip from driveway to driveway. Great views, a fun group to travel with.
I have more pictures to posted here http://www.pbase.com/kai38/big_bend_tx_2011 I'll also be posting up pictures from everyone else too.
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