Triplesnake
Adventurer
What could be more romantic than camping in the desert for Valentine’s Day?
We were able to take an extra day off to make a longer weekend out of the president’s day holiday, so we decided to head down to Big Bend Ranch State Park for some solitude. Leaving on Thursday night, we made it as far as South Llano River State park for a quick overnight stop. Entering the park, we were greeted be a sounder of wild pigs along the road, at least 3 big sows and a huge group of little piglets. They stopped and grazed in the bright off-road lights of the Pathfinder. On our way out of the park the next morning, a group of Turkeys crossed in front of us in almost the same spot. This park is great for wildlife viewing.
We made our way through Marfa, stopping at Buns and Roses café for lunch, and then into Big Bend Ranch without incident. We stopped to air down at the beginning of the almost 30 miles of gravel to get to the park HQ.
After checking in with the ranger station, we made our way down the rocky road to Guale 1 campsite, our first spot for the night.
We enjoyed the scenery and flora of this spot.
The next morning we were back at the HQ checking in for or next campsite, the gal working the front desk suggested we take a hike to the ruins of an old homestead. The trail followed a dry creek bed for most of the way. Hiking in creek beds can more wild and technical than your average maintained trail.
At one point as we were passing a spring fed pool, two Aoudad sheep squirted out of the valley and bounded up the far side. One bounced off of a large rock, dislodging it. We stood in awe as this large rock, probably 300-400lb, came crashing down the valley wall, at one point careening off of a vertical drop and slamming into the rock below with a thunderous impact. It kept going down the valley, smashing everything in its path, until it finally found it resting spot for probably the next thousand years. At one point we lost the trail and did some more wild bouldering down the creek bed. We were on the verge of turning around when I spotted the trail up the side of the valley, and we were able to find Casa Reza. I can’t imagine building a house in this remote spot in the desert. There was even a large furnishing that considering it size and weight, I can’t fathom getting it back there without a helicopter, yet there it is.
The desert isn't in full bloom yet, but spring is coming!
After finishing the hike, we made our way to our camp spot for the next two days, Yedra 2. We were treated to great desert sunset.
The next day we made the hike to Cueva Larga. The cave has some petroglyphs, and a garden of ferns growing out of a wall of ancient flow stone where there is still some water seeping out.
We did some more exploring and then made our way back to camp to set up for dinner and enjoy another nice sunset show.
The next morning we were up early to break camp and get on the road for the long drive home, which started out with a loose rocky climb out of the valley where we were camped.
Then the 20 miles of gravel, and then many hours on pavement with the cruise control set at 80mph. We barely made it home before dark, dusty and tired. Doesn’t that sound romantic?
We were able to take an extra day off to make a longer weekend out of the president’s day holiday, so we decided to head down to Big Bend Ranch State Park for some solitude. Leaving on Thursday night, we made it as far as South Llano River State park for a quick overnight stop. Entering the park, we were greeted be a sounder of wild pigs along the road, at least 3 big sows and a huge group of little piglets. They stopped and grazed in the bright off-road lights of the Pathfinder. On our way out of the park the next morning, a group of Turkeys crossed in front of us in almost the same spot. This park is great for wildlife viewing.
We made our way through Marfa, stopping at Buns and Roses café for lunch, and then into Big Bend Ranch without incident. We stopped to air down at the beginning of the almost 30 miles of gravel to get to the park HQ.
After checking in with the ranger station, we made our way down the rocky road to Guale 1 campsite, our first spot for the night.
We enjoyed the scenery and flora of this spot.
The next morning we were back at the HQ checking in for or next campsite, the gal working the front desk suggested we take a hike to the ruins of an old homestead. The trail followed a dry creek bed for most of the way. Hiking in creek beds can more wild and technical than your average maintained trail.
At one point as we were passing a spring fed pool, two Aoudad sheep squirted out of the valley and bounded up the far side. One bounced off of a large rock, dislodging it. We stood in awe as this large rock, probably 300-400lb, came crashing down the valley wall, at one point careening off of a vertical drop and slamming into the rock below with a thunderous impact. It kept going down the valley, smashing everything in its path, until it finally found it resting spot for probably the next thousand years. At one point we lost the trail and did some more wild bouldering down the creek bed. We were on the verge of turning around when I spotted the trail up the side of the valley, and we were able to find Casa Reza. I can’t imagine building a house in this remote spot in the desert. There was even a large furnishing that considering it size and weight, I can’t fathom getting it back there without a helicopter, yet there it is.
The desert isn't in full bloom yet, but spring is coming!
After finishing the hike, we made our way to our camp spot for the next two days, Yedra 2. We were treated to great desert sunset.
The next day we made the hike to Cueva Larga. The cave has some petroglyphs, and a garden of ferns growing out of a wall of ancient flow stone where there is still some water seeping out.
We did some more exploring and then made our way back to camp to set up for dinner and enjoy another nice sunset show.
The next morning we were up early to break camp and get on the road for the long drive home, which started out with a loose rocky climb out of the valley where we were camped.
Then the 20 miles of gravel, and then many hours on pavement with the cruise control set at 80mph. We barely made it home before dark, dusty and tired. Doesn’t that sound romantic?
