O-fficial Big Bend Multi-chapter run Thread (Feb 2008)

[TinStar]

Well, it's that time of year again. I feel the call of the Chisos Mountains to go back to the desert. Brett Naquin (Brettinsanantonio) and I (Tin Star) are putting together a multi-chapter run to the Big Bend area. Members from LSLC DFW, LSLC Austin, Alamo City Cruisers, Texas Land Cruiser Club- Houston, and TTR are invited to attend.

The trip is scheduled for February 21st-25th, 2008. We will spend a couple of days traveling the roads of Terlingua Ranch and Solatario, visiting the Terlingua Ghost town (and starlight theater) as well as a day or two in the Big Bend National Park. If you have never been, ask someone who has....you will not be disappointed. It will be a great trip for anyone who wishes to attend.

We plan on doing mostly expedition style wheeling, with a little creek bed exploration for a little more challenging run if people would like. I have never been when I did not see lots of wildlife and interesting landscapes.

We are tentatively planning on using my adobe house as a "base of operations" and gathering point to heading off into the wilderness. Space inside the house is limited, but there are plenty of places nearby to pitch a tent with amazing views. The adobe house is available for use for all the amenities of home (toilets, running water, etc.) for those camping nearby. For those that would like a little more comfort, you can make accommodations at the Terlingua Ranch Lodge where they have cabins available for rent, along with a restaurant and gift shop. It is not far from the adobe and we can all meet up prior to our daily excursions.

http://www.terlinguaranch.com/

Some links to previous trip photos....

http://www.slide.com/r/UFLRvg9s1D-NXtRS2WFM7_LFPiF-K0fb?view=original

Picasa Web Albums - Brett - Terlingua Ran...

If anyone has any questions, feel free to pm or email myself or Brett.

P.S. Merry Christmas everyone.

[airlaird]

Chris I presume the weather will be pretty darn cold??
Steve

[TinStar]

Not necessarily. I've been out there before at this time and it was 70-80 during the day, but then again I've been there when the highs were in the 30s also. You can never tell.

There could be snow, or you could be wearing shorts.

[BrettinSanAntonio]

Day's should be pleasent, nights cold. But Chris is right, you can never really know for sure.

[wdwgdas]

Is this still on? Is ther more info?

Eric

[TinStar]

This trip is still on.....

What would you like to know? I'll be leaving sometime on Thursday and staying til at least Sunday. P.M. me or post any questions, and I'll be happy to answer them as best I can.

[BrettinSanAntonio]

It's only a month away!

[BrettinSanAntonio]

[crustyman]

Tin keep me informed. I make no promises of going but I would like to. My Mom has a place in Terlingua Ranch. I live in Odessa so if you need a resting point look me up.
Crustyman

[TEXASLAWMAN]

bump time is near 17 days...

[rrdogma]

Originally Posted by TEXASLAWMAN

bump time is near 17 days...

BC w00t?

[BrettinSanAntonio]

How are things coming up there? I haven't heard a peep from Chris on our plans. Chris, you out there?

[TinStar]

Brett,

I sent you a pm. Did you get it?

[BrettinSanAntonio]

Originally Posted by TinStar

Brett,

I sent you a pm. Did you get it?

No, not yet.

[TinStar]

I replied to yours a couple of days ago. I'll re-type another one........

[TinStar]

I just re-replied to your pm.

[peepers]

did this happen? after just moving here from new england i am dying for a trip just like this... a write up? pics?

[TinStar]

Hey all. Got back into town from the Big Bend on Monday, February 25th. Sorry I missed seeing everyone at the meeting, but I had to finish my packing and put the Landcruiser on the trailer. We had a good trip. It was a family trip. The group trip got postponed, so I went out with my wife and son to meet my parents who were already out there.

We got up at 3 am Friday morning, loaded the Chevy 2500hd and hit the road about 4am. Went west on IH30 until it turned into IH20. I wanted to beat the morning traffic and our start time seemed to work. The diesel pulled the trailered Cruiser without a hitch….sure was nice. Jacob watched movies on the mounted DVD player and played his game boy while Kelli and I had the XM radio to listen to in the back of beyond. Jacob was a trooper for the whole 10 hr. trip. I was surprised at how well he traveled.

We stopped off for gas near Midland at a flying J, then again in Monahans. We still had a half a tank, but there is NOTHING between Monahans and Alpine so we topped off the tank and continued south. We made our last stop in Alpine to top off again and grab some lunch before heading to the mesa.

We met my parents out at our adobe house on Jack Eden Mesa at around 4pm. My parents had already been out there for two weeks before we arrived. My dad had just finished building his overlook patio where he wants his ashes scattered from when he dies. The trip took 10 hrs from my front drive in Rowlett to the driveway of the adobe, including all 3 stops. We spent the evening sitting on the front porch and watching the sunset. My dad had bought Jacob a Daisy Red Rider BB gun and he got to spend some papaw time with Jacob teaching him about safety and how to shoot it properly. Jacob had a blast putting tiny holes in a target and knocking down tin cans on the road. I know dad did too.


The next day we drove around Terlingua Ranch and Solotario. We drove up Terlingua Creek for a while until we found a grove of Cottonwood trees in which to have lunch. Spooked a fox on the way and watched him watching us.

We saw some interesting sights. Some guy has built a castle looking tower in one of the most remote areas of the region. You're driving around and next thing you know, you see a castle tower on top of a hill. He even has a solid oak door that looks like it would have come from England. Where he built the tower has no trails to drive up to it. He must have carried each stone up, or used some other form of transportation to get the rocks up to where he built it. It was quite a feat of engineering.

We also found an old rock dam in one of the dry riverbeds. I have no idea how long it has been there, but the backside had filled up with silt over the years so now it is only a waterfall.



Saw several deer, the fox and several species of birds before heading back to the adobe for dinner.

That evening we were graced with the presence of Freddy and Flossy the foxes. They have a den near the adobe and always come up in the evening to say hello. We usually leave the leftovers for them to eat. Dad had some pepperoni sticks that he did not like, so he would pull a piece off and toss it to Freddy. Each time he tossed it, he would come up a little bit shorter until Freddy was about 5 feet from him. He then tossed the rest of the stick to Freddy who took it and wondered off with Flossy on his heels. We also had about 10 javelina pigs wonder up to the house where we had laid out some corn on the road. They did not seem to concern themselves with us much watching from the porch 20 yards away while they ate. That was the first time they had wandered up while it was still light out. Made a nice evening. That night Dad spent some time with Jacob teaching him about the big dipper, little dipper, the North Star and some other constellations. The full moon wouldn’t come up for about an hour and a half after it was dark so you could see every star in the sky. We even played “who could find the most satellites” which Jacob won, of course. They look like moving stars.



Sunday was a short trip to Bee Cave Canyon and back. We wanted to just relax and enjoy being away from things, so we just sat on the porch and grilled some burgers while the sun set. Freddy and Flossy joined us again for dinner before retiring.


Monday morning we got up around 5:15am and jumped into the truck to head home. After trailering the Cruiser at the bottom of the mesa, we headed out. The trip home was uneventful. We only had to stop twice for gas on the way back. We had topped off in Alpine and that lasted us all the way to Sweetwater. I guess the 30 mph tailwind really helped out. We got home in about 9.5 hours.

The Big Bend is some beautiful country. If you have never been, you should make the trip at least once. I bet you would love it. Hope to see ya’ll soon.

[TinStar]

A few more pics:

Having lunch in a grove of Cottonwoods in Solotario.


Driving a creek bed to get to the rock dam....


Jacob and me at Bee Cave Canyon...

[cbmontgo]

Sounds awesome. I can't view the pics for some reason; maybe it's my computer acting up...

[BrettinSanAntonio]

Originally Posted by peepers

did this happen? after just moving here from new england i am dying for a trip just like this... a write up? pics?

The group trip was postponed and Chris did a family trip instead. We'll be heading out there some time in the spring.

[spaldam]

Sweat. I might be able to make a spring run.

As for the pics. They are posted on a secured site that many of us don't have access to, so we can't see them.

[peepers]

i would be very interested in a spring run. just have to get the a/c fixed! you might be thinking who is this guy? my name is peter, i just joined the group. i recently moved down from boston ma. i look forward to meeting you guys, seems like a great group.

[TinStar]

I have edited my previous posts to reload the pictures. Here are some more.


The rock tower in Solotariio...




Jacob setting up cans for his bb gun....


Jacob on the overlook next to the house....

[TinStar]

The tow rig.....


Another picture of the tower....