200 Trip Planning

[JamesC]

Hi all,

I think there might be opportunity for us to plan quick trips to get out more. What better way to see 200 things in action; suspension, bumpers, etc. than to see them in action on the trail. We definitely need to maintain our annuals in Ouray that @codyaustin puts together but we also have all year otherwise.

We always have a couple of things planned 'next' and it would be awesome to have others along if all worked out. We'll post here when planning and maybe others also like this idea and will do the same. I'm sure, like us, most of you don't care if people come in a 200, a ford ranger or a G63 6x6 but its also cool to see what others have done with the same truck. Also, cannibalisation for spares if the situation gets very serious.

 

[JamesC]

Feb 5-9 or 10. South Texas

If interested in the below we can continue discussing via email We'll be in the 200, towing an m1101 camp trailer, two dogs and will be self sufficient.


In 2.5 weeks we are planning a trip that depends on the weather. Either the desert or beach, both approx the same distance and time from DFW.

Option 1 is Black Gap (Fish Camp 22-24ish):

Black Gap WMA

It is a very remote part of the Big Bend country on what is already an extremely remote part of the world. It reminds me most of Namibia/Botswana or Morocco. The above video covers a bit. Our plan is to go about 3X their coverage. There are fish camps set up (FC1 - FC 24) along the river/border and we plan for one in the 20s, so quite far.

If you are interested; search Black Gap WMA for pics/info. You can also search Big Bend for photos and info of the surrounding areas. We've never gone this far into Black Gap but I am told by someone who would know that a stock 200 will work. Maybe sliders.

Good info of the park in general here. I have lived and traveled to many parts of the world. If you like the desert you will like this area - it is one of my favourite.

Big Bend National Park travel guide - Wikitravel



Option 2 is Padre National Sea Shore

http://www.nps.gov/pais/index.htm

http://www.nps.gov/pais/planyourvisit/upload/BeachDriving.pdf


We've never been here but have read up. Soft roading with just sand traversal for many miles. Dunes, etc. I believe the undeveloped beach is <70miles long. We'd plan to go fairly deep to find a good remote spot

Let us know if anyone is interested!

 

[9780LC]

If there are no forest fires, I'll be doing the Magruder (ID/MT) and Lolo (ID) trails in mid to late September. Anyone is welcome to join.

Magruder

Lolo

 

[JamesC]

Black Gap WMA confirmed: Feb 4-10. Let us know if interested.

Black Gap WMA: Rules

We'll be camping with two dogs and going to the farthest fish camp that ends at the Rio Bravo. You will need to be able to carry extra gas and our last fill will be at Marathon (we can help carry cans if needed). It will probably be most of the day of rough off road to reach camp though we've never been this deep so will want to stay flexible. Weather looks perfect.

Plan to bring hunters orange for any dogs although I doubt there will be anyone within quite a long distance to this spot. Through glass our Malinois looks a bit like a black faced coyote and our Beauceron a skinny bear so we try to be overly safe in this way. Black bears and Mtn Lions in the area as well as big horned sheep and a TON of rattle snakes. It's a herpetology hot bed which is what first drew me. Mexico is a stones throw across the river. It's deep desert and 0 population. Self sufficiency is important

 

[TonyP]

Any plans to do the Baja to Cabo and back?

 

[JamesC]

Any plans to do the Baja to Cabo and back?

We weren't planning to go that far South but if there is someone who really wants it we may be in. I prefer to explore the Cortez side maybe down to Mulege.

 

[TonyP]

Sounds good, I might be interested if that's the case depending on the timing.

 

[JamesC]

If there are no forest fires, I'll be doing the Magruder (ID/MT) and Lolo (ID) trails in mid to late September. Anyone is welcome to join.


@9780LC I think we will continue on after Ouray to Oregon and visit family. Early Aug workable? The closest we've camped is Hells Canyon on the Snake and it's a beautiful part of the world.

 

[9780LC]

I have another off-road trip planned in mid/late August. I'll be doing 1/2 of the Oregon Back Country Discovery Route 3 and all of OBCDR 2 and then head on to the Steens Mountain loop. The trip will start at the Hoodoo ski area W of Sisters, Oregon. I can provide more details if anyone is interested.

 

[Adrift]

How was the trip out here to BGWMA?

 

[JamesC]

How was the trip out here to BGWMA?

Pretty stellar for everything except wildlife, two Trachemys gaigeae gaigeae and a few birds, Cactus Wren, Scaled Qual and a couple of hard to ID birds, maybe a black chinned hummer and then some kind of very drab flycatcher? Here's a trip report I filed elsewhere. Since you know the WMA well, assuming ranger?, we decided on FC20 which I think would be hard to beat:



We spend a fair amount of time in Big Bend country but have never gone this deep down the Rio Bravo nor this early in the year. As most of you who travel in this part of the world, or similar latitudes, know it can be bitterly cold or oppressively hot without too much in-between.

We just had a perfect Goldilocks week except for the desert life still bring hunkered down; lows in the 30s, highs in the 60s and bright and sunny day after day. Only two good wind storms - which I consider a great ratio

Everyone who travels somewhere 'else' in TX knows you start in the dark and welcome the day with long shadows






By lunch time, eight hours in, we're starting to see what we are here for




Exit the pavement and it's always a nice start




Dry and tranquil now but we have to keep an eye on the weather because of what these turn into:




Maybe the most beautiful place we've ever set up our Dutch Oven in Brewster county?:



Dogs were pretty comfortable on the riverbed silt - until the evening windstorms anyway




Hard to argue with this camp kitchen view of the Rio Bravo. MEX is a rock skip away






Around camp









Sunset on the Cerro el Sombrero






@Adrift, do you know this track by chance?

Really great trip even if there was essentially no wildlife to be seen this early

 

[Adrift]

I work at Black Gap W.M.A. as a Wildlife Technician, considering the remoteness of the area I also live on the area. F.Y.I there are no rangers for WMAs, anyone venturing out into the backcountry is truly on their own in that regard.

Fish Camp 20 is a really great spot, we are in the process now of tidying up the majority of the camps; clearing brush and doing road maintenance, etc.

As far as that track is concerned, it would appear to be a coyote, hard to tell though.