Don’t get caught flying that drone in the national park
Builds Project Pikachu: 1977 FJ40 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter cbmontgo
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
- Thread starter
- #982
River Road East.
I landed it any time someone else was in the area. I can definitely see why the noise kills the vibe.
That was a long selfie stick.
I landed it any time someone else was in the area. I can definitely see why the noise kills the vibe.
Pura Vida
What an absolute noob
Knowing the recent trends with UFOs in us territory, you might get a close encounter with an F22 and a sidewinder missile with that selfie stick
reddog90
SILVER Star
You've got the best stories in here. Just missed you this time.
- Thread starter
- #985
Oh man. Looks like Loop camp?You've got the best stories in here. Just missed you this time.
reddog90
SILVER Star
Yes Loop 1
- Thread starter
- #987
- Thread starter
- #988
River Road East.
Aired the rigs down for a nice slow cruise back towards the Chisos Mountains so that we could make it back into Lajitas for dinner.
Ryan's 40 almost immediately popped both rear beads on the Super Swampers.
Luckily Ryan was able to enjoy a beer and supervise while we made the repairs and got his rig back on the road.
Aired the rigs down for a nice slow cruise back towards the Chisos Mountains so that we could make it back into Lajitas for dinner.
Ryan's 40 almost immediately popped both rear beads on the Super Swampers.
Luckily Ryan was able to enjoy a beer and supervise while we made the repairs and got his rig back on the road.
- Thread starter
- #989
It was really an incredible afternoon as we cruised until sundown.
John decided to take a short siesta on the roof. I can't say that this would be comfortable for me, but I guess it's different when you're 15.
John decided to take a short siesta on the roof. I can't say that this would be comfortable for me, but I guess it's different when you're 15.
Turd ass Swampers!! Probably 25 years old
middlecalf
SILVER Star
He'll make a good wildland firefighter someday. I've slept on the roof of a few fire trucks out in the boonies.
Quitter
- Thread starter
- #993
Pretty soon we were back on pavement headed west out of the Park and were ready to eat. There was a crazy long wait at Starlight and High Sierra in Terlingua, so we decided to try a place called the Candelilla Cafe in Lajitas, which was part of the Lajitas Resort. Place was unreal good. We met one of the managers who travels back and forth from Dallas. Kids got embarrassed while we joked about flying cocaína back and forth across the border. The resort has its own 6,500' paved runway, which is very legit. Just sayin.
The night ended with a nightcap for the adults at the Thirsty Goat Saloon next door, kids laughed and hung out by the super cool courtyard fire pit.
Fantastic day.
The night ended with a nightcap for the adults at the Thirsty Goat Saloon next door, kids laughed and hung out by the super cool courtyard fire pit.
Fantastic day.
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #994
Our schedule for the next day was gonna mean a lot of driving. Several years ago, we decided to make it a point to find the elusive Solitario Bar in a small parcel of private land in Big Bend Ranch State Park on our next trip. This spot in on the east side of the Park, but you have to drive all the way to the West side to access the road in.
So, we rolled out early and cruised along FM170, which cruises along the Rio Grande. This is a super cool drive and has one of the steepest hill climbs I've ever seen.
Not long after checking in and getting permits, we were 20+ miles of dirt road into the west side of Big Bend Ranch State Park.
So, we rolled out early and cruised along FM170, which cruises along the Rio Grande. This is a super cool drive and has one of the steepest hill climbs I've ever seen.
Not long after checking in and getting permits, we were 20+ miles of dirt road into the west side of Big Bend Ranch State Park.
- Thread starter
- #996
After a lunch stop and a couple more hours of driving, we came to the spot on the map where the "trailhead" was for the Solitario Bar. We could see some tin roofing material in the distance and started walking that way.
A short hike later, we'd found it.
This is a non-staffed, serve-yourself honor system kind of place where the goal is to leave it better than you found it. It's one of the most interesting things I've ever seen on a 4x4 trip and made the long day of driving totally worth it. I won't post up a ton of pics, but would recommend making the haul to this spot.
The kids milled around, caught a lizard, asked some interesting questions that we couldn't answer, and explored for a bit while we enjoyed a couple of refreshments and marveled at this oddity.
Unfortunately, it couldn't last, as we had to start the long drive back to Lajitas if we had a prayer of getting there in time for dinner.
Being "us", we decided to take the road less traveled as we left the Solitario and found ourselves on an old ranch road that hadn't seen a vehicle in a long time. This proved to be an adventure.
A short hike later, we'd found it.
This is a non-staffed, serve-yourself honor system kind of place where the goal is to leave it better than you found it. It's one of the most interesting things I've ever seen on a 4x4 trip and made the long day of driving totally worth it. I won't post up a ton of pics, but would recommend making the haul to this spot.
The kids milled around, caught a lizard, asked some interesting questions that we couldn't answer, and explored for a bit while we enjoyed a couple of refreshments and marveled at this oddity.
Unfortunately, it couldn't last, as we had to start the long drive back to Lajitas if we had a prayer of getting there in time for dinner.
Being "us", we decided to take the road less traveled as we left the Solitario and found ourselves on an old ranch road that hadn't seen a vehicle in a long time. This proved to be an adventure.
- Thread starter
- #997
We crossed a multitude of deep arroyos as the FJ60 dragged quite a bit due to the longer wheelbase. This trail continued to get narrower and we pushed forward. Eventually, it was to take us back to one of the main roads.
This was not meant to be. Suddenly, Wes' 60 slid sideways into a 4' deep gully and was high-centered.
We walked around like Neanderthals for a few minutes while sizing up the situation. First, we tried to pull it upwards and out with Drew's winch, but this thing was not going anywhere.
The answer, we eventually found out, was a combo of rock stacking, the Hi-Lift, and the trusty 8274. This was a really great way to introduce the boys to working through a challenge in a remote location.
This was not meant to be. Suddenly, Wes' 60 slid sideways into a 4' deep gully and was high-centered.
We walked around like Neanderthals for a few minutes while sizing up the situation. First, we tried to pull it upwards and out with Drew's winch, but this thing was not going anywhere.
The answer, we eventually found out, was a combo of rock stacking, the Hi-Lift, and the trusty 8274. This was a really great way to introduce the boys to working through a challenge in a remote location.
- Thread starter
- #998
Once we got out, Ryan hiked up ahead and noticed that the trail pretty much dwindled away into a horse trail, at best. We needed to backtrack and we became at peace with getting back home late. I'm so glad it worked out this way.
My son said that this evening drive back was his favorite part of the trip.
We caught the coolest slow-motion sunset while we drove west (to get back east to Lajitas). John and I trailed back a mile or so, letting the dust clear. I could occasionally see some red FJ40 tail lights in the distance and it gave me a rough idea of where we were headed.
One of those special nights.
Once we hit pavement, we aired up and BSed with Border Patrol for a few minutes. Got back late and turned in.
My son said that this evening drive back was his favorite part of the trip.
We caught the coolest slow-motion sunset while we drove west (to get back east to Lajitas). John and I trailed back a mile or so, letting the dust clear. I could occasionally see some red FJ40 tail lights in the distance and it gave me a rough idea of where we were headed.
One of those special nights.
Once we hit pavement, we aired up and BSed with Border Patrol for a few minutes. Got back late and turned in.
- Thread starter
- #999
The next day, we wanted to recreate an old pic from a trip back in 2007 when we discovered Terlingua for the first time. On that trip, we accidentally exited the National Park on the west side after two days on River Road and stumbled into a funky, underground joint called La Kiva, which is no longer there. We didn't escape the clutches of Terlingua until the next day and have been in love with the town ever since.
Anyway, back to the pic...
2007: Ryan is to the left in his same FJ40, Wes in his CJ-7 Olympic Edition, and my old (RIP) 1985 FJ60:
2023:
Anyway, back to the pic...
2007: Ryan is to the left in his same FJ40, Wes in his CJ-7 Olympic Edition, and my old (RIP) 1985 FJ60:
2023:
- Thread starter
- #1,000
Shortly after the pic, we had a [f'n horrible] lunch at the Alon gas station (long story) and then helped a group of really cool retired women change a flat on a XC road trip they were taking from East Texas to Arizona. One of them worked for Toyota for 30+ years and had recently sold her 1975 pink FJ40. It was a lot of fun visiting with them and looking through pics of that 40.
Then we were off to Santa Elena Canyon via Old Maverick Road.
This is an interesting spot to check out along this route. This guy raised a family in this house. Pretty amazing.
"Luna's Jacal was the residence of Gilberto Luna, a pioneer Mexican farmer who made a living in this remote area by goatherding and farming along the moist banks of Alamo Creek. He sold goats to his neighbors and nearby miners, and he also sold wood cut in the Chisos. Luna was a well-respected resident and known far and wide throughout the Big Bend.
The jacal (hah-KAHL), a low dugout dwelling, is a great example of a primitive Mexican house-shelter characteristic of early pioneer settlement in the Big Bend area. The house backs up to a large boulder and is remarkably suited to the desert environment. The roof was made of ocotillo branches weighted down with earth and stones.
Luna arrived in 1916, and raised a large family at this site. His farm was one of several along Alamo Creek. His house still stands as a testament to his impressive ability to adapt to the harsh environment of the region and to his diplomatic skills in a frontier and border society."
Then we were off to Santa Elena Canyon via Old Maverick Road.
This is an interesting spot to check out along this route. This guy raised a family in this house. Pretty amazing.
"Luna's Jacal was the residence of Gilberto Luna, a pioneer Mexican farmer who made a living in this remote area by goatherding and farming along the moist banks of Alamo Creek. He sold goats to his neighbors and nearby miners, and he also sold wood cut in the Chisos. Luna was a well-respected resident and known far and wide throughout the Big Bend.
The jacal (hah-KAHL), a low dugout dwelling, is a great example of a primitive Mexican house-shelter characteristic of early pioneer settlement in the Big Bend area. The house backs up to a large boulder and is remarkably suited to the desert environment. The roof was made of ocotillo branches weighted down with earth and stones.
Luna arrived in 1916, and raised a large family at this site. His farm was one of several along Alamo Creek. His house still stands as a testament to his impressive ability to adapt to the harsh environment of the region and to his diplomatic skills in a frontier and border society."
