Dang right we did. Both of these trips are worth being reminded of. Thinking seriously about shirtsand Goodie bags next year.
The Heinous Truck in the Magnificent Desert - Big Bend 2017
- Thread starter pmccraney
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Dang right we did. Both of these trips are worth being reminded of. Thinking seriously about shirtsand Goodie bags next year.
I got a shiny new GoPro 5 for Christmas and it this Point it had been in my bag unused the entire trip. I have a little doohickey on my mirror and realize that good GoPro footage is done from different angles and s*** so this is not my best effort But it does allow you to see how narrow the trials were. Like Premature Pat this video will take you beyond this point but I will back be back to Rancheritas Loop after PMC and Andy post up some of the pics they took to date
Bodean
Hot Damn
I print shirts...
Bodean
Hot Damn
DNP would have had to bring his wax after watching that footage! lol
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Robert Earl Keen and Son Volt...appropriate West Texas background music.
Footage from the GoPro looks so much cleaner than the Phantom. I like that mirror vantage point too.
Bodean
Hot Damn
Did y'all ever camp close to water? Would there be an opportunity to use an onboard shower?
Nope. No water anywhere except for a big cistern full of green water.
Bomar
SILVER Star
Only running water in area is Rio Grande.....I would not bath with it. But both National and State park had showers if you needed them.
Andy had a shower setup that seems legit.
Andy had a shower setup that seems legit.
There's a natural hot springs in the SE corner of the NP that overlooks the Rio Grande.
Bomar
SILVER Star
This is an awesome part of the country.....well worth the long ass drive.
As soon as we got started the trail mad a long technical drop that got all of our attention. It was really awesome. The guidebook says west to east is harder but I think going back up this hill would have been much harder than the climbs out to the east of the trail.
The trail is rough and narrow and crosses washes constantly. If you were ever out here during a rain, be prepared for water crossings.
Location marker David saw while we were waiting for Andy and PMc to catch up.
We were driving along and happened across a group of hikers walking down this road with full overnight backpacks. PMc got on the radio and launched into a full rant about backpacking and how if you are dumb enough to do it, at least hike places you can't drive in a damn car. I happen to agree fully. BBRSP is FULL of hikes I would love to do but they are only accessible by foot or I would drive em........
The east end of the trail has an old ranch house called Javelin Pens. We stopped and made a sammich and wandered around and looked the place over.
Fact.......
The trail is rough and narrow and crosses washes constantly. If you were ever out here during a rain, be prepared for water crossings.
Location marker David saw while we were waiting for Andy and PMc to catch up.
We were driving along and happened across a group of hikers walking down this road with full overnight backpacks. PMc got on the radio and launched into a full rant about backpacking and how if you are dumb enough to do it, at least hike places you can't drive in a damn car. I happen to agree fully. BBRSP is FULL of hikes I would love to do but they are only accessible by foot or I would drive em........
The east end of the trail has an old ranch house called Javelin Pens. We stopped and made a sammich and wandered around and looked the place over.
Fact.......
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So, I missed this conversation, but when PMc, Lou and Andy were making friends with Deputy Dog way back on Friday, someone in the office said Mexicali Camp was the best in the park. "Way better than Guale 2" was what the person said. Hearing this, there was no damn way I was leaving the park without seeing this since I was truly in love with Guale 2. We nosed out of Javalin Pens and saw this sign and we knew we were good.....
Turns out Epic Trail is a designation for top mountain bike trails in the world. No f'ing way I am riding a bike up these hills but if that floats your boat, BBRSP is your place.
The trail here turns south and Mexicali was just a mile down so we decided to check it out. The climb up to the mesa the campsite was on was simply awesome. Steep. Loose......awesome. I did not take pics up, but I did take some coming back down.
Turns out Mexicali was weak at best. Another one-way trail that was less than awesome. There was a camp set up in there and the guys had pulled old some 5x8 white box trailers up there and set up camp. It was about to blow away when we turned around in their camp. We never saw them and I bet they were not happy when they got back.
When we got back to the main road it was about 1:30 and PMc had made a statement about wanting to be out of there heading north by 3:00. I saw that Churro Vista was a mere 4 miles to the south and after reading the info on it, I cajoled the two of them to follow me down to see it.
The drive there was unremarkable but the end was fully worth it.
Unfortunately the wind was at about 40 mph steady with 50-60 gusts and we could barely stand at the edge without being blown over. PMc was almost able to lean into it but his head being neatly shaven was just too aerodynamic and he was still falling over
At this point we were at the end of the line. Everything from this point on was home. Its an empty feeling knowing this but I still had the goal of getting past Fort Davis before dark so we hammered down.
This is the steep hill you drive up to get on the mesa for Churro Vista and Mexicali.
It was a beautiful drive down as the entire park seemed to be in front of us
Turns out Epic Trail is a designation for top mountain bike trails in the world. No f'ing way I am riding a bike up these hills but if that floats your boat, BBRSP is your place.
The trail here turns south and Mexicali was just a mile down so we decided to check it out. The climb up to the mesa the campsite was on was simply awesome. Steep. Loose......awesome. I did not take pics up, but I did take some coming back down.
Turns out Mexicali was weak at best. Another one-way trail that was less than awesome. There was a camp set up in there and the guys had pulled old some 5x8 white box trailers up there and set up camp. It was about to blow away when we turned around in their camp. We never saw them and I bet they were not happy when they got back.
When we got back to the main road it was about 1:30 and PMc had made a statement about wanting to be out of there heading north by 3:00. I saw that Churro Vista was a mere 4 miles to the south and after reading the info on it, I cajoled the two of them to follow me down to see it.
The drive there was unremarkable but the end was fully worth it.
Unfortunately the wind was at about 40 mph steady with 50-60 gusts and we could barely stand at the edge without being blown over. PMc was almost able to lean into it but his head being neatly shaven was just too aerodynamic and he was still falling over
At this point we were at the end of the line. Everything from this point on was home. Its an empty feeling knowing this but I still had the goal of getting past Fort Davis before dark so we hammered down.
This is the steep hill you drive up to get on the mesa for Churro Vista and Mexicali.
It was a beautiful drive down as the entire park seemed to be in front of us
Nolen is right, drive to Chorros Vista was meh, but man the payoff was great. Awesome look at the 'flatirons' that make sup the solitaire, as well as what was probably the most expansive view of the trip.
Near the time we were eating sammiches and taking average pictures at Javalen Pens the first of our group, who we now refer to as Token, was exiting his cavity search at the Marfa Border Patrol station and looking east at the funny looking clouds in the sky......
