Big Bend Treffen - June 11th to 14th

texas pinzgauer · Post by **texas pinzgauer** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 9:01 am

I'll be showing my inexperience with this question but here goes...

I had been working on creating several maps to show the various routes we'll consider for the June trip to Big Bend but a friend pointed out something that made sense so I'm now rethinking that plan. The Big Bend / Trans Pecos region is vast and maps of our potential routes would probably fill a book. His suggestion was to go with a GPS device that one or several of us on the trip could use as real navigational aids with maps as strictly back up and general knowledge resources.

As I don't have a GPS unit currently (but my birthday is coming up next month!) I may pull the trigger on one and have this buddy load the data we need for the June trip and then still have maps available for everyone so that we know generally where we are.

For the folks in the western US and Peter "down under", who have miles and miles and miles of offroad access, this probably sounds like a silly item to even bring up but it's a new and unfamilar topic for me.

For those who use GPS devices on a regular basis when offroading, please give me your thoughts on the best (easiest, most useful and most cost effective) way for us to have a useful mapping resource for this outing. If there's a particular unit you like, please share your thoughts on that too.

Thanks!

andy · Post by **andy** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 10:10 am

We are back to www.delorme.com. Check out their PN-20 and PN-40 units and the TOPOUSA 7.0 software. You can download Topo 7.0 to your home computer and create all the routes you want, share them, and even upload them to your handheld. The handheld can be put in a RAM mount on your windshield and not only help you navigate but doubles as a dandy speedometer.

I have both a PN-20 and a PN-40. The only real difference I have seen is the PN-40 has more memory.

I used the Topo USA 7 software last year to lay out the route and check on it before the pre-run.

Andy

texas pinzgauer · Post by **texas pinzgauer** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 10:16 am

Thanks for the suggestion Andy. As I look at their website (and Garmin's), it looks like each manufacturer has dozens of units so now I need to figure out how to determine what I need and not get bogged down with considering options and cool features I don't really need.

Keep the suggestions coming folks.

ablank · Post by **ablank** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:02 pm

If you want you can borrow my Garmin to see how you like it and I can show you how the topo/mapping software works on a laptop. I'll bring the gear out to Spring Creek this weekend

texas pinzgauer · Post by **texas pinzgauer** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 2:49 pm

That would be great Adam. You can show me how it all works as we're watching other people trash their trucks at the rock crawling event at Spring Creek.

Thanks,

David

texas pinzgauer · Post by **texas pinzgauer** » Mon May 04, 2009 10:14 am

Folks,

I'm putting the finishing touches on the details for the trip to Big Bend the second weekend of June. We've got a variety of potential routes to consider for the 2 days of off roading and I can (but have not yet done so) reserve a block of room at a motel in Study Butte. If you're interested in joining us for this trip, please PM me or post any questions here and we'll try to get you lined up.

Thanks,

David

texas pinzgauer · Post by **texas pinzgauer** » Tue May 05, 2009 11:05 am

Folks,

You're certainly welcome to find your own accomodations (or even camp out) but this place is cheap and convenient. In fact, those are probably their only attributes. It is not owned by the same folks who own the Ritz Carlton in Laguna Beach so set your expectations a bit lower.

http://www.cmcm.cc/big_bend_lodging_001.htm

When you make your reservations, tell them you're with the off roading group or mention my name.

Continue to PM me if you have questions about this trip. Again, the dates are June 11, 12, 13 and 14.

Thanks,

David

pinztx · Post by **pinztx** » Tue May 05, 2009 4:43 pm

I can't make it this year, but last year we stayed in Lajitas. Just West of there. It was very nice.

Hope this helps.

texas pinzgauer · Post by **texas pinzgauer** » Tue May 05, 2009 4:47 pm

Thanks for the info and the heads up. We'll need to do this when the weather is cooler so hopefully you can join us then.

karoja · Post by **karoja** » Tue May 05, 2009 5:25 pm

David, I use the Garmin GPSMap 76Cx https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=145&pID=350 for my outings. Wish I had bought the one with the barometer included. Granted, there are no charts of Guatemala to speak of, but it helps us keep track of direction (using an external antenna) in the jungle. One of the nice features is that once you have done the route, you can go into Google Earth and overlay your track onto a map. Our 4x4 Association Members also uses mostly Garmin, and are happy with them.

Saludos,

andy · Post by **andy** » Tue May 05, 2009 7:06 pm

Not much in or around Study Butte is 5 star. Chisos Mining company is adequate. If I remember correctly they do NOT have queen size beds. If you are really tall that may impact on you.

The lady there is nice people.

Andy

texas pinzgauer · Post by **texas pinzgauer** » Wed May 06, 2009 9:13 am

Staying in Lajitas is certainly an option for folks but the Chisos Mining/Easter Egg is cheap and convenient and they have air conditioned rooms so that serves my purposes.

Andy - I believe they have some rooms with queen size beds - call them to confirm and perhaps you could share those results with the forum.

BTW - no one has indicated that they (their additional attendees) wish to do something besides our off roading agenda. If you want to do some rafting, hijing, mountain biking etc...let me know.

texas pinzgauer · Post by **texas pinzgauer** » Wed May 20, 2009 12:10 pm

Someone asked me about bringing along a mountain bike and I think that's probably a fine idea but it will be pretty hot and we will likely get an early start each day so the riding will need happen at the end of the day.

Adam Blank is bringing his "enduro" motorcycle so he can be enjoying the trails while we're in our Pinz's.

texas pinzgauer · Post by **texas pinzgauer** » Fri May 29, 2009 7:36 pm

Our group looks to be about 3 or 4 vehicles. If anyone is considering joining us at big Bend in a couple of weeks, I encourage you to join us. Yeah, it's going to be hot but this is remarkable terrain and we should have a blast. PM with any questions you may have about joining us for this June 11 to 14t outing in far West Texas.

Thanks!

ablank · Post by **ablank** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 2:41 pm

For anyone interested, you can view our progress from Houston to Big Bend through the park and back via this link

http://tinyurl.com/nqtmff

There's no info yet, but tomorrow morning it'll start showing us moving (slowly).

THE PORTAL HUB - Pinzgauers, Haflingers, Volvo 303s and more!

Big Bend Treffen - June 11th to 14th

Big Bend - GPS question

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