Big Bend National Park

texas pinzgauer · Post by **texas pinzgauer** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 12:09 pm

Andy,

In the Terlingua "ghost town", I'd recommend the group gather for dinner at the Starlight Cafe. The Big Bend Motor Inn in Study Butte has a gas station/convenience store next door. As you point out, they have camping as an option as well as showers and laundry facilities. I have a BBNP map that I'll mail you. PM me later with your address and then lets also get on the phone.

For what it's worth, my cycling trip out there (Fort Davis) will likely be either the weekend of the 20th or 27th.

Temps in the BBNP will be near 100F during the day and considerably cooler at night. I've ben on the Rio Grande in June and it was CRAZY hot at night but some of that was attributable to the lack of a breeze and lower elevation.

andy · Post by **andy** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 1:07 pm

I've been to the Starlight Cafe years ago. All of the Terlingua "ghost town" is pretty neat. Lots of really different (cool) stuff out in Big Bend.

Yeah, the temps close to the river will probably be warm, but it's a dry heat...heh...heh...heh. It may or may not get to the 100's, but it should be decent traveling in the morning. Close to the river with all the cliffs and carrizo (cane) air does seem to slow down. There is usually as much as a 20 degree temp difference between the river and up in the Basin.

BTW, when I worked in Presidio, way up river, I've seen temps at 10 o'clock at night still at 107 F.

Everybody just needs to make sure they bring an ice chest with lots of water, Gatorade, or whatever for the daytime.

Andy

pm sent

pinztx · Post by **pinztx** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 8:32 pm

Why don't we put down the dates that we can do this and go with the date that the most can go.

I am good for every weekend in June but 19-22.

So I am good for 1st 2nd and 4th weekends

andy · Post by **andy** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:27 pm

I think I'm good for all of them right now, but I'd prefer the earlier part of the month mainly for the much hoped for lower temperatures and also for a slightly lesser chance of rain.

Another thought I had this afternoon was that when I do the pre-run I will post here as far in advance as possible and if someone can't make "the big one" you would be welcome to try making the mini-one. Just a thought.

Andy

I-10pinz · Post by **I-10pinz** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 11:43 pm

Thanks for the consideration guys, yeh the 2nd weekend should be good for me but by no means let it put a krink in the majorities plans. From what its been like when I've been down that way it seems the main needs are shade and cool liquids with it being as Andy said a "dry heat". Good lord seems that there is no possible way I can go more than acouple months without driving west just got back from a race in elpaso this past weekend.

pinztx · Post by **pinztx** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 12:48 pm

So is it the second weekend?

andy · Post by **andy** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 1:29 pm

I-10 Pinz has moved to make the Big Bend Trip the second week end in June. (I read that as 13, 14, and 15 June 2008).

pinztx has seconded the motion.

All in favor raise your right hand.

Andy

Right hand is up and waving

pinztx · Post by **pinztx** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 4:14 pm

Reservations made second weekend.

I-10pinz · Post by **I-10pinz** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 1:07 am

Here here, dunno why just thought that was apropriate, so did we ever decide on the gathering point?

ok nevermind seems Study Butte was it.

andy · Post by **andy** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 3:48 pm

texaspinz was kind enough to send me a "gimme" map of the Big Bend National Park. For those that don't know what a "gimme" is it's an item given away by an entity, usually a business, for information or advertisement. Usually associated with baseball caps here.

Anyway, this map provided by the National Park Service, while short on topographical detail has all of the unpaved roads shown and provides mileages between intersections of other unpaved roads.

The mileages for the proposed route I laid out above are as follows:

1: On Glenn Springs Road from the paved road to the first turn is 2.3 miles/3.7 kilometers.

2:Still on Glenn Springs Road to the Juniper Canyon turn off, 4.5 miles 7.2 kilometers.

3 From the Juniper Canyon turn off to the Black Gap Road turn off, 1.5 miles, 2.4 kilometers

4 Turning right onto Black Gap Road (not maintained = rough) continue to the River Road, 8.5 miles, 13.7 kilometers.

5. Turn left onto the River Road to the Mariscal Mine and then onwards until the junction of Solis Road. I'm anticipating a stop at the mine if anyone else is interested and might need to stretch their legs or whatever. 6.8 miles, 10.9 kilometers

6. At the junction to Solis Road go left on the River Road to the junction with Glenn Springs Road. 4.5 miles, 7.3 kilometers.

7. Continue on the River Road until it rejoins the paved road to Rio Grande Village. 9.5 miles,15.5 kilometers

I have that totaled out to 37.7 miles or 60.6 kilometers. This might be too ambitious. I am guessing that speeds might be slightly higher on everything except the Black Gap Road and the trip could take anywhere from 3 to 6 hours. I'll know more if and when I can do the pre-run.

Right now (I haven't seen it yet either) this sounds good to me. An off road trip that should not be too hard on neither human or machine with about 1/4 of the total trip offering somewhat of a challenge. Once back on the paved road we could make a quick run to Rio Grande Village and to the Boquillas Overlook. The Sierra Del Carmen, behind Boquillas, Coahuila, Mexico are pretty awesome as they appear to rise straight up. My memory of them is that they look like what the White Cliffs of Dover might look like.

Andy

pinztx · Post by **pinztx** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 8:43 am

Sounds like you have a handle on it.

Thanks for all of the time and effort you have put into this.

texas pinzgauer · Post by **texas pinzgauer** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 8:07 am

As I shared with Andy in a conversation last week, Study Butte is going to be the best central starting off point as there are mechanics, ambulance service (closest "real" hospital is in Alpine, 70+ miles due north) as well as restaurants and gasoline/provision options.

Andy - the route choices you've suggested will be good ones. I will contact my friends at Far Flung Outdoor Center for additional ideas and suggestions.

mjnims · Post by **mjnims** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 10:28 am

I got the wife to take some vacation time so that we could make the trip. Look forward to meeting you all there.

andy · Post by **andy** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 10:40 am

Mike, that is really good news. I think you are pretty highly respected on the forums (at least at this keyboard) and I'm sure many people would appreciate hearing about some of your Pinz experiences in person.

This also seems like a chance to form a closer association between the Texas folks and you all in AZ. If there is anything I can do to facilitate things for you don't hesitate to post, pm, or email.

Again, great news, I'm doubly looking forward to the trip now.

Andy

mjnims · Post by **mjnims** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 2:47 pm

Andy, I am trying to talk a couple other AZ guys into coming with me. They sound interested it is just trying to get the wives permissions that is difficult. Our summer break from schools starts about the same time so we are working the "taking the kids on a small vacation" angle.
One bit of information I am going to need, is the place and contact info of where people will be staying.
Looking forward to meeting you all face to face.