Big Bend National Park

andy · Post by **andy** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 3:55 pm

Mike, I plan on staying at the Big Bend Motor Inn and RV Park. Their phone number is 1 800 848 2363 (I'm pretty sure). Right now the idea is to camp out in the RV park, but that might change if the wife comes and wants A/C. She may not be able to find someone to cover for her, she's the janitor, window clerk, and postmaster at the Comstock Post Office.

Anyway, try: www.visitbigbend.com. There are other places in Study Butte/Terlingua if any look less expensive or more appealing. Some of them have websites too and list room rates and phone numbers.

I know one of the guys (pinztx) that plans on going appears to be staying in Lajitas. It's a nice place, but that's not really an option for me because I think it's something like 20 miles (more or less) from Study Butte.

Don't know if you are driving or trailering your Pinz. Coming from out west you could turn off between Marfa and Alpine and go down to Presidio and then from there go down river towards Study Butte and the Park. You'd go through some nice scenery, via Lajitas, that way, but the road is sort of windy and there are a couple huge hills. The other option is go on to Alpine and then drop south. Either way if it's not broad daylight watch out for free roaming burros (I'm not joking) and/or deer. On the river road even during the day you need to watch out for the burros.

PM sent

Andy

andy · Post by **andy** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 5:11 pm

Another possible place to stay in and around Study Butte would be the Chisos Mining Company Motel. Their website should be: www.cmcm.cc.
Or you could just query Chisos Mining Company. If the website is accurate the rooms look acceptible for a couple of nights.

Andy

texas pinzgauer · Post by **texas pinzgauer** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 3:00 pm

Any accomodations in the Study Butte area are going to be close and comparable price wise.

To Andy's point, the road from Fort Davis south to Presidio on to Lajitas, Terlingua and Study Butte is pretty windy and would be a headful trailering a Pinzgauer.

A more "temperate" route would be due south from I-10 at Balmorea to Fort Davis over to Alpine and due south to Study Butte.

I-10pinz · Post by **I-10pinz** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 11:46 pm

Ok so just to clarify we're like meeting there friday night, driving around saturday, and leaving sunday correct? We also have a set of 7.5min topos covering all that area and a couple of radios that we can bring if necessary.

andy · Post by **andy** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 12:04 am

I-10, that is pretty much the plan right now. I don't think I can stretch it for more than that, especially if the wife comes along. She has a real job.

The earlier Friday people can pull into wherever, the better it will probably be.

If we can get the logistics ironed out on this one, then maybe we can have something to refer back to ie; this was good and the other wasn't so good, in planning a bigger/longer, more organized outing in the future.

At least that's the plan, we'll see how it shakes out.

Andy

I-10pinz · Post by **I-10pinz** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 1:13 am

Sounds good

pinztx · Post by **pinztx** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 6:10 am

Sounds good to me. I will be there Thurs. night so my wife and son can rest, it is about a 300 mile drive, a six year old kind of gets antsy after a while in the back seat.

andy · Post by **andy** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 8:22 am

I'm familiar with antsy. I could have the whole tribe along and by 10 miles from the house 95% of the time they are all asleep. The rest of the time, it's, change the station, no, I love that song, I have to go to the bathroom, I'm hungry, make her stop, no, she's breathing my air, ad nauseum. None of them is under 15, which is the bad part. You all been there.

Andy

andy · Post by **andy** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 12:33 am

I-10, sorry I was tired last night when I read your post. If you want to bring the topos please do, because just when I'll need it most the batteries in the GPS might give up the ghost.

Another point I'd thought about, but forgot to bring up and I-10 did. How about radios? Does everybody have some of the FRS handhelds or CBs? I don't have a CB or VHF yet, but I have some of the FRS jobs. Those might come in handy for coordination on the road.

Andy

pinztx · Post by **pinztx** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 8:32 am

I have a CB. I also have the hand held radios I think I might have a few extra. Will check to see.

I-10pinz · Post by **I-10pinz** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 12:21 pm

Hmm hadn't thought about cb's but figured if nothing else it would be good to have some sort of comunication between the lead vehical and the trailing one incase someone broke along the way.

David Dunn · Post by **David Dunn** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 4:43 pm

Communication is mandatory, at least between the lead and tail vehicles... I prefer to use a shock collar on Jim when we go out, as it keeps him somewhat near the pack. I like the tailgun position, as not to lose anyone.
I prefer CBs, as they are cheap. There are other and better radios, but not always within the budgets of all.

It's important to keep track of all of the vehicles and if any decide to adbandon the ride, to let the others know. Never assume anything, you don't want to be part of a search party later, or responsible for one because you didn't tell anyone you were leaving.

Dave Dunn

andy · Post by **andy** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 5:25 pm

Dave, I really appreciate your input on this. Outside of Mike Nims you are one of the few, or the only other person, who has any experience with this sort of thing that has offered valuable advice.

I, and it is probably safe to say, "we", are open to all advice, and even with the advice, I think it is a pretty safe bet, we will forget or overlook something.

Thanks a bunch.

Andy

David Dunn · Post by **David Dunn** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 6:28 pm

I''ve been at the Calico Mogfest for several years now and have been impress with the degree that that no one is left behind ( involuntarily

), or pressed to do something they didn't feel comfortable with. Personnal safety is of foremost importance

On a slightly different topic, because some people are unsure of their offroad driving, or just scared because of what some Pinz owners do with their trucks, I host the Pinz, Haf and Mog gathering.
My intent is for owners to meet one another in a " noncompetitive" environment to learn more about their own and others trucks, and see some vehicles that they may never see anywhere else. I would like to see more of that across the country.
On "Steel Soldiers", it has been presented as a 'European Invasion' last year. This year, even moreso, as I expect my latest acquisiton to be here..... I'll save the suspense for later ( those that know, don't tell

)

Dave Dunn

andy · Post by **andy** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 8:04 pm

Dave, if we can get this going maybe some day we (Texicans) can make the Mogfest or RMPA or SWP events as a herd instead of individuals. Seems like those would be good and memorable times.

The get to know folks is intriguing to me, because for the most part we just know a name on the forum or an avatar, in some cases there are pics, but most of it is in our imagination. So to match the person with the name and to see the trucks some of the folks on here have put together would be a genuine treat.

I'm actually looking forward to it and I tend to be cynical at best if not pessimistic. Let me hasten to add that keeps me from often being disappointed anymore.

Regards and

Andy