13 days...too long?

[mm84321]

Hello.

I am planning my first trip to Big Bend and have reserved campgrounds at Chisos Basin for 13 days. I'm not too concerned about finding things to do with my time but was just wondering what everyone thought about an extended stay at the park, such as this. Has anyone camped here for this long and have any tips or ideas?

Thanks!

Max

[TexasAggieHiker]

Depends on the activities you have planned and on the time of year.  During the summer, it'll be too hot to stay anywhere else for the most part. 

You'll be doing a lot of driving.  It's a 30-45 minute drive to Rio Grande village from the Basin and longer to the southwest part of the park.  I'd break up part of my time to stay down there.  There's a lot to explore in the eastern part of the park.  Rio Grande village would make a good base to explore from, plus the only showers in the park are there.  Also the river road is close to there. 

Cottonwood is another option for camping.  You can do a lot from the basin and it's one of the main parts of the park, but I don't know about two weeks worth.

[mm84321]

I will be going from Feb 20th to March 5th.

Is it still possible to get around alright from the Basin without a car? I'm coming from CT and getting a cab ride from Midland International to the campground, so unfortunately I won't have a vehicle at my disposal.

Is Cottonwood a completely different campground than Chisos? Would you recommend staying there over Chisos?

I'm a first timer to Big Bend, so please pardon my ignorance.

[Geezer]

As I don't know how much experience you have in desert hiking/camping, what your physical capabilities are (or those of any others in your party), etc., it's hard to know what to suggest.

Assuming your trip will fall in February or March, what about a couple of nights zone camping in the desert? Maybe two nights between Mule Ears and Mule Ears Spring (highly reliable), with a little sashay down into Smoky Creek?

Or maybe a night at Ernst Tenaja (car camping) with a hike up the drainage?

Really, the possibilities are endless, but it strikes me that 13 nights straight in the Basin would wear on my nerves.

Give us some more information and we can make better suggestions.

Geezer

[mm84321]

This will be my first time hiking and camping in a desert. I have considerable experience with hiking elsewhere though, specifically on the Appalachian Trails up here in CT. I am 19 years old, and fit, so I have no problem with long day hikes and steep trails. I am going solo.

Unfortunately, as I said, I won't have a car to use, so I will have to get around on foot. Are there any other options for transportation throughout the park?

I reserved 13 nights at Chisos Basin through nps.gov for around $180. Is it possible to move my campsite after a few days in the park?

Honestly, I'm just looking forward to exploring as I enjoy spontaneous vacations, rather than scheduled itineraries. So I think that 2 weeks should be fine. The longer away from this brutal, cold, winter weather the better!

[mule ears]

This will be my first time hiking and camping in a desert. I have considerable experience with hiking elsewhere though, specifically on the Appalachian Trails up here in CT. I am 19 years old, and fit, so I have no problem with long day hikes and steep trails. I am going solo.

Unfortunately, as I said, I won't have a car to use, so I will have to get around on foot. Are there any other options for transportation throughout the park?

I reserved 13 nights at Chisos Basin through nps.gov for around $180. Is it possible to move my campsite after a few days in the park?

Honestly, I'm just looking forward to exploring as I enjoy spontaneous vacations, rather than scheduled itineraries. So I think that 2 weeks should be fine. The longer away from this brutal, cold, winter weather the better!

Wow!  A cab from Midland?  That will cost a pretty penny as it will be a 480 mile round trip for the cab driver.     Unfortunately without a vehicle, this is one park without any kind of transportation system.  You will be walking or hitch hiking and it is a BIG place.  There are a few folks in the area who will do some shuttles but they are not cheap either.  I would check into the cost of a really cheap rental car and maybe cut a few days off if it makes the rental car work out better.

If you are a backpacker (can't tell from your description) then many people do use the Basin as their main trail head for multi-day trips but for the lower desert it means climbs up and over the Chisos and down into the desert and then back up again, like the Outer Mountain Loop.  As a solo hiker you will need to be prepared and they will grill the heck out of you.

You have picked a great time of year to be there, pleasant weather and before Spring Break.  It is the driest time of the year, statistically, so camping out without rain is a distinct possibility.

[Verduretiger]

For what you would pay for a taxi to Big Bend (especially with a dead-head back) you could probably rent two or three cars at Midland.  Of course, there may be other issues that are not disclosed in your email. 

[chisos muse]

Yeah, car rental isn't an option with the age factor, I understand now. I was thinking the same thing....
Hitchhiking really isn't a great option since it is frowned upon and still may be against the rules, with exceptions, of course after certain hikes. I think that the NPS would prefer shuttle arrangements for such things. You may want to check with the outfitters in Terlingua to see if they have bicycles or scooters? (Far Flung, Desert Sports, Big Bend River Tours)

Not sure how much research you have done yet, but I would suggest absorbing as much as you can as a solo hiker for your first time. This is a HUGE park with many different situations to encounter. Be smart and prepared! Eat up this forum and the NPS/BIBE website...

With 13 days there you should make friends quickly. Talk to the rangers in the VC's, the people working at the stores, lodge, etc. Perhaps you'll find some rides there. 

I'm sure others will add more great advice.....lucky you ,13 days.... WOW!!!! 

[bjbriggs]

Call Avis and see if they will rent to a 19 year old.  They say they will for an extra charge( it maybe too high)  I wouldn't go to the Big Bend without transportation. You try hitch hiking and you will get hassled.  I've got hassled for riding in the bed of a pickup truck at Rio Grande Village.  We had been on the river for 7 days and had took out at RGV.  It was after the flood, the campground was closed at the takeout.  We had to move all our gear to the the West remote campground. To spend the night and wait on the shuttle.  We are 50 year old men.  This kind gentleman was helping us move our gear in his pickup to the campground.  When the park ranger made us get out of the bed of the pickup truck and walk.

[Schooler]

You can rent a car in Alpine from a small independent company and they may rent to you at 19.  (If you cant find them let me know and I will get more info)

Without a car, I think I would divide my time up into the 3 campgrounds, Basin, Cottonwood and RGV.  You will most likely meet someone in the campground who will give you a ride to the next spot.  Hitchhiking is illegal in the park and they can give you a ticket.

[jeffblaylock]

You might be able to rent a mountain bike from one of the outfitters in Terlingua/Study Butte, which could supply you with some transportation.

[dkerr24]

I may be the only dissenting vote here... I'd say don't go.  The park is over 800,000 (!) acres... and without a car, it is humanly impossible to see very much of a park that size on foot alone.

Heck, Big Bend Nat'l park is bigger than the entire state of RI.

I'd take the money you'll spend on cab fare and find a destination not so huge and definitely cut down the number of days too.

Darin

[mm84321]

I contacted pretty much all of the car rental agencies in Midland to see if they would rent to me, but their cut off age was 21. The taxi service said they would take me there for $400 each way. I know it's ridiculously expensive, but I really don't know of any other way to get out there from the airport.

You can rent a car in Alpine from a small independent company and they may rent to you at 19.  (If you cant find them let me know and I will get more info)

Without a car, I think I would divide my time up into the 3 campgrounds, Basin, Cottonwood and RGV.  You will most likely meet someone in the campground who will give you a ride to the next spot.  Hitchhiking is illegal in the park and they can give you a ticket.

If you could get me the name of an agency you think would rent to me, I'd really appreciate it.

As far as switching campgrounds...Do I have to make reservations at Cottonwood and RGV as well? Right now I only made arrangements at Chisos Basin.

I may be the only dissenting vote here... I'd say don't go.  The park is over 800,000 (!) acres... and without a car, it is humanly impossible to see very much of a park that size on foot alone.

Heck, Big Bend Nat'l park is probably bigger than the entire state of CT.

I'd take the money you'll spend on cab fare and find a destination not so huge and definitely cut down the number of days too.

Darin

Well, I already have my plane ticket to Texas, so it may be too late to reconsider at this point.

[trtlrock]

BiBe by foot over 10+ days is a great way to experience part or all of the park.

It's probably too late now, but I would've considered driving your own vehicle to the park, investing 1-2 days in dropping caches, find a friendly local who will let you park your car at their property while you're hiking. Then Hike 8-12 days straight, retrieve your car, then another 1-2 days to retrieve your caches, then drive back home. Car should be left in Study Butte, Terlingua, or Lajitas.

You can go here to see ideas regarding longer cross-country hikes in BiBe.

http://www.bigbendchat.com/portal/forum/your-trip-reports/backpacking-trip-reports-index

Look near the bottom of the list.

Fwiw this concept virtually demands that you be conversant w/GPS, make lots of waypoints in advance, be somewhat familiar with lightweight backpacking techniques, invest the cache-time I mentioned above, and read "Death in Big Bend" first to make sure you don't end up in the 2nd edition. 

Don't know how much of this (if any) is possible for you now, given that you already have plane tickets, and no car, etc, but maybe you can adapt something similar?

Or next time...

Anyway, the key is the car. Truly can't get around BiBe effectively to change campsites or drop caches without a car...

If you can't swing the car, I would pick a section of BiBe (probably west of Rt 385), and do some extensive backcountry zone camping by hiking in & out from Study Butte.

Have fun regardless...

[Ay Chihuahua!]

This sounds crazy, but I know people who have done it.  Buy a motorcycle in Midland and then sell it when you get back.  Actually, it sounds even crazier after I wrote it.

Also, we do a have at least one member from the Midland/Odessa area who seems to make a lot of trips out to the park.  I don't know if he'd be either willing or able, but maybe he'll chime in.

I really do feel for you.  I wish I could offer better advice.  Your being 19 doesn't give you many options, which seems ridiculous, given that you are technically an adult.