Planning a Winter Trip

[Reece]

I'm beginning to plan my winter hike. My proposal seems like it ought to be a popular trip but I've never seen a report on it. Maybe it's not epic enough for bragging rights, eh?
Here's how it goes:

   Day 1 - Leave Houston early enough to check in at Panther Junction and then make the drive to Twisted Shoe or the Juniper Canyon trailhead. Sleep in the back of my Cherokee.
   Day 2 - Rise for a leisurely hike west out the Dodson to the Elephant Tusk trail junction (5.3 miles and ~ 1,000' elevation gain). Then hike southeast down ET trail/Fresno Creek to the Water Works (2.6 miles and ~ 1,000' elevation drop).
   Day 3 – Explore the area.
   Day 4 - Hike back to the Cherokee in time to drive into Terlingua for supper at the Starlight and then bed down at Chisos Mining Co.
   Day 5 - Rise early for the trip back to Houston.

For a 66 year old soloist with nothing to prove, this one seems like a good fit to me. I get to hike enough but not too much. I get to see the famed Skip and Jump Tinajas. I can hike the area around the Fresno drainage as much or as little as I want, maybe all the way to Elephant Tusk. I'm not rushed, trying to bag some made-up goal. I get to sleep 3 of my 4 nights out under the stars. There should be plenty of water in the area so my pack weight won't kill me. I could always eliminate day 3 if feel like it. What's not to like in a January - February time frame? Tell me what I’m missing here.

[Cookie]

sounds like a great plan Reece. That is one of my favorite areas. Check the  "Trip Reports" under the 2 "backpacking trip index" that Mule Ears put together, there are several trip reports on that area. You can cut some elevation and time off if you cut south down the Dodson drainage. You could easily spend a week out there just exploring and we never had a problem finding water.

~Cookie

[kevint]

The worst part souds like the drive from Houston.  Let us know how it goes.  This might be a good fit for me to try someday as well.

[Homer67]

That sounds like an awesome hike, Reece!  We want to get to this one at some point! 

It was so cool...on the slight descent to Fresno Spring I tripped over a broken horse shoe wedged between some rocks on the trail just above the spring as one heads west.  Who knows how old this must be!  I tried to put it back as it was, but it fell down the hillside. This is a good thing I suppose.

[Reece]

Cookie, maybe I'll cut the corner and take the Dodson drainage on the way back, but Fresno Creek is on my bucket list. How bad a bushwhack is Dodson? I don't much like hiking in water washes.

[Cookie]

The bushwacking wasn't too bad. We only had to climb out of the wash one time to avoid a huge amount of catclaw. When we hiked in from Juniper TH on the Dodson we went down Fresno creek (instead of taking the ET trail) to check it out and look for water. Nothing unexpected (pour offs) and it wasn't too overgrown. It took us almost 6 hours from the car to get to our campsite below Tortuga. On the way back we came up the Dodson drainage and it only took ~3 hours to get back to the car.
Can't go wrong when you are out there, it's all good!

~Cookie

[Reece]

Cookie, you mean you hiked to Tortuga, down the Fresno creek-bed instead of using ET trail? Seems like the high ground would let you make better time. I probably should stick to established trails since I'm going alone. The longer leg is that southeast portion of the Dodson trail. I'm probably underestimating it, as usual. Better get an early start, eh? If it took you 6 hours, it might take me 8.

[steelfrog]

Reece--when you say Water Works, do you mean the Skip and Jump Tinajas?

I am not familiar with something called Water Works...

[RichardM]

Reece--when you say Water Works, do you mean the Skip and Jump Tinajas?

I am not familiar with something called Water Works...

Yes, that term has been used on the board before to describe that area.

[Geezer]

Reece,

Elephant Tusk trail south of Dodson Trail is difficult to follow in some spots, even for people who have been down it many times. Fresno Creek is easy, shade is available occasionally, and it's drop dead beautiful in spots. My recollection is there's a spot in Dodson drainage where it's blocked by brush. You may need to climb out of the canyon and go around that. There were some good trip reports about going out via Dodson drainage last winter, as I recall.
 
I'm 67 and have hiked Dodson to Fresno drainage several times in past few years with enough food and gear to go farther and stay five nights. I'm always tired and glad to stop and camp where Fresno Creek runs across Dodson Trail.

This is the heart of the Park and you will really enjoy it. The magic realists went there to study before they burst upon the world!

Geezer

[Infosec]

What spots would you use to restock your water? I am thinking of a Winter trip as well, and I don't want to lug too much water. I was thinking of a 3 to 4 multi night. Any ideas

[Homer67]

There was water in Fresno last Nov; given that there has been more rain this year could mean there would be water there. From what I understand Fresno is fairly reliable. 

There is one good climb along the Dodson directly after one passes Fresno Spring.  When we finally get out to ET and the Waterworks, I think we'll take the drainage.  It is a bit of a victory to get to the Dodson/ET junction, though. We'll go in with a full load of water (3 days) and perhaps filter if we need/can.

Looking at the topo, it does appear that taking a right down the Dodson drainage would cut some distance off the hike, as opposed to taking the Fresno drainage.  Man, it sounds cool to me!

[Flash]

Cookie, you mean you hiked to Tortuga, down the Fresno creek-bed instead of using ET trail? Seems like the high ground would let you make better time. I probably should stick to established trails since I'm going alone. The longer leg is that southwest portion of the Dodson trail. I'm probably underestimating it, as usual. Better get an early start, eh? If it took you 6 hours, it might take me 8.

Reece,

Sounds like a realistic, doable, and fun plan. Maybe there are some small trees along Fresno Creek to hang a hammock for a nice seista after your hike!

Flash

[Cookie]

Cookie, you mean you hiked to Tortuga, down the Fresno creek-bed instead of using ET trail? Seems like the high ground would let you make better time. I probably should stick to established trails since I'm going alone. The longer leg is that southwest portion of the Dodson trail. I'm probably underestimating it, as usual. Better get an early start, eh? If it took you 6 hours, it might take me 8.

Yes, we specifically went down the creek bed checking for water sources on the way to our campsite. We did find water as we went but found a spring even closer to our base camp so we didn't have to hike as far. Here is a map of a very reliable spring in the Dodson drainage, also the spot we had to get out of the drainage due to the overgrowth.

http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=29.20001,-103.28075&z=15&t=T&marker0=29.15743%2C-103.26740%2Celepahant%20tusk%20Tx

We were there in February and last November, and I would go back again. Very awe inspiring area and lots to explore!
~Cookie

[sleepy]

My only caution is daylight is scarce most of January.  As February gets going, it's a beautiful time to be in the Park.