upcoming trip - Feb 26 - Mar 4

[bdann]

My brother and I will be making our triumphant return to Big Bend National Park on Sunday, February 25th.  I'm not sure why our return will be triumphant, I just like saying that.  Being the type of person that enjoys planning everything out, here's what I've got so far: (subject to change)

Sunday - arrive, camp in Basin campground.
Monday - In the morning reserve sites for the rest of the week.  Hike up to LM1 (if available), make camp.  Spend the rest of the day hiking around the Ward Mtn area.
Tuesday - day hike to South rim, spend night at LM1 again OR camp at NE rim.  probably camp at LM1 again b/c I know we can get back to the truck really fast from here in the morning.  
Wednesday - hike back to truck, head to Terlingua Abaja, make camp.  Possibly go visit Santa Elena first.  Day hike to Bruja Canyon (thanks to okiehiker for the Bruja info).
Thursday - Move  camp to Croton Spring OR zone camp somewhere in the general area.  Probably a long day hike this day, there's a lot I want to see in this area.  Haven't really nailed this part of the trip down yet.
Friday - either spend another night in the Croton/Slickrock area OR move camp to La Noria on the Old Ore Road.  Day hike in this area, then visit the hot spring in the afternoon.
Saturday - move camp yet again to Nine Point Draw, long day hike exploring Dog Canyon and Devil's Den.
Sunday - long drive home  

Anyway, that's the plan.  Maybe we'll follow it, maybe we won't.  

Comments/suggestions welcome!

[bdann]

oh and we're pre-empting this trip with two nights in Las Vegas.  8)

[KDann]

Thats alot of hiking! Sounds like fun. Just counting the days now...
 :lol:

[okiehiker]

like a great itinerary.  Have a great trip.

[bdann]

Thats alot of hiking! Sounds like fun. Just counting the days now...
 :lol:

and look who we have here!  (the aforementioned brother)

[randell]

Sounds like a great trip in the making!  Can't wait to get the TPS report!  Don't forget your coversheet.

[aggiehiker]

I just did a couple of these hikes the week before Christmas and they are well worth the time. I camped at Terlingua Abaja and hiked into Bruja Canyon-crossing the flat desert is incredible, then the bouldering in the canyon is awesome. On the way back I hiked off to the left, crossed the creek and returned along Maverick Road.

I also stayed at Nine Point Draw and did both Dog Canyon and Devil's Den. I tried to access the Den from the back side but couldn't get through all the cactus and sticky plants. I was told later to approach it from the campsite in Black Gap WMA.

[bdann]

welp, we're pretty much locked and loaded.  truck is clean, gassed up, fresh oil, fresh filter, tire pressure good.  backpacks packed, bought enough food for an army.....

we're headed out Sunday morning.  We're going to Vegas tomorrow, but I think we're both more excited about going to Big Bend.  It's almost like I can't wait to get this Vegas thing out of the way so I can get back to the Bend.

Anyway....adios.

[SHANEA]

We're going to Vegas tomorrow,

Say howdy to Elvis.  I LOVE VEGAS.  Sin city.  The city that never sleeps.  The city w/o clocks.  Always remember a sign that I saw there - "Hangovers Installed & Serviced".

[jeffblaylock]

Moving camps is a real waste of time IMHO. The sites you listed are all good. Pick out the parts of the park you want to explore and set up camps there. If you have to drive a while to explore somewhere else, so be it. Picking up a camp and moving it to another place just for the sake of being somewhere else takes time and energy that could be spent exploring.

I'm not saying you should stay in one place. I'm saying, think about why you're moving to another location, and is the move for the night worth the move.

Sounds like you will have a great time, and you're thinking ahead, which will definitely help you get the most out of your visit.

[RichardM]

I'm not saying you should stay in one place. I'm saying, think about why you're moving to another location, and is the move for the night worth the move.

Good advice.  For me, reasons to move might be to catch a sunrise/sunset at a particular campsite, etc.  Otherwise I'd keep the site hopping to a minimum.

[bdann]

I've done it boths ways, moving every day, and using just one site as a base.  We'll more than likely stay down at Terlingua Abaja two nights rather than one, then one night at Croton Springs and decide on what to do the last day/night when the time comes....do just whatever we feel like.   We can tear down/set up camp pretty darn fast.

[aggiehiker]

I've also done the moving every night bit and it's a pain. I've recently been staying at least two nights in the same spot and driving-a lot of driving. I don't pack up-just fold the ten up with everything inside and throw it in the back of the truck. Saves a lot of time! On you last night, think about Nine Point Draw. It's on the way out and there's a great two hour hike to Dog Canyon.

[BigBendHiker]

My brother and I will be making our triumphant return to Big Bend National Park on Sunday, February 25th.  I'm not sure why our return will be triumphant, I just like saying that.  Being the type of person that enjoys planning everything out, here's what I've got so far: (subject to change)

Sunday - arrive, camp in Basin campground.
Monday - In the morning reserve sites for the rest of the week.  Hike up to LM1 (if available), make camp.  Spend the rest of the day hiking around the Ward Mtn area.
Tuesday - day hike to South rim, spend night at LM1 again OR camp at NE rim.  probably camp at LM1 again b/c I know we can get back to the truck really fast from here in the morning.  
Wednesday - hike back to truck, head to Terlingua Abaja, make camp.  Possibly go visit Santa Elena first.  Day hike to Bruja Canyon (thanks to okiehiker for the Bruja info).
Thursday - Move  camp to Croton Spring OR zone camp somewhere in the general area.  Probably a long day hike this day, there's a lot I want to see in this area.  Haven't really nailed this part of the trip down yet.
Friday - either spend another night in the Croton/Slickrock area OR move camp to La Noria on the Old Ore Road.  Day hike in this area, then visit the hot spring in the afternoon.
Saturday - move camp yet again to Nine Point Draw, long day hike exploring Dog Canyon and Devil's Den.
Sunday - long drive home  

Anyway, that's the plan.  Maybe we'll follow it, maybe we won't.  

Comments/suggestions welcome!

Sounds like a great plan to me.  Can't wait to see the pictures and read the trip report.

BBH

[westtex]

One flaw in my opinion: No La Kiva Wednesday night?!?! Open mic night!  Also at La Kiva on Tuesday nights I think they do a deal where you can get two bar-b-q sandwiches for two dollars.  Great for after hiking the South Rim and Emory Peak in a day.

Open mic nights can be highly entertaining, depends on who shows up.