from here to there

[sleepy]

what's the longest stretch you've done in Big Bend?  I'm dreaming of distance and logistics.  I know the Texas Monthly crew went across, but has anyone here swept the breadth?  Any thoughts, suggestions?

[jeffblaylock]

I'll start the bidding. 42 miles for the outer mountain loop plus two rim trips.

Trip report begins here.

[mule ears]

I too had always eyed the across the park walk ever since reading about it in the 1971 Hikers Guide.  I couldn't ever get anyone to take enough time off to do the whole thing so I have broken it down into Eastern and Western halves.  

We did the eastern half in Dec. of 2004 starting at the south end of the Strawhouse trail (because I couldn't go in from Adams ranch) up to the Telephone canyon trail.  West to Roy's Peak and cross country to Banta Shut-In.  2 1/2 days waterless.  Then up Estufa canyon then cross country to Dugout Wells and a cache.  On over north of Chilicotal Mtn. to the Juniper canyon trail and up and over into the Basin.  We left a car there and were shuttled to the start.  6 days and 60 plus miles, most of it on unmarked trails or cross country.  Coming from North Carolina by the time you fly and drive and do caches etc. it was a 10 day trip.

This winter I am planning on the Western half, starting in Lajitas, going over the Mesa de Anguila, across to the Chimneys trail over to Blue creek and then up Blue Creek and into the Basin.

Of course Trtlrock has the grand circum navigation of the Chisos under his belt (still waiting for the report) and Okie Hiker has numerous long and debilitating treks too.

[TheWildWestGuy]

I think my longest single-stretch hike has probably been about 45 miles over 3 nights.   Started at Mule Ears Parking Lot, over to Smokey Springs, up to Jacks Pass (night 1).  Next day over to Dominquez Springs, up Fisk Canyon, over to Elephant Tusk (night 2).  Next day up to Fresno Springs, Dodson Trail to Smokey Creek Trail, down Smokey Creek to the 1st Blackrock Spring (night 3).   Then out to Mule Ears the next morning.   I don't know the exact mileage because I meandered around a lot.   But I did carry everything myself and this was a solo trip so am proud of my accomplishment.   The Texas Monthly crew had a van meet them everyday with food, clean clothes, and coffee so all they had to do was carry a slackpack good for 1 night.  That's not the same as a 75 mile hike without a sag wagon full of goodies meeting you every day.  :)  :)

Hey Mule Ears - let me know when you get your Mesa Anguila plans a little more firmed up I have lots of free advice on this area as does OKiehiker.  If you want to go in at the Lajitas trailhead and out to Chimneys you have 2 different routes to choose from 1- Dam Tinaja off the NNE side (near the new airport) or Bruja Canyon down to Terlingua Abaja.   Neither one is an easy route or a marked trail and both have their dangers and challenges.   These are both old routes that aren't used hardly at all anymore.  You might also consider a sidetrip out to the "point" above Santa Helena Canyon especially if you can find water in some of the Tinaja's ontop of the Mesa and make a basecamp... TWWG

[trtlrock]

Of course Trtlrock has the grand circum navigation of the Chisos under his belt (still waiting for the report)

Yep -- my wife & I did about 130 miles in 14 days.  You can see the trip-plan here:

http://www.bigbendchat.com/viewtopic.php?p=25457&highlight=#25457

and the few pics we've had a chance to post here:

http://www.pbase.com/trtlrock/bb2007

Someday someday someday I swear we'll post a trip report  :oops:  :roll:

Dam Tinaja off the NNE side (near the new airport)...also consider a sidetrip out to the "point" above Santa Helena Canyon

We did the Mesa earlier & took the Dam Tinaja route down; very do-able.  I would DEFINITELY go out to the "point"; have to factor in more time but why go up on the Mesa and not go to the point?  It's a must-do!

[Casa Grande]

i'm not even gonna bid my pathetic little "run"

I aspire to do the great distances in the future  

[mule ears]

Dam Tinaja off the NNE side (near the new airport)...also consider a sidetrip out to the "point" above Santa Helena Canyon

We did the Mesa earlier & took the Dam Tinaja route down; very do-able.  I would DEFINITELY go out to the "point"; have to factor in more time but why go up on the Mesa and not go to the point?  It's a must-do!

That is my thought exactly, in fact I have saved your trip report about the Mesa as reference.  I definately have the "point" on the route, maybe even camp there.  I would like to go down Bruja but not with the person I will be going with .  So it will be Dam tinaja to Terlinqua Abaja and across.

[sleepy]

that's what i'm talking about!  the great circumnavigate looked awesome, trtlrock.  I've done the OML starting and ending in the Basin.  the ranger tried to scare my crew, saying it was 40 miles opposed to my promised 30.  My lengths are usually 2-3 nights, but i'm hankering for some extension.  what was the most difficult aspect of anyone's Big Bend long distance?

[lparent]

I'm not sure if the "Texas Monthly crew" referred to in a couple of posts was my group or not.  We did write up our cross-park trek for Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine.  While we did have have somebody meet us twice, not every night as claimed in one post, with food and minimal clothes, the hike was not exactly "a walk in the park."  In addition, one other member of our party and I carried a lot of heavy camera equipment (a 4x5 camera and lenses, 35mm film camera, tripod, and professional video camera).  So we weren't exactly traveling light.  We did about 70 miles in 6 days, much of it cross country.  We had one member of our party of six that was in his mid-fifties and two others who, while fit, had never backpacked in their lives.  We had a case of heat exhaustion and some wicked blisters, but all of us finished the hike.  Even with two resupplies, the hike required careful planning to hit reliable springs (Glenn Spring, Fresno Creek, etc.).  So did I do 70 miles without resupply?  No.  But I'll trade all that camera equipment for 2-3 days more food and no resupply.  Regardless, it was a fun adventure.  Don't attempt such an undertaking lightly.  You must have very experienced hikers in your group, excellent map reading skills, and a lot of willpower.

[sleepy]

do you remember the month/year your trip report was published?  I had heard about the article, but never read it.  Carrying my canon eos and a couple of extra lenses is heavy enough for me, but 4X5's and tripods, ugh!

[Anonymous]

I believe the story ran in the August 05 issue of Texas Parks & Wildlife.

[SHANEA]

I believe the story ran in the August 05 issue of Texas Parks & Wildlife.

Think about the beautiful city of ___ , the courthouse, where Giant was filmed, where the DHS CBP has a large office, just down the road from Alpine, Judd has a place there, Chinanti foundation, mystery lights not far off, etc. when you are asked for a special city name on the Texas Monthly website.

[Casa Grande]

I believe the story ran in the August 05 issue of Texas Parks & Wildlife.

Think about the beautiful city of ___ , the courthouse, where Giant was filmed, where the DHS CBP has a large office, just down the road from Alpine, Judd has a place there, Chinanti foundation, mystery lights not far off, etc. when you are asked for a special city name on the Texas Monthly website.

ok, obviously you're talking about Marfa...but what the heck are you talking about? :?

[RichardM]

I believe the story ran in the August 05 issue of Texas Parks & Wildlife.

Think about the beautiful city of ___ , the courthouse, where Giant was filmed, where the DHS CBP has a large office, just down the road from Alpine, Judd has a place there, Chinanti foundation, mystery lights not far off, etc. when you are asked for a special city name on the Texas Monthly website.

ok, obviously you're talking about Marfa...but what the heck are you talking about?

That would be this month's password for online access at http://www.tpwmagazine.com/, although I was able to access the archives without using it.  Here's Joe Nick Patoski's article (without Laurence's pictures :( ):
http://www.tpwmagazine.com/archive/2005/aug/ed_1/

[bdann]

http://www.tpwmagazine.com/archive/2005/aug/ed_1/

Nice article, I hadn't read that.  

I've daydreamed about a cross BIBE hike...  perhaps something this group could put together someday.