canoe & kayak magazine

[Ray52]

There's a nice article in the August issue of Canoe & Kayak magazine, "Eight Days on the Rio Grande" by Larry Rice describing a November group paddle through the lower canyons.  It's well worth the purchase price of the magazine.  His article is well illustrated with several photos and describes a riverside encounter with three Mexican men, the Texas MinuteMen vigilantes, and the beauty of the region itself.  Sorry though, I can't find a link to it on the net.

[missourimike]

Thanks for the heads up, I enjoyed reading the article.  It is now available online.

MO Mike

[SHANEA]

Thanks for the heads up, I enjoyed reading the article.  It is now available online.

MO Mike

HERE

’d stopped off at the Chisos Basin campground in Big Bend National Park. The park is nearly empty this time of year, as is the small nearby visitor center. I find a uniformed park ranger sitting behind the brochure-filled counter.  After some small talk I recount the shooting incident at Upper Madison Falls. To my surprise, the ranger acts only mildly interested.

“It’s a good day to commit a crime in Brewster County,” I comment at last. She doesn’t think its funny. Then again, neither do I.

[deadlizard]

Liked the article.  Although the author states "This is no place for the inexperienced or careless", apparently the Walter person in the pinned canoe was one, the other, or possibly both.  Been bit by that careless thing more than once myself.

[deadlizard]

This month's issue of Paddler also covers the Rio Grande in Big Bend, including being the cover shot.  Kind of odd in that the cover was not a particularly scenic or awesome shot.  The actual article covered Santa Elena as recommended trip for winter paddling.  Their web site does not yet have a link to the article:
http://www.paddlermagazine.com/

[Hoodoo]

Good article. Not so sure I like the idea of "Minutemen" taking the law in their own hands and deciding who is a threat and who is not while I'm floating the river though. 

[fartymarty]

"Technically it’s no longer legal for American boaters to cross into Mexico for any reason, but no one gives it a second thought when we decide to pitch our tents in a foreign land."

Quoted from the article in Canoe & Kayak magazine (online)

but then from:  http://www.nps.gov/rigr/faqs.htm
we get

   
 
{Q} Can we camp on the Mexican side of the river?
{A} Yes. There are no designated campsites on either side of the river, simply choose a suitable camp, i.e. one with high ground and is not in a drainage. You will receive a U.S. Customs declaration form with your permit. Take the declaration form with you on your trip, fill it out when you take-out and mail it in to the address on the form.
 
 

So did I miss something here like maybe the location?

I thought it was ok to cross into Mexico as long as you remained IN / WITHIN Canyon walls of either BiBe or Wild & Scenic Rio Grande. That is, it would be legal to hike up to
Smuggler's Cave in Santa Elena Canyon but not on any Mexican soil once past the exit mouth of the canyon (or above the upper rim of the canyon).  I haven't done that in more than 20 years but I thought it was still legal at least from the U.S. Government point of view. I never seem to hear about what the Mexican Government's laws are about such behavior. It sure would be nice if we could have some sort of Inter-country U.S./ Mexico park area here where neither country would loose sovereignty of their territory but citizens of both could roam freely back and forth as long as they stayed in the respective park boundaries on either side of the border and of course obeyed the laws of both countries. 
 
Dream on Marty, Dream on. 

[SHANEA]

See this link for information/debate on whether or not you will need a passport in the near future to travel the Rio Grande...   

[SciTeach]

A passport for paddling the river--I think we have finally got to the point of no return!!!  The other side is winning the battle when you have to have a passport to paddle a canoe on the Rio Grande!!! 

In the words of Pogo the Possum- "We have met the enemy and he is us!!" (or something like that)

[SHANEA]

Just think, if Texas was still the "Republic of Texas", you'd have to have a passport on the Rio, Red, and Sabine... 

[SciTeach]

Nah, the TX navy would protect our rights to freely paddle the rivers of our great land....hehehe