Big Bend July 18-21

[russco]

Had a late start from DFW on Friday the 18th and headed west. After an uneventful drive we landed ourselves upon the bar at the Holland in Alpine around 5:00 pm...no $55 rooms available but we did get room 214 which totaled to $85....not too bad for this camping cheapskate. After a couple Outlaws we were off to see Marfa and the Marfa lights...which did not materialize for us. Nice sleep in an ubercomfortable bed. Sat. morning we found ourselves driving towards Ft. Davis around 8:00 am...looked at the fort and headed on up the road to the Macdonald observatory...rats doesn't open until 10:00 am so we just looked around outside the place a bit and were headed back to Alpine to stock up on provisions for camping at The Bend.Hit the road around 11:00 am bound for IH..the drive down to Study Butte was very nice and we enjoyed seeing things such as Santiago Peak from this side. Took a side trip to Indian Head for a great lunch in the "cave". After lunch we headed on into the park. Pulled into Panther Junction and nabbed a permit for Sunday night at NE4. Up to the Basin campground to get a spot for the night. About the time the cooler hit the table the S@*t hit the fan..rain and hail went flying sideways and we felt like we were in the eye of the storm! We threw our stuff back into the truck and headed down to the desert to view the storm from down there. That turned out to be a good decision as I got some neat pics of the storm over the Chisos..and Old Ore road was dry so we took the time to go out to Ernst Tinaja...had never been there before so that was a real treat and beat hunkering down in the car up in the mountains. After we could see that the storm had subsided we headed back up and set up our site. Caught a shot of a fantastic rainbow in front of Casa Grande and then we  hung around all evening Barbecuing and drinking Coors...keeping an eye out for other Benders...but none showed. We had to drink the beer that we had brought to share and got thoroughly roasted!! That turned out to be not such a good thing the next day as we trudged up the trail to NE4 with hangovers! OY! Thankful for all the rain though as we only carried up a liter of water each to Boot Canyon where we filtered water before heading up the NE rim trail.Seems like NE4 was a busy place as I now know stingrey was there the 18th, we met a group in Boot Canyon that was there the 19th(and suffered through the aformentioned storm) and of course us the 20th. We got up there in about 4 hrs and quickly set up our tent as the skies were threatening. After a delightful unripe avocado and swiss cheese sandwich on 12 grain we lounged around camp and wandered the numerous spur trails to all the different rim views NE4 has to offer. Thankfully for us rain never materialized. We saw rain N, W, and S of us but none on our heads. I have to agree with many from this forum that NE4 definately offers up a great place to camp...I especially liked the views from the point NE of the campsite...I could sit out on that crag all day!Watched the peregrine falcons fly on the gusty south winds. Had Beef stroganoff Mountainhouse on previously toasted 12 grain with swiss cheese for dinner...YUM! and crashed for the evening. Woke up just in time to catch the sunrise over the Del Carmens...fantastic from this site! Had coffee and were off to catch the views of the SE rim trail. Nice cool morning of hiking with an intermittent light rain till halfway through Boot Canyon. Saw only 2 other people on the way down and was eating a Big Bend Cheeseburger at 11:30 am. The clouds were threatening more rain so we cut the trip short and headed home...That is one thing we love about the Bend..we can wake up in the mountains, hike down 7.8 miles, have lunch at the lodge restaurant, drive towards home having dinner along the way and still be home before the sun sets(summertime anyways) needless to say We love the Chisos in summertime! Cheers!
link to photos   http://www.flickr.com/photos/russkan/sets/72157606313793305/

[Red Hawk]

Nice Pics. Looks like a little bear action on the boot cabin(?). I'll be there next week!!!  spc

[russco]

Nice Pics. Looks like a little bear action on the boot cabin(?). I'll be there next week!!!  spc

Definately, three sides showed proof! He/she is persistent as there was some markings when we were there in early June and now there's more. Ranger said it's been hanging around the BC campsites fairly often.

[RichardM]

Great pics! This one looks like an ad for Nissan.

[homerboy2u]

I don't get it...why would the build a trail house for?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/russkan/2691747812/sizes/l/in/set-72157606313793305

[Red Hawk]

Homero, I think it's been there quite awhile, don't know if it's not part of an original ranching structure. There's a corral there too. Park naturalists use it for wildlife studies and the trail crews and pack animals stay there in order to spend more time working and less time hiking. spc

[Boot Canyon 1 Cougar]

russco,  thanks for the report and the photos.

The "monsoon season" weather can have all sorts of nice surprises.

[bdhawk133]

I don't get it...why would the build a trail house for?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/russkan/2691747812/sizes/l/in/set-72157606313793305

When I was hiking the South Rim in March this year, we came across 6 packed mules and several NPS employess who said they were on the "trail crew" to cut a new Emory Peak trail. They said they were staying in a cabin somewhere in the vacinity along Colima Trail between Bootcanyon trail and BlueCreek trail. I believe they use this cabin to minimize travel time to and from a job sight up in the chisos... By the way, this pic reminded me of that incident. Has anyone else heard of a "new trail" to Emory???

[bdann]

Has anyone else heard of a "new trail" to Emory???

yep..  http://www.bigbendchat.com/portal/forum/hiking-the-mountains/freedom-of-the-press-t1624.0.html

[bdhawk133]

Has anyone else heard of a "new trail" to Emory???

yep..  http://www.bigbendchat.com/portal/forum/hiking-the-mountains/freedom-of-the-press-t1624.0.html

ahhh... I must have missed that post.... thanks!

[jeffblaylock]

Last time I was in the park, Shane, Ranger Eric, and I saw portions of the new trail where it intersected the existing trail. It should offer some fantastic views of the Basin and surrounding mountains once it's opened.

[Ay Chihuahua!]

Nice Pics. Looks like a little bear action on the boot cabin(?). I'll be there next week!!!  spc

Definately, three sides showed proof! He/she is persistent as there was some markings when we were there in early June and now there's more. Ranger said it's been hanging around the BC campsites fairly often.

See, Sleepy...I told you it was bears.

Nice trip, russco!

[sleepy]

Nice Pics. Looks like a little bear action on the boot cabin(?). I'll be there next week!!!  spc

Definately, three sides showed proof! He/she is persistent as there was some markings when we were there in early June and now there's more. Ranger said it's been hanging around the BC campsites fairly often.

See, Sleepy...I told you it was bears.

Nice trip, russco!

that you did.  that you did.
I wonder if russco's water filter worked better than mine?

russco, great report and pics.  I liked the way you vacated to the lowlands to get some storm shots and wide views.  great adjust!

[TheWildWestGuy]

Thanks for posting russco, looks like a great trip.  Were the waterfalls coming down off the Mtn's around the Basin during the thunderstorm?   I have yet to see them running but someday..  You were smart to bring a filter and not haul 20# of water up to Boot Canyon, looks like it's rained even more since you were there and maybe more still to come.. TWWG

[Al]

Way to go!

Al