Christmas Mountains

[randell]

Hmmm, I know where I'm going when the weather cools off again...

Well, you'd better hurry out there before NPS takes it over.  Their management plan calls for closing off all roads except for the one leading to the lake, from the west.  The road you will want to take, from the north, leads to within several 100 feet of the highest point.

WARNING:  I suppose you would have to get permission from land owners to get to that road, and maybe even from the current lease grantees.  But if NPS takes control, according to their management plan, that road will be closed.

Folks, I am piecing this together from three sources...

1) what Patterson has said (as shown here on this thread)...."Still, Patterson noted, the rugged terrain would likely prevent visitors from taking in the spectacular vista of Big Bend National Park from the tallest peak of the Christmas Mountains. The peak can only be reached via an old jeep road that cuts through private property."

2) from satellite photos, and

3) from the NPS plan. 

If I am wrong, please correct me.  If I am correct, why is this fact so often ignored by all concerned?

Actually I was just going to do it the fun way and hike cross-country starting from within BIBE.  It's only 7.5 miles.

[cookch1]

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/04/11/0411xmas.html

[Vince T]

Actually I was just going to do it the fun way and hike cross-country starting from within BIBE.  It's only 7.5 miles.

That's the way I would want to do it.  I bet Okie Hiker (and others here) knows the best route....  I think you could probably head north towards Slickrock Canyon and have an amazing hike.
I suppose you could leave another vehicle at the parking area near Indian Head if you didn't want to retrace all your steps.
Just thinking about it is fun, so doing it will be fantastic.

[SHANEA]

A letter from JP.

[randell]

Access to the tract is very limited. The tract is defined by 19 miles of perimeter boundary. Of that, 18 miles abut private property and there are no public roads or access points therein. Only one mile is contiguous with Big Bend National Park. Access to that contiguous boundary entails a four-hour, eight-mile hike from the park road. I have made this hike personally and once you reach the boundary, further movement into the tract is very difficult due to terrain.

Woohoo!  Sounds like fun!  Now we just need to find out where this one-mile contiguous boundary is so we know where to cross over.  I emailed JP's office several days ago with a map request but have not yet received a response.

[STARLITDARKNESS3]

Actually I was just going to do it the fun way and hike cross-country starting from within BIBE.  It's only 7.5 miles.

That's exactly what I was thinking.  I wouldnt drive to the peak anyway.  Let's go.

What's JP's email?  I'd like to get a map as well please.  Thanks.

[SHANEA]

What's JP's email?  I'd like to get a map as well please.  Thanks.

From Jerry Patterson's post on the impeachment thread...
 

I'm sure there’s more I could cover, but enough for now. Again, if you have any questions email me at jerry.patterson@glo.state.tx.us  I have no inclination to “blog” or “chat” online, but any response you receive from me you can post on any site you wish.

[SHANEA]

Actually I was just going to do it the fun way and hike cross-country starting from within BIBE.  It's only 7.5 miles.
That's exactly what I was thinking.  I wouldnt drive to the peak anyway.  Let's go.

Let's go!  Mount up.  Get em up little doggies.   Why drive when you can hike and smell the creosote?     

Smell that? You smell that?

What?

Creosote, son. Nothing in the world smells like that.

I love the smell of creosote in the morning. You know, one time we hiked the Christmas mountains, for 12 hours. When we finally reached the summit,  I walked up. The smell, you know that creosote smell, the whole hill. Smelled like... Big Bend. Someday the Christmas Mountains will become a part of Big Bend.

[STARLITDARKNESS3]

Let's go!  Mount up.  Get em up little doggies.   Why drive when you can hike and smell the creosote?     

Smell that? You smell that?
What?
Creosote, son. Nothing in the world smells like that.

I love the smell of creosote in the morning. You know, one time we hiked the Christmas mountains, for 12 hours. When we finally reached the summit,  I walked up. The smell, you know that creosote smell, the whole hill. Smelled like... Big Bend. Someday the Christmas Mountains will become a part of Big Bend.

Thanks for JP's email.  I was agreeing with Randell on his being ready to hike the 7.5 miles to the Christmas Mountains.  I'm ready.

[presidio]

If I am correct, why is this fact so often ignored by all concerned?

Because everyone has an opinion about what they think they want to happen or should happen, or some notion of what they think is out there...but very few people making these comments have actually been on the ground.

The short story is that ALL the road that access the Christmas Mtns are privately owned/maintained as part of Terlingua Ranch. Now, while you likely can drive anywhere you want on these roads without anyone bothering you (after all you have to use a private road to reach the Lodge area) and thus use these roads as presumed public access, there is nowhere you can go off those roads where you are not on private property.

That means there is no public parking (save at the Lodge area where they cater to non-owners) and leaving a parked vehicle alongside a road is a sure clue the driver is not an owner. The road mentioned as being left open if the NPS obtains control, is one of those private roads. The NPS will not be able to route tourists via that unless they were to obtain an access easement; not something they are likely to do (though they would need one for their own personnel to patrol via that route).

Access under NPS control would be solely via hiking from the south, thus ensuring that no one would much go there.

[okiehiker]

...or posting incriminating pictures... 

I heard of a person ... who knew a person... who might have done...

a lot of hiking in the Christmas Mountains over the years...  after driving nearly 800 miles to get there.

On most of my trips I very rarely see another hiker.  That is by design both to avoid overuse of popular areas and because the solitude is one of BIBE's great treasures.

[STARLITDARKNESS3]

are you really going to burn 2 days in the Xmas Mts, or in the Chisos instead? 

Pick me, Pick me!!  The question is, how many "backpackers" will not be going to the Christmas Mountains?  Most everyone here has spent alot of time on the Chisos, now we will have another great area to explore; because, that is what its about, exploring. 

[randell]

Well, isn't this interesting.  We have never had any access.  The same week that we find out we have access, we have people whining and complaining already.  If you can't hike the 14 miles, don't go.  If you'd rather spend your time hiking the Chisos - fine, go there.  You know you have to hike 14 miles to do the South Rim, right? 

I am "locked out" of 90% of Big Bend Ranch and most of the backroads in BIBE because I don't own a high-clearance 4x4 vehicle.  I'm not complaining and asking the park to pave the backroads for me.  I just go hiking.

[SHANEA]

Well, isn't this interesting.  We have never had any access.  The same week that we find out we have access, we have people whining and complaining already.  If you can't hike the 14 miles, don't go.  If you'd rather spend your time hiking the Chisos - fine, go there.  You know you have to hike 14 miles to do the South Rim, right? 

I am "locked out" of 90% of Big Bend Ranch and most of the backroads in BIBE because I don't own a high-clearance 4x4 vehicle.  I'm not complaining and asking the park to pave the backroads for me.  I just go hiking.

I "feel" the need for another Sir Randell & ShaneA 4 Day Special Whirl-Wind trip Coming Up Soon...  We've done it before.   He's done it since.  Just two wild and crazy guys...

We'll take a National Park Service Big Bend National Park flag and plant it at the summit and claim it for the Mother Land... 

Just pay our entrance fee, park on the side of the road, and pack it in.  Setup a camp and explore.  Nothing to it.   Won't even have to stop at PJ to get a back country permit or file a trip plan.   This is great as we won't have to worry about getting to PJ before she closes or getting there at 8am to file a plan.  We can pull right on up, hop out, strap on the backpack, and hike on in.  This time of the year we wouldn't even have to worry about a tent, probably.  Just sleep up on the summit.

Thank You Jerry Patterson!   

[Al]

I have to agree.  Thank you Commissioner Patterson!

Al