Suggestions for Sept 30 thru Oct 2

[rhodo]

I'm planning a weekend trip from New Braunfels and would appreciate comments on this schedule. The main purpose of the trip is to visit the South Rim and Casa Grande.

I've been to the Chisos once before. We stayed in the Basin and hiked Pinnacles to Emory Peak, also the Window and Cattail Falls Trails.  So here's what I'm thinking...

Friday: Drive in, hike Lost Mines to Casa Grande Summit, then back out and drive to the Basin campground for the night, catching  the sunset from the Oak Springs Trail.

Saturday: Hike up Pinnacles, drop off the pack for a dash up to Emory Peak, then on to the South Rim for the night.

Sunday: Back down Laguna Meadows and home.

or ...  should I reverse this, going up Laguna Meadows to spend Friday night on the rim, back down Boot Canyon and Pinnacle to spend Sat night in the campground and then Lost Mines/Casa Grande on Sunday morning?

Thanks everyone for your feedback.

[mule ears]

I think it would depend on how energetic you are feeling after the drive to the park, but both the Casa Grande climb and the Oak Springs trail before dark could be a lot to do.

The reverse, or plan B, might be a bit more relaxing/less rushed option.  You could catch the sunset from the lodge patio after dinner and a beer celebrating your South Rim trip and then cap it off the next morning when you are fresh by doing Casa Grande.

 

[rhodo]

Thanks for your replies. Time was my concern about the first option also. I've read that the path up Casa Grande is treacherous and don't want to turn it into a stress fest if we don't get to the park early enough or risk injury due to rushing.

[jeffblaylock]

Thanks for your replies. Time was my concern about the first option also. I've read that the path up Casa Grande is treacherous and don't want to turn it into a stress fest if we don't get to the park early enough or risk injury due to rushing.

The path up is fine. It's the path down that's treacherous.

You've got an awful lot crammed into a short time, with a long drive immediately on either side. Personally, I'd pick one or the other, and take some time to enjoy actually being there, away from the rat race and the rush-rush-rush of daily life.

[Casa Grande]

What Jeff said.

[RichardM]

I think it would depend on how energetic you are feeling after the drive to the park, but both the Casa Grande climb and the Oak Springs trail before dark could be a lot to do.

The reverse, or plan B, might be a bit more relaxing/less rushed option.  You could catch the sunset from the lodge patio after dinner and a beer celebrating your South Rim trip and then cap it off the next morning when you are fresh by doing Casa Grande.

 

I'll second Mule Ear's plan B suggestion.

I've done the Window Trail in a rush a couple of times. Just remember it's uphill coming back. If you're uncomfortable hiking in low light after the sunset, remember to bring your flashlight.

[iCe]

I spent my first trip to BiBe rushing around trying to see it all (missed by a few 100,000 acres btw). I dashed up to SW4, spent the night, hobbled down the next morning (lost a few toenails  ), and at the end of it all I wished that I had done less and seen more.

Like everyone has said- the Window trail is uphill on the return. I hiked down around 8 or 9 one morning (don't remember exactly) and messed around long enough that I came back around noon. I think someone moved the trail back toward the lodge... it sure seemed like the hike back was a lot longer.

[Homer67]

I went on a hike over Mariscal in late Feb; it went so fast, and the hike itself was so strenuous for the shape I was in, I was only able to take a few photos.  I can recall the hike, but not in the detail of the hikes which I do with my wife.  We take the time and do the planning to get the hike done.  It usually results in a heavier pack and a longer trip, but then the going is a slower, easier pace.  I was very pleased when we hiked up Blue Creek and down Laguna Meadow this past April.  I took over 200 photos while on that trail.  This was made possible by our slower pace, and I got some very nice shots I would have otherwise missed. It also gave me a chance to look more closely at the plants and what wildlife we did encounter, mark a spot on my gps where I would like to return and do some exploring in a neat cave, and really relax my mind and distance myself from the work world that awaits back home.

I am always amazed at what beauty and discovery can be made just about anywhere in Big Bend.  One example of this would be what appears to be a cairn burial off the Mule Ears trail...if we had not taken the time to explore in this area, I would have never found it.  So sometimes a slower pace has its rewards!

[TheWildWestGuy]

I would do the South Rim trip at the beginning and everything else later (if your still up for it).
People tend to underestimate the terrain and cancel out on plans after the first day or two.
For instance:  Many people who plan to hike the OML plan to spend the last night on the Rim somewhere but most of them (myself included) are so eager to get down to the Basin and a cold barley-pop that they skip the last night on the Rim and just hoof it down to the Basin on the last day.

Do what's most important to you first because it's likely you might not get to the whole list.  TWWG

[rhodo]

Thanks everyone for your input. 

I thought about adding an extra day but one of my companions won't be able to take Thursday off, so it's still a 3 day trip. The current plan is to try to arrive early enough to hike up Laguna Meadows spending Fri night on the rim, returning via Boot Canyon and Pinnacles to spend Sat night in the campground, then catch Lost Mines on the way out.  If we get there late, we'll spend Fri at the campground and head up to the rim on Sat via Pinnacles/BC , returning via Laguna Meadows and skip Casa Grande.
Thanks again for your help.