A couple of This Week shots

[Pedreo233]

Not quite. Pete, I had two tubes of seam sealer readily available and one tube was brand new! I remember Erle telling us a few years ago one needs to seal the connections between the tie downs and the tarp.

If only you had mentioned the problem  . . . I am sure we could have negotiated a reasonable price given the remoteness of my precious and limited stores.

Hey Al, thanks for the belated offer Buddy, what are friends for anyways?  No hard feelings; I'm probably better off enduring the occassional drips rather than the extortion.  ...No really, I'm sure you would have helped me out had you have only known, but no need to bother you with my problem.  But thanks, the earplugs really did help me with the heavy snoring of the desert beasts.

[Al]

And now for the rest of the story. We didn't get any of the primitive campsites we were hoping for, which surprised us since it was February, but you know what? It was still a great trip. We were hoping for an easy access site the first night so Pete could drive from the airport in Midland to our camp none of which we wanted to camp at were open. (We ending up in a Pine Canyon campsite, which is no basis for compliant. Because of cell phone service near PJ we were able to revise our plan and redirect Pedro.) There are now 5 Pine Canyon sites. Sites 1, 2 and 5 have great del Carmen views. We were not familiar with the new PC site numbering system and were told PC3 would be a good view site. WRONG! Anyway we drove up to 5 to watch the sun go down.



Not long after this shot, we noticed a vehicle driving up the road. We were being inspected! We explained what we were doing and that we would go back to our hole (PC3) once the sun set, which we did even though we were the only campers in all of Pine Canyon and it was past permit issuance time. I am almost ashamed to admit we listened to the Superbowl via sat. radio. Great game! At 9:30 I met Pedro233 at the parking area on Glenn Springs road and drove him up to our campsite. The weather was great, the stars were incredible and we talked well into the night at least partially due to the spell of the infra-red heater.

We had planned to camp the rest of the trip, except for the last night, at Elephant Tusk primitive site and to day hike up into the watersheds around ET. Unfortunately, when we got our permit, River Rd. East and both ends of Black Gap were closed. However, the kind volunteer who inspected us at Pine Springs told that River Rd. shouldn't be a problem for high-clearance vehicles. So the next day we cruised back to PJ and got a revised permit for Fresno but we were denied access to the ET primitive campsite. We tried to explain, to deaf ears, that if River Rd east was good for high-clearance there would be no problem to access the ET primitive site from the south end of Black Gap since it was before the rough part . . . but the gate on the south was closed. Oh well. There is always next year. So Homero, I don't have a lot of new pictures to add from last year's report but look forward to next year, although I may be able one or two . . .

I must note we have never been more closely monitored in remote primitive campsites in Big Bend than this year. After the volunteer inspection the first night, an "NPS" small plane circled us twice the next day at Fresno. Then the next day two Border Patrol vehicles drove up and a very nice official visited and chatted with us. He mentioned they had heard the plane reporting our truck being parked there from the day before. Then the next day an Enforcement Ranger inspected us again, made us show our permit and generally reduced our sense of remote relaxation. I have never ever been so inspected in the back country. Must be our stimulus dollars at work.

The weather, as previously reported, turned less than ideal for the next few days, in contrast to last year. But all things considered I wouldn't trade the trip for anything. Another great trip to Big Bend although I am already looking forward to an even better trip next year.

Al

[Al]

We did send Pedro233 to clear out the Hot Springs.  He did a magnificent job!



Al

[Al]

I tried to take some around the infra-red heater pictures but the troops were less than cooperative.



Al

[homerboy2u]

I must note we have never been more closely monitored in remote primitive campsites in Big Bend than this year.
Al

 If they were going to buzz you, fly over you "suspect guys" day in and day out, you should have ordered some take out. At least you guys knew they were coming back. I hear the Pancakes and frijoles charros are great there......

[Al]

Homero, here's looking back at ya (got to love those colors!):



From the desert it appears there wasn't much of a view this day from the rim or the top of the Lost Mine Trail:



Al

P.S. All of the shots this year are straight out of the camera except for being re-sized smaller.

[Al]

Not quite. Pete, I had two tubes of seam sealer readily available and one tube was brand new! I remember Erle telling us a few years ago one needs to seal the connections between the tie downs and the tarp.

If only you had mentioned the problem . . . I am sure we could have negotiated a reasonable price given the remoteness of my precious and limited stores.

Hey Al, thanks for the belated offer Buddy, what are friends for anyways?  No hard feelings; I'm probably better off enduring the occassional drips rather than the extortion. ...No really, I'm sure you would have helped me out had you have only known, but no need to bother you with my problem.  But thanks, the earplugs really did help me with the heavy snoring of the desert beasts.

Al

[Pedreo233]

Not quite. Pete, I had two tubes of seam sealer readily available and one tube was brand new! I remember Erle telling us a few years ago one needs to seal the connections between the tie downs and the tarp.

If only you had mentioned the problem . . . I am sure we could have negotiated a reasonable price given the remoteness of my precious and limited stores.

Hey Al, thanks for the belated offer Buddy, what are friends for anyways? No hard feelings; I'm probably better off enduring the occassional drips rather than the extortion. ...No really, I'm sure you would have helped me out had you have only known, but no need to bother you with my problem. But thanks, the earplugs really did help me with the heavy snoring of the desert beasts.

Al

You are simply amazing, Deonne!  I get to be Stevie, since I kinda play harmonica, or at least I have tried.  The hiking the desert and mountains creates pains that bind eternally...probably helps you hit those high notes too!

[Al]

That leaves Jim and Erle: Luther or Whitney?  I just don't know!

Al

[Al]

An example of shameless posting:



Al

P.S. Again straight from the camera except for being reduced in size.

[homerboy2u]

Fellas, you are spoon feeding us here...anytime you want to pick up the pace let me know......zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!

[Hoodoo]

Al,
Sorry for your loss with Erle, I too lost a very good friend last year, the sorrow runs deep. Looks like you guys had a good time inspite of the “inspections.” Beautiful shots of the Sierra Del Carmen.

BTW, Is that a Longhorn chair I see?

I thought that Aggie stuff didn’t wash off once you got it on ya?

Don

[Al]

Hoodoo, I miss Erle almost every day.  It was Erle's idea to hike the del Carmens.  He designed and inspired many of our best trips.  There are many stories not told . . . and hopefully some yet to be experienced albeit without Erle's sage input.

Got to admit although we started out mainly Aggies: Jim, aka Jimbob is a Teasip and David, whose chair you noted, joined us for the first time in many years to honor Erle.  We were three  to two, Aggies to Teasips for a couple of nights, although Erle added only occasionally to the content of the conversation.  (That's Erle in the small chair outside the range of the Infra-red heater . . . he didn't complain even once!)

Al

[Al]

Although an Aggie, Erle worked for UT in a later stage of his life . . . in this picture he is directing the cleanup of Waller Creek, which I understand he originated.



Al

P.S.  As an Aggie I must note: not a bad gig.

[Al]

More Erle, a quote from the referenced article:

Erle Janssen, director of Environmental Health and Safety, said students, faculty and staff need to help reduce trash by not littering and picking up litter when they see it on campus.

"I'd like to be proud of our campus, and I can't be proud when every time I walk around there's trash everywhere," Janssen said. "I know there are some people who think we should hire more custodians to pick up the litter, but why litter in the first place?"

http://www.dailytexanonline.com/university/anti-litter-campaign-aims-to-clean-campus-1.1112308

Al

P.S.  Aggie pride at UT.  Gig 'em!