Emily and Rick brought their Flip along on our camping trip and captured a few fun videos.
Big Bend Wind Experience
Campsite and shower discussion
Rick tests the waters
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Friday, July 09, 2010
Big Bend!
In late May, we (Rick, Emily, Luke, Matt, me) piled into Olive (my dad's Expedition) and drove to Big Bend for a much needed vacation. Emily has posted many pictures of the trip on Facebook, so I'll just highlight a few that make me smile.
Initially we were going to camp down by the river near the Rio Grande Village because they had showers. The weather reports indicated highs near 100 but lows in the 60s, so we thought that sounded fine. Once we arrived though, we found out that by the river the 100-degree heat stuck around until past 9pm and the lows weren't arriving until 3-4am. So...first big decision of the trip - showers or comfortable temperatures? Easy call. We decided to camp at the Chisos Basin campground, located at about 5000' elevation. Cooler weather >>>>>> showers. Plus we got a prime spot right at the edge of the campground that afforded us over 180 degrees of unspoiled view. This picture is us at the campsite. It had a great picnic table with shade - very important! Em and Rick (our camp cooks) made us fajitas that night and we settled in for an early bedtime. The wind was ridiculous! Our tents were battered and shuddered and popped all night (we lost both our rain fly poles at one point).
On Monday morning we set out for a hike on the Lost Mines trail. It was a short drive from our campsite and the trail led us up into the mountains. There was this great rock with a huge drop off that the less-vertigo-affected of us enjoyed being photographed on. The hike was about 5 miles round trip. It had some great views and nice people took our picture at the top. We made it down and back to camp in time for lunch.
at the top of the Lost Mines trail
The afternoons in Big Bend in the summertime were made for lounging! We set up the hammocks hanging from our shade and put up our tarp to expand the shaded area. We read books, played DS, napped. In the shade the heat was completely manageable. We had a plan for the evening (another hike!) so we had an early dinner of burgers and sausage (thanks again, Em and Rick!) and headed out just after 6 for hike #2, "The Window." We didn't even have to drive to get to this trailhead; it left directly from the campground. Nice! The hike was a fun contrast to the morning's hike. We headed in the opposite direction and down into a canyon. Rick was hoping there would be water but the most we got were a few stagnant pools. Just as well, though, because the dryness enabled us to get right to the edge of the Window without slipping over the edge - that rock was smoothed down to a glossy finish. We lingered for a while, enjoying lounging on the cool rock in the shade.
On Tuesday we did a mostly driving tour, heading west. Our first destination was Santa Elena Canyon, along the Rio Grande. It had a really high cliff on the Mexican side. We did a quick trot along the trail into the canyon but didn't go too far - it was getting hot! Back at the car, we ate lunch and then the boys got in their swimsuits and "swam" (waded) in the Rio Grande over to the Mexican side.
After the swim, we drove to Terlingua to see the ghost town. We met some interesting locals...
Back at camp, we did some serious lounging and I once again got comfy in our hammock. Grilled chicken and mac and cheese was the menu for dinner (yum), and then Emily and I retreated to the bathrooms to try and clean up and avoid the never-ending discussion the boys were having about immigration issues. That night we got a real treat - there was a huge storm over the mountains with amazing lightning to watch. (Unfortunately the storm eventually got to us and Matt and I worried about our substandard rain fly poles). Luckily we didn't wash away.
On Wednesday we paid a trip to the hot springs. I thought it was warm enough that the 100-degree water wouldn't feel good, but it was nice!
Once back at camp we packed up and got ready for our stay at the Chisos Mountain Lodge. The rooms were clean but very no-frills - much like a dorm room. But whatever! They had electricity and running water and showers, so it was like heaven. Luke stayed with Matt and me in our room so that Rick and Emily, definitely the two people without whom the trip could not have happened, could bunk on their own. (Incidentally they were also celebrating their 2-year wedding anniversary).
Thursday was our last full day at the park and we took advantage of being well-rested and clean to undertake our most ambitious hike, up the highest mountain in the park, Emory Peak. We got a really early start and the weather was overcast, so it was quite pleasant. The last bit of elevation to the peak was a rock scramble, which suited me just fine. I love scrambling. We ate an extremely early lunch up on the peak next to the radio equipment. The hike down was harder since it was starting to get hot. But we made it!
Big Bend was really amazing. I would love to go back and experience it again during another time of the year. The five of us had a great time.
...
Okay, continue watching this space for more updates. For now my fingers are tired of typing =P
Initially we were going to camp down by the river near the Rio Grande Village because they had showers. The weather reports indicated highs near 100 but lows in the 60s, so we thought that sounded fine. Once we arrived though, we found out that by the river the 100-degree heat stuck around until past 9pm and the lows weren't arriving until 3-4am. So...first big decision of the trip - showers or comfortable temperatures? Easy call. We decided to camp at the Chisos Basin campground, located at about 5000' elevation. Cooler weather >>>>>> showers. Plus we got a prime spot right at the edge of the campground that afforded us over 180 degrees of unspoiled view. This picture is us at the campsite. It had a great picnic table with shade - very important! Em and Rick (our camp cooks) made us fajitas that night and we settled in for an early bedtime. The wind was ridiculous! Our tents were battered and shuddered and popped all night (we lost both our rain fly poles at one point).
On Monday morning we set out for a hike on the Lost Mines trail. It was a short drive from our campsite and the trail led us up into the mountains. There was this great rock with a huge drop off that the less-vertigo-affected of us enjoyed being photographed on. The hike was about 5 miles round trip. It had some great views and nice people took our picture at the top. We made it down and back to camp in time for lunch.
at the top of the Lost Mines trail
The afternoons in Big Bend in the summertime were made for lounging! We set up the hammocks hanging from our shade and put up our tarp to expand the shaded area. We read books, played DS, napped. In the shade the heat was completely manageable. We had a plan for the evening (another hike!) so we had an early dinner of burgers and sausage (thanks again, Em and Rick!) and headed out just after 6 for hike #2, "The Window." We didn't even have to drive to get to this trailhead; it left directly from the campground. Nice! The hike was a fun contrast to the morning's hike. We headed in the opposite direction and down into a canyon. Rick was hoping there would be water but the most we got were a few stagnant pools. Just as well, though, because the dryness enabled us to get right to the edge of the Window without slipping over the edge - that rock was smoothed down to a glossy finish. We lingered for a while, enjoying lounging on the cool rock in the shade.
On Tuesday we did a mostly driving tour, heading west. Our first destination was Santa Elena Canyon, along the Rio Grande. It had a really high cliff on the Mexican side. We did a quick trot along the trail into the canyon but didn't go too far - it was getting hot! Back at the car, we ate lunch and then the boys got in their swimsuits and "swam" (waded) in the Rio Grande over to the Mexican side.After the swim, we drove to Terlingua to see the ghost town. We met some interesting locals...
Back at camp, we did some serious lounging and I once again got comfy in our hammock. Grilled chicken and mac and cheese was the menu for dinner (yum), and then Emily and I retreated to the bathrooms to try and clean up and avoid the never-ending discussion the boys were having about immigration issues. That night we got a real treat - there was a huge storm over the mountains with amazing lightning to watch. (Unfortunately the storm eventually got to us and Matt and I worried about our substandard rain fly poles). Luckily we didn't wash away.
On Wednesday we paid a trip to the hot springs. I thought it was warm enough that the 100-degree water wouldn't feel good, but it was nice!
Once back at camp we packed up and got ready for our stay at the Chisos Mountain Lodge. The rooms were clean but very no-frills - much like a dorm room. But whatever! They had electricity and running water and showers, so it was like heaven. Luke stayed with Matt and me in our room so that Rick and Emily, definitely the two people without whom the trip could not have happened, could bunk on their own. (Incidentally they were also celebrating their 2-year wedding anniversary).
Thursday was our last full day at the park and we took advantage of being well-rested and clean to undertake our most ambitious hike, up the highest mountain in the park, Emory Peak. We got a really early start and the weather was overcast, so it was quite pleasant. The last bit of elevation to the peak was a rock scramble, which suited me just fine. I love scrambling. We ate an extremely early lunch up on the peak next to the radio equipment. The hike down was harder since it was starting to get hot. But we made it!Big Bend was really amazing. I would love to go back and experience it again during another time of the year. The five of us had a great time.
...
Okay, continue watching this space for more updates. For now my fingers are tired of typing =P
Thursday, July 01, 2010
watch this space
coming soon - belated Big Bend post, summer-time happenings
in the meantime, enjoy this picture of Piper grooming Pene's head (this happens a lot)
in the meantime, enjoy this picture of Piper grooming Pene's head (this happens a lot)
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