Big Bend Natl Park on March 6-8

**Rat** · 12-31-2009, 08:50

Originally Posted by MacEntyre

Hedcase, sounds like we need to rent a Club Van in Jackson. I'll pick up Skippy and Running Feather, and Angrysparrow can meet us there. How many others want to get on the bus between Jackson, MS, and Big Bend?

Hogn8r, TwoShoes, won't we be going right by you guys?

- MacEntyre

Yea, proly, or pretty close anyway. Looks like I may have 3-4 people going with me as well. We will need a separate vehicle; but we can always caravan!
Whatever vehicle you bring make sure you have a spare and all the tools for changing tires. The roads aren't that bad, but it seems like I get a flat every time I go!

**MacEntyre** · 12-31-2009, 09:10

Originally Posted by Hogn8r

...we can always caravan!

Let's plan on that! We need to break up our trip anyway...

Originally Posted by Hogn8r

Whatever vehicle you bring make sure you have a spare and all the tools...

Yes, it's a long way from anywhere.

Hedcase, you sure you want to bring the family minivan? Does it have a full size spare?

Wow! Hogn8r, with your guests, we have about a dozen people for this trip to the ends of civilization!

- MacEntyre

**Scottybdiving** · 12-31-2009, 11:43

Are there ant girls going? I will know next month whether I can go or not, but I would have to include my other half.

**MacEntyre** · 12-31-2009, 11:45

I'm trying to get Thing1 to go with me... all are welcome!

- MacEntyre

**schrochem** · 12-31-2009, 12:38

Sorry I'm late to this......
I go out to big bend 2-3 times per year. I was just there in October.
It's one of my favorite places to go...
Last new year's eve I was there, but this year I'm moving places so that would be a bit much.
I'll be out there spring break with my son the week of mar. 15th.
However, during spring break we do the state park instead of the national park.
Hammocking is pretty limited. If you are just going to be there a few days I do the south rim. There are trees up there but I haven't done it since 1998 or so (pre-hammocking). I think I stayed at SW4.

The state park is FAR less crowded and just as beautiful. however, the roads are much rougher. Guale2 is my favorite site so far, but it's crunchy to get to.

I've never hammock camped out there.....It's pretty remote so you have to take quite a bit of gear. I keep wanted to take a stand but there never is any room left.

Here are some pics from our october trip.

Big Bend Natinal Park October 2009

Four wheel drive is not required in the national park. Plenty to see on the paved roads for a first visit. Yes, you have to get a permit for each site, for each night....

Anyway, I hope y'all have a nice trip!

**hikingshoes** · 12-31-2009, 12:55

Originally Posted by MacEntyre

What about Big Bend Natl Park on Mar 12-14, 2010?

That's the second weekend in March.

- MacEntyre

Hey Mac,is those dates still the plan?

**bigbamaguy** · 12-31-2009, 12:59

Mac:
I evidently have been under a rock or something and missed this thread altogether. I was wondering if there would be room for one, maybe two more people on this outing?

**MacEntyre** · 12-31-2009, 13:44

Originally Posted by HikingShoes

Hey Mac,is those dates still the plan?

Just changed them after figuring out that the original date was the beginning of Spring Break, when the students descend upon Big Bend. The title of the thread is the correct date.

Originally Posted by bigbamaguy

...room for one, maybe two more people on this outing?

Room for any number on the outing... I hear Texas is big!

If you want to catch the Big Bend Bus, driven by Hedcase, which leaves from Jackson, MS, on March 4 or 5, you are in luck! He has seats for seven. Hedcase, Skippy, Angrysparrow, Running Feather, MacEntyre, BigBamaGuy and BBG's Guest... that makes seven.

Originally Posted by schrochem

If you are just going to be there a few days I do the south rim.

That's the kind of advice I've been wanting... I have an 8.5X11 map showing the Chisos Basin Trailhead at the bottom of the page, with the SE Rim and SW Rim at the top of the page, and and area about 4 miles by six miles in between. Some folks could make a base camp at one of the camp sites on the Pinnacles Trail, and others could backpack to the rims. Looks like a full weekend just exploring the Chisos backcountry.

EDIT: Spoke to Hogn8r on the phone this evening. He wanted me to make it clear that the date has been changed to the current date in the thread title.

Hogn8r has spent some time in Big Bend. He suggested day hikes from a base camp on the river, maybe one of the group sites. We'll hear more from him after his class at REI.

- MacEntyre