RE: [A/S] Digest Number 952

["Barbara Bobo" <bobo@xxxxxxxx>]

Re: Big Bend Park

Hi,

My husband and I traveled to Big Bend just this past January in our '73 A/S,
[second trip out, the first was to Yellowstone and the Tetons last
September]. Big Bend is a 'Wild' and amazing place! The mountains are the
most beautiful in the late afternoon-early evening hours when the purple and
rosy hues are spectacular.  The vegetation is mainly Sotil and Yucca, but
will be beautiful to the person who loves desert landscapes minus the mighty
Saguaro cactus. The mountains have varies of Pine and Fir. It is REMOTE so
bring everything you need with you the supplies are very limited even though
they have a store it is expensive. Bring bottled water too just in case.

The campground near the river was very nice. We stayed in Rio Grande
Village. We pulled in under the willows in the dry camping area and felt we
had our own private forest, but then the fun began.  The Javelina parade
started!  These beautiful creatures [in my opinion!]live near the rivers in
the southwest and are related to tapers not our domesticated pigs...but will
raid your camp if you are careless and have any food outside, or a car/van
door open.  One boar entered a fellow campers van and pulled out a bag of
cookies to help himself.... and the next morning, right at dawn, eight of
the boars' crew showed up to have a breakfast party, sorry, no cookies were
left as the campers had learned their lesson!

It was humorous, but the camp host warned us that the resident Javelina's
have hurt dogs who thought they were easy game and a German tourist was
injured when he put his hand out to feed a J that had nudged him as he sat
at a picnic table.  So remember to keep your pets in control at all times.

We saw these native animals in several campgrounds in TX and know they live
in the southwest, but didn't expect to see them so close by.  This shows we
are making an impact on their lives, so our incursions into their
territories are going to be harmful for their populations if we are not
careful.  Do not leave dog or cat food out or store anything, like a
barbeque grill outdoors overnight if you don't want to hear a party, [which
you are not invited to] happening at an unholy hour.  Food is their primary
target and with the drought conditions at the present time, it is a serious
problem.  You may want to avoid the shady area under the willows in the
campground near the river, and select a more open spot.

We have a resident bear near our Canadian cabin that has raised the ire of
the casual cottager who sets their garbage out in plastic garbage cans or
trash bags....and has to pick up what is left and repair broken glass in
their kitchen doors the next day! Our Candian bear entered our locked truck
cap through the window and created quite a mess, all to retrieve a kiwi
fruit skin and a vacuum cleaner bag!

I thought we were safe in our A/S but another camper told me he had seen
bears in Yellowstone rip metal trailers open for the food in the cupboards.
He didn't know if they were A/S but aluminum is not a barrier to a hungry
critter. I am saying this not to scare you off, but to forewarn you if you
are not a regular southwest camper.

There is no cell phone service south of Alpine, which is a two hour drive
north of the park, so don't count on using your cell phone.  There are pay
phones in the park, but sometimes only one is working.

A good laundry is in the Rio Grand Village, and there is a restaurant in the
Basin Campground.  I purchased a beautiful book on the Borderlands called
'Two Eagles' [which was published by the Nature Conservancy] at the
bookstore in the Panther Junction park headquarters.  This book was a
valuable explanation of the border between our country and Mexico which was
filled with photography of some of the best places in the area.

My husband loved the hiking there and we did take one of the unpaved roads
with our big tuff truck, but the wash boarding was not as enjoyable as
biking would have been.  My husband wished he would have brought a kayak to
float on the Rio Grande through the Santa Elena Canyon, sheer rock sides in
some places and a bit of a trail you can hike in others. Take your bathing
suits and visit the hot springs on the Rio Grande! They are free but the
road is primitive. Lots of folks drive it to the springs. There are
outfitters in the area too that can provide canoes etc.  The water was very
calm when we were there in January, so it might be different when you go. We
are in our early fifties and we aren't as spry as teenagers but still
managed to see most of the trails and vistas. Near the Basin Area is a
wonderful hike near the rim of the range that my husband enjoyed too. We are
going back next winter too, and are now curious to see Mexico!

The landscape in Big Bend is out of this world, and while in this area visit
the McDonald Observatory near Fort Davis [there is a great state park near
there and more beautiful piney territory] and at a place called Marfa some
mysterious lights in the night sky that are causing area residents to
promote the area as a 'Marfa Lights' phenomenon.
The phone # is 915-477-2251 and the website is nps.gov/bibe

Carlsbad is a life list treat as well, but haven't been there
recently....gotta go to both...enjoy!

Barbara from Ohio