Big Bend 2016

I head out there next week. I'll be sure to post any pictures I take (possibly video as well, since the boyfriend is a professional videographer... and depending on how much room we have in the truck). We didn't realize there were actually things to do out there until we started doing some research.

 

LOL love your mod list as "Rumours" - Fleetwood Mac. Personal favorite. Need to get my wife to listen to it.

 

Looking fwd to any new info about The Bend. Have a friend going up there next week (Sun. or Mon.) He's driving a 1st Gen. I have a 2nd gen. prerunner with the locker. Wondering if I can still get thru there. Heard that last year the roads had pretty bad ruts. I haven't been back there since '85. I miss those trips. Thanks in advance.

 

Looks like I need to keep watching this thread. You guys need to quit planning these trips when I'm in a maintenance outage!! No time off for me until mid November.

 

Interested, any dates set?

 

She definitely needs to give it a spin. It's a life-altering album (in my opinion, at least, haha!)

 

I can't say anything about some of the more primitive roads (didn't bother to take them in my bone stock Taco). The auto trails were just fine. Saw a couple of sedans on the roads leading to the primitive campsites; many of those roads were borderline primitive, and definitely washboard. I drove some of those and had no problem (though it was very bumpy).

For anyone who has not yet gone to Big Bend, I suggest going at least once in your life. The scenery is just staggering. If you go during the off-season (we arrived at the tail-end of the Columbus Day holiday weekend, when a lot of folks were leaving) then it's very quiet. The Chisos campgrounds were still full, even in off-season (apparently that's the "it" campground). We went to the Rio Grande campsite and had a great time. I recommend hiking along the Rio Grande River; you can walk into this fantastic canyon, and along the way watch Mexican ranch hands take the horses to water on the other side of the border.

Terlingua was pretty fun, pretty good food. We also went up to Marfa and saw the lights (nothing crazy). As an artist, I was a bit disappointed in Marfa proper; we were led to believe that it was this amazing artist enclave in the desert, but it was littered with trust fund babies' poncey galleries (we were later told that kids from New York and Austin go to Marfa thinking they'll get their big break, but move back when the money dries up). We stayed in Alpine for two nights, and they had a better art scene. Alpine was our favorite part of the trip. We definitely recommend going to the Big Bend Brewing Company.

My boyfriend is going through the photos. I'll post them when I get my hands on the keepers.

 

Hey thanks for the info. I agree totally about Marfa. I paint as well and thought about taking some work and a portfolio up there. Visited first and was glad I didn't bring anything up there. Just talking to folks cured me of that. And spot on about Alpine as well.

 

I really want do this. New to off roading and stuff but would love the chance to get out there and meet some new people. My problem is experience and not knowing people that can teach

If a group ever gets set up to go and willing to deal with a new guy I'd be in.

Still a bone stock ride.

 

If you're looking for people to tackle Big Bend with join the Facebook group Texas Overland. I swear people go out there at least on a monthly basis if not more. Super friendly group and most people are happy to have someone join them on a trip.

 

I wish they had a thread here. I am not on Facebook, and I feel like im missing out on some epic adventures.

 

I swear that group is the reason I even check my FB feed lol

 

Yeah, im not on FB either. I feel like im missing out, but the BS you got to put up with just isn't worth it to me.

 

Heading to Big bend during thanksgiving weekend , anybody else ? I was lucky enough to find 2 nights at the chisos basin campground , and im thinking about going backcountry camping for our last night ..