NORTH TEXAS MISFIT TACOS: BBNP trip April 6-9 2017

Nice! I added a few things to the list of gear. And I put your name next to a few items that the community can use on the trip.

Also i added my name to a few meals and listed what i will be making for everyone.

 

I spent 6+ hours doing it but I also went a little north and hit Black Gap Rd to see how difficult it was since they claim its the most difficult section of the road and It was my last day at BB(it was easy in my stock, 3 month old truck). In the beginning we stopped quite a bit and took a lot of detours to see some of the different camp sites along the road which added a lot of time in the beginning.

I'm not sure if I will be able to make it out for this or not right now. I want to go but it will depend on work. It will probably be around when OT is going to be coming to an end and I want to make as much OT as I can while I can to buy more truck parts! After seeing @thedrewsifer's lift I NEED to lift my truck! I'm also not sure what my PTO is going to be like since in the first 2 1/2 weeks of May I am going to be using 50-60hrs for Jambo and Overland Expo.

 

6 hours isnt too bad.. what camp sites did you start and end at?

 

I started in the East and checked out Gravel Pit and La Clocha, I wasnt too impressed here but it was ok. After that I went up to black Gap and checked out Glenn Springs, def seemed like a better spot. By the time I got through black gap road I realized I was going to run out of sun light by the time I hit the paved road at the west end by castolon so I stopped checking out camp sites and started booking it to get through the trail. I really didnt get to see as much as I wanted. I was on somewhat limited time and was held back by having to meet up with friends and move campsites on the 1st full day at BB which pretty much left no time to drive any of the trails. The 2nd day is when I hit River road. Ended up leaving on the 3rd day since my friends had to get back for work and I headed to PINS to see the Ocean since I hadnt seen it in over 5 years. Long drive to see the "ocean" to realize the gulf is not the ocean I wanted to see.

 

IF I go... IF

• grill/stove ~ I have a Coleman stove as well as a Camp Kitchen box with everything.
• propane ~ I have a big propane bottle and want to buy a smaller one soon.
• tent ~ everyone
• lantern/outdoor lighting ~ Luminoodle Base Camp and Smaller Luminoodle.
• headlamp ~ Got it
• hi-lift jack ~ Always in the truck plus TREDs, Extra Gas, and Recovery Gear.
• Med kit ~ Got like three, one big one, two little ones in the truck at all tiems.
• snake bite kit ~ Eh?
• camp chairs () ~ Got it
• spare gas tank ~ 4 Gallon Rotopax
• spare tire ~ Should have full sized spare soon
• water ~ Waterport on the truck
• beer/alcohol (cans only for beer) ~ duh
• trash bags @~ Usually keep two in the kitchen box.
• Toilet Paper!!!! BRING WET WIPES!
• portable toilet (for those who cant pee/poo outside) ~ I got a shovel?
• Communication (CB/walkies) ~ CB is in the truck... should have HAM in the truck plus a portable HAM radio.
• more to come as the date gets closer

I am also always down to cook any meal. As far as lunch, I would say just simple sandwiches and then cook breakfasts or use granola or easy to make stuff so there is more time exploring.

 

Man I want to go. But I dont know if scheduling will work out.

 

Do it...Work will be there when you get back.

 

If we weren't 2 people down, it wouldn't be an issue.

 

Wish I could go!
I go at least once a year since I have friends who live there.
In the 9 years of going there, all times of year have never seen any kind of snake. No doubt they are there though.
Have seen many Desert Tarantulas, harmless.
http://www.nationalparkstraveler.co...esert-tarantula-looks-big-hairy-and-scary7297
Only once found a scorpion.
When canoeing up river at St. Elena Canyon, and taking a hike up Fern Canyon, saw the biggest centipede ever, over 18" long! They are poisonous.
The night sky is amazing there, take binoculars or better a telescope, be prepared to be blown away what you can see.
A recent post of mine on BB:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-magnetic-gray-thread.394569/page-165#post-14456823

It's high desert, lowlands are ~2,300 ft elevation. Super low humidity, and why you have to hydrate twice what you would at home.
You can sleep without a tent.
During the day in April can get hot, bring a broad rimmed hat....makes a world of difference. I'm a surfer dude so sun doesn't bother me, but having a hat like that will make you feel cooler....temp wise.
It will definetly be dusty driving.
If you are going to buy any groceries buy before you get to BB area.
Alpine, Marathon have grocery stores. Study Butte/Terlingua you can get some basic stuff, milk etc. there is a new small grocery store on the way in to BB coming from Terlingua/Study Butte. Never been inside but looks like it has more groceries.
After 20+ years of chasing waves in Central America and mainland Mex, I never go without a few cans of FixFlat. I remember one trip I took...had a flat out in the middle of nowhere, opened the the trunk of the rent car (El Salvador) to get the spare.....no spare. So used the can of FixFlat to get me going. Won't solve all issues....just backup.
Other than that....be a Boy Scout....be prepared !
Have a blast!
http://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_bk_p4501_0152k.pdf
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kUFj4U0uxFI

 

Ok that is what i wanted to hear. I am thinking about doing the same thing, but stop in the middle to camp so we are not doing east - west in one day.

Sweet! I will add your name to the list with a star* to indicate a "maybe"

Thanks man! This will be my first trip, but i think a couple people going have been before. All info is good info at this point!

 

Works for me.

 

Found someone to build me a bed rack! And i get to design it myself!

 

I'm a maybe. Will depend mostly on work. Whats the word on bringing dogs?

 

I can take dinner thursday for sure. I have a stove, skottel, cooking metal and a 20lb propane tank with two hoses and a connecting tube. Got a hi lift and all of the basic camping gear chairs lights etc.

 

Yep, plus they dont allow you to hang them on the trees out there for preservation reasons.

 

Also have a snake bite kit and a IFAK kit as well.

 

yep, the western side it really nice but the campsites fill up fast. I prefer the easter side and near the chisos mountains - you really cant go wrong anywhere in that park its all gorgeous.

 

They say you can have them but only in places that your car can go, so pretty much just on the roads and in camp sites i guess. They say no dogs in the back country or on hiking trails, but i plan to bring my 2 dogs on this trip. I will just have them on a leash the whole time, and have to bury all their poo! But i will have a shovel so that will not be an issue.

Haha. That is the dumbest thing i have heard! They have tree safe straps that dont damage trees!

Sweet! Not that we will need it but i like to be prepared!

So maybe we can start on the west and end east?

 

I need to stop designing this bed rack so i can get back to designing this trip!

 

That sounds like a great plan - lets you see all of the park. take river road to get us to the eastern side where you can run glenn springs, black gap and old ore roads.