Feb 13th-15th Solo Big Bend trip..Quick and Dirty

[ToyFamily]

I decided to head out of Houston for the weekend on about tues but didn't finalize plans until about friday due to work. Being from Northern Ca. I was hurting for some Mountains so my thoughts were Colorado, which was 16hrs. . Someone here at the shop suggested Big Bend approx 10hrs. away. So considering I was not missing any work for this, I went with that plan to save some on road drive time.

I left work at about 4:30-5pm and after situating my gear and heading to the store it was about 8pm before I consider "being on the road". I ended up getting near the park about 6 a.m. . I traveled 10 west until I hit Fort Stockton then took 385 south. I think I saw about 40+ deer from San Antonio west!!
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I had to wait to get my Backcountry Permit so I decided rather than "After Hrs. Registration" I'd wait for the Headquarters to open up. I entered at Persimmon Gap and killed some time driving down to Park Headquarters at Panther Junction.
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So I drove near by and waited for the Office to open an took some pictures while the sun rose
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I noticed a rattling sound in the last few miles and here it was...
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My shock lower bolt rattled loose, all before my actual offroading...so after I registered and got gas, I brainstormed a fix...I tried to think of an unimportant bolt on the 4Runner (while being frustrated about the Toyota Bolt bin I have at home).
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I was happy when I found an easy fix and it was off to the Northen section of the park again to Dagger Flat Auto Trail (9:30am). I reserved a camp at Gauging Station (Southern End of the park) but wanted to make a full days worth of vehicle exploration of it so I figured I'd start at the top. Old Ore Road.
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[ToyFamily]

In Route...Old Ore Road
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Nick

[ToyFamily]

Old Ore Road
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It I were Bear Grylls, I'd set a trap here ;)
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Nick

[ToyFamily]

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passing Solis
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Mariscal Mine
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Nick

[ToyFamily]

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and to your left you'll see MEXICO
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I didn't mention my on board burrito warmer. (detailed write up will follow :sombrero: )
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Back on road coming from Castolon
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Gasing up at Panther Junction to leave in the morning
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a sweet 2 wheel traveler
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Nick

[ToyFamily]

Finally making the loop back around to Roys Peak Vista to make camp
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I have to say cruising in a 4runner for this kind of off road tavel was great. All my gear stayed clean, I was able to sleep comfortably inside and didn't have to leave anything out for the critters to get into. But I may be due for a rear bumper/tire carrier for some extra gas/water/jack/spare
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A beautiful sunset and finally, rest after 22hrs. of driving

Nick

[ToyFamily]

On my way out as the sun comes up..
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In the end I traveled 1383mi leaving about 8 p.m. friday and returned about 6:30 p.m. Sunday. I ended up traveling 100mi of trail in the park. I averaged 17.26 mi/gal (3.4/auto) with the hi being at 21.92 (45mph mostly) and the low being 10.87 (75mph+). I took 90 east out of Marithon, thorugh Del Rio. It was a nice drive, alot of game ranches and small towns.

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Home...and I can't even see straight :victory:, but it was sweet!
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Nick

[4x4mike]

Looks nice out there. Were there any other people out there? Looks a little non-crowded.
Your 4runner looks nice. I was reading up on the conversion in your thread on Pirate.

[YotaFun]

Wow , that looked like a sweet trip!
Thanks for sharing, wouldn't mind doing that trip myself either.

[Good Times]

Awesome photos and thanks for sharing! Was this a "solo" trip? If so, wow that's a lot of miles you put in on a single weekend driving alone.

[ToyFamily]

Looks nice out there. Were there any other people out there? Looks a little non-crowded.
Your 4runner looks nice. I was reading up on the conversion in your thread on Pirate.


It was a great trip, but the weekend just felt like a long day :D. I didn't see anyone after I left headquarters (8:30) until about 4:30 when I caught up to a Frontier on the trail. The park is HUGE and you don't need to be around people if you don't want to, I ended up going 100 mi. offroad. Your from Sac, your lucky to be where you are. You don't have to drive 10hrs. to get away. I'm from there and used to hit up the Rubicon and Fordyce all the time in my first 85'. Sure do miss it.



Awesome photos and thanks for sharing! Was this a "solo" trip? If so, wow that's a lot of miles you put in on a single weekend driving alone.


Thanks.I didn't get as tired as I would have thought, the only fatigue was my lower back...Usually I get tired after a few hrs. with a co pilot, maybe that's knowing you have a back up driver...I really needed this trip though, so I think it was knowing that I didn't have the time to take a break or I wouldn't get to enjoy the park at all. By the time I got to camp after driving all night and wheeling all day the GPS said I had driven 22hrs. straight. Needless to say I hit the sack at sundown 6:30-7pm.