Big Bend Bushwhack

Over Christmas Break 2010, I devised a 30'ish mile, partly off trail/bushwhack in Big Bend National Park. I began at Homer Wilson Ranch and picked up the Dodson Trail heading east. At the Smoky Creek intersection, I headed south for about 3 miles. At approximately 29°10'22.19"N, 103°20'49.67"W, I veered off the Smoky Creek Trail on a roughly 12-mile easterly bushwhack en route to Elephant Tusk and the Elephant Tusk Trail. At approximately 29°10'3.48"N, 103°16'3.54"W, I picked up the Elephant Tusk Trail and headed north until the intersection with the Dodson Trail. From here, I headed due west for approximately 6 miles before reaching Homer Wilson Ranch. The route came to just under 30 miles. Max elevation: 5,289 feet, Min elevation: 2,825 feet, Max slope: 33%.

The longest hike I've ever done was a solo 41 miles in December, 2009. This was completed over 4 days/3 nights on the Outer Mountain Loop Trail in Big Bend National Park - my first trip to the park ever. The Loop is normally around 31-32 miles, but I added a summit of Emory Peak and a trip up to the South Rim to get the 41 miles. It was a very challenging, breathtaking, and moving trip - one which I didn't want to end. I remember being sad leaving the park on my way back to Austin to spend New Year's with my family. Since that first visit, I have fallen in love with the remoteness and ruggedness of West Texas and often find myself reminiscing about past trips and anxiously awaiting the next one.