2008 Fall Hike - Big Bend National Park, Texas

Trip Planner, Chef, and

Lead Skinny Dipper:

Foster Webb

Hikers: Joe Kubal, Steve Carrow, Chris John, Jim Jordan, Jae Eismann and Ranger Rock (in someone's pack).

Foster, Jim and Chris drove to Big Bend from Houston through the night, although Foster did stop once to support a local police event. Camp was set up in the group camp by 2:00 PM on Thursday waiting for the others to arrive.

Steve, Joe and Jae flew in to Midland from Chicago on one of Southwest's milk runs making three stops prior to arriving in Midland. Steve and Joe are seen here questioning the flight attendant of Southwest to determine if there was a better route or had Jae actually found the best route.

Foster had planned an elaborate feast for us for each meal (as usual). Steaks Thursday night, Breakfast Burritos for Friday and Saturday breakfasts, Frogmore Stew (or South Carolina Low Country Boil) for Saturday night containing sausage, shrimp, corn on the cob, potatoes and who knows what else. Saturday night we had to settle for hamburgers but Sundays breakfast consisted of French Toast made with Foster's secret recipe (probably Donna Lee's). Foster had planned for at least 10 on the hike and had brought enough food for 10. Unfortunately, the six that made the hike had to eat for 10. Not much went to waste.

Friday we day hiked to the south rim for a spectacular view of Big Bend looking towards the Rio Grande and Mexico. Saturday we drove to Santa Elena Canyon and took the hike into the canyon. We did not realize that the trail was actually closed due to a recent flood that had washed away part of the concrete boardwalk that took you into the canyon. We just did what we normally do and found a way around it. Only later that day at the ranger's station did we learn that the trail was closed indefinitely. We drove to Rio Grande Village and had lunch at the campground. After that we headed for the Hot Springs and had a leisurely soak (or most of us did). Upon arriving back to camp we decided that we had not hiked enough that day and did a hike to the Windows. We miscalculated how long it would take and barely made it back before it got dark.

Saturday night after dinner the winds howled and because no fires were allowed, we were forced into our tents early. It was either that or head to a bar which is exactly what Joe and Jae did... headed into the ghost town Terlingua where there were actually two bars open. While driving back to the airport on Sunday, Joe, Steve and Jae realized if they got to the airport early, they may be able to catch an earlier flight... but a Texas state trooper thought otherwise and clocked their vehicle in triple digits... instead of jail time, the group was let off with a verbal warning to slow down.

Steve and Joe

contemplate
cooking. Note

all the new

cookware

Foster brought
in the U-Haul
trailer... even the grill.

Whatcha

doin'
Steve?

Views from the hike to the South Rim

The "Boot"

Santa Elena Canyon

The Window and the hike down the Window



Joe at the

end of the

hike

The Chef at work...

Joe

at

Work

The Hot Springs with the Rio Grande in the background.

The Author Relaxes