Uncle's Around The Bend #17 2024 Ride Report

[sweatmachine]

One good one is Casa Piedra from near Presidio up to Marfa, thru part of the state park. A good loop if you combine that with Pinto Canyon on the return trip from Marfa, which also makes it a good lunch stop.

I did exactly that solo on Saturday, except I went up Pinto Canyon to Marfa then back down Casa Piedra to 170.

 

[willstrom]

Never disappointed with Around the Bend. Thanks for getting us out there, Peter!

I went a little early to hike and camp.
Spent Saturday night at the Pecos River High Bridge.

Almost had the place to myself.

Loaded up and drove to Seminole Canyon SP for a hike.

Then to drove to BBNP for the Pine Canyon Hike.

And camped in the desert at BBNP, for the next 3 nights.

Monday AM went on a short hike into Santa Elena Canyon, scouting for a longer hike.

Then on to drive Glen Springs, Black Gap, and River Road East.

Only my transfer case did not want to co-operate. Thought I was going to have to walk out from Black Gap, but got it moving again.

To Study-Butte for a shower and gas, then back to camp.

Tuesday did a longer 11 mile hike into Santa Elena Canyon.

Wednesday did a warm-up ride down River Road, while waiting for my crew to arrive.

Dinner with the crew.

Thursday was TRR, Old Marathon, Old Ore, Hot Springs, etc.

Friday was River Road West, Black Gap, Glen Springs, The Basin for a beer, El Gordos for tacos, then back to good times at the house in Terlingua.

Kike on the Black Gap climb.

Saturday Top of The World, a short Closed Canyon hike, then La Kiva.

 

[Bigshark]

I did exactly that solo on Saturday, except I went up Pinto Canyon to Marfa then back down Casa Piedra to 170.

 

[Bigshark]

Amazing photos as always Willi! What a great trip and I feel fortunate to have shared it with you and the Victorian Boys.

 

[vicrider]

wow!!!! Amazing . You did true justice to this place by capturing all the colors!

 

[jredford]

Nicely done.

 

[Vinny]

Amazing week for you. Did it right. Thanks for posting.

 

[Mextrekadv]

Thanks for the write up Will. What was your favorite hike?

 

[willstrom]

Thanks for the write up Will. What was your favorite hike?

For sure Santa Elena. With the water being that low, was able to go 5 or 6 miles in before I ran out of time and had to turn around. Was a good mix of walking, running, wading, bouldering, bushwacking. Backpack overhead and arm-pit deep water at times.

I've been trying to kayak that over the years and it's never worked out (low water, neglected to bring a boat, low water, govt shutdown, low water), so was nice to finally make it a ways in.


Further into Closed Canyon is great as well. I've been as far as the last pour-off, with the river visible, but did not pack enough gear to do the last drop.

 

[sandman]

Big Thank you to Peter for coordinating and planning.

This was my seventh in time big bend …. It’s amazing if you don’t go all the time how much you forget and have to remind yourself when you’re there.….. you need at least 3 to 4 days of riding and hanging out. From Houston it is an all day event to get there and even longer to get back because of hitting traffic in San Antonio. On day one which was Wednesday, February 28. We rode into a national park to do River Road …. I forget how much time I can take between stops, fiddling with bikes and going down to the river for a couple beautiful views. The front was blowing in and we were running out of time so we did black gap on the way out..

We spent an additional 30 to 40 minutes helping a pair of riders on Yamaha Tenny 700s. The wind was starting to Howell about 30 to 50 miles an hour, the temperature was dropping quick. And it was getting dark.. We made it to the panther junction gas station just before 6 PM. The young person working there was nice enough to give all four of us cups a free coffee before she was about to throw it out. It was now below 40 degrees ….. and it was starting to rain hard. We gassed up and prepped for the misery . We had to ride between 10 and 20 mph. I was the only one with a shield, but I couldn’t use it because it kept fogging the minute I closed it …. Tried to keep it cracked . We arrived back at Chisos Mining Cabins an hour later completely frozen.

The next day we rode up to the bad rabbit café. It was still chilly. We caught up with two riders from Dallas that took us the back to Study Butte … note to self. Get better at using. Gaia GPS…. Here are a few pics.

 

[sandman]

Camp Dog - pretty boy Floyd.

 

[sracer]

Thanks for the organizing Peter...our group from Dallas area, El Paso, and Austin had a great time: Thursday we rode Top of the World, Friday was Uncle's 200 with Black Gap, Saturday was a ride into the park from Study Butte RV for an out and back down Glenn Springs to check out a camping area. That ride included meeting a really nice lady wearing a uniform that told me I was riding a bit fast on the gravel...
Very enjoyable meeting all the like minded riders at the event and social activities! Here's the Relive tracks with embedded photos, etc.:
Big Bend Saturday
Uncle's Big Bend Challenge
Top of the World

Thanks again!

 

[WyattEarpMadman]

Well I finally got around to uploading my pictures and came here to share some from this trip. I was on the V-Strom 650 and I rode in from Austin through the freezing rain Wednesday, and had to make it back home by Saturday. All of my photos and stories from each day are on my blog. It's just a journal and is non-monetized.

Thanks to Peter, Scott, Ken, Mark, Chad, Domingo, Alex, and all the other incredible riders who watched my back and offered their hospitality. I had an incredible time and will be back next year.

'Around the Bend' 24' Day 1/4 - Tender Jewels %

Touring

tenderjewels.com