The Big Bend . . . TX.

brodon · 01-21-2013, 08:01 PM

Made this trip by car with my wife to the Park and Terlingua on a brief vacation seven years and have been trying to find the time to get back ever since. It's hard to believe the magnificent area is so unknown in the US.

Sold the big cruiser last summer, thinking at 70 years old, it's time to put riding aside and settle into old age. . . . but this is definitely not working at all.

Picked up a great deal on a '07 Burgman 650 Executive last week up in Northern IL,and getting it accessorized for Spring.

Being a fair weather rider, (low to mid 70's min.) I'm planning to tow the Burgman from Southern IL to the Park and ride for about 5 days, including Brewster County, Marfa, etc.

At Marfa, I'm hoping to get a glimps at the old "James Dean" windmill from the movie Giant.

I'm assuming to get these temperatures its got to be no sooner than late March?

Anyone from this area who is familiar with the annual temps?

blaisew · 01-21-2013, 09:00 PM

Here is a great site for weather; best I've found. Temps in March will more than likely be delightful. Not much chance of very cold, and not too hot yet. Probably mid seventies. I try to get out there several times a year. Enjoy Big Bend! http://weatherspark.com/#!dashboard;..._National_Park

HeyWhatever · 01-22-2013, 07:55 AM

I was at Big Bend in the middle of February two years ago. It is really nice that time of year. It is high desert, so, it will get cold at night... low 40s. With the right camping gear, though, it is really just fine. I camped in the Chisos Mountains campsite. It is bowl shaped, and faces south. This camping area keeps the warmth from the rocks in a little better at night than the others.

I am not familiar with the vehicle you are thinking of taking, but there are a lot of jeep roads there! You can go backcountry driving/ riding and camp out there. The border patrol has a few officers designated to the park, so no real need to worry about intruders. Beware there are BIG CATS out there. You will want to bring some kind of bear proof food containers.

The mountain lion was seen each night I was at camp... three or four nights I was there. I didn't get to see him, but they do exist there. Don't let the weather stop you.

Charlotte

Jamie Z · 01-22-2013, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeyWhatever

You will want to bring some kind of bear proof food containers.

The campground at Chisos Basin has food lockers by each campsite.

You can see one directly behind my friend Brian on the left.

Jamie

kantuckid · 01-22-2013, 08:18 AM

"low to mid 70's, my but you are a softie in the 70's! Seriously, maybe you need to try some good riding gear(that makes for comfort in a much wider temperature range) & hit the mountains on that new scoot! It will often NOT BE! in that temp range when & where some of the best riding happens. FWIW, next year I join the 70's crowd. I'm OK if you trailer, then ride, but why fore go much of the best riding in spring,summer,fall?

HeyWhatever · 01-22-2013, 08:43 AM

Yup... had a senior moment...

slowoldguy · 01-22-2013, 08:56 AM

Big Bend early spring weather is highly volatile and un-predictable. One Easter (2 or 3 or 4 years ago iirc) we headed out and got hit by a massive sleet/ice storm outside Ft. Stockton. Not good. By the time we made it to the park the next day, everyone had left, the skies had cleared and it was awesome. But it wasn't anywhere near 70.

Edit: BTW, I love BB in winter. Avoid Texas schools' spring breaks. Busiest time in the Park.

No False Enthusiasm · 01-22-2013, 09:11 AM

Jamie Z... armed with his brace of P38's... every can in the AO was threatened...

NFE

blaisew · 01-22-2013, 04:44 PM

I did the Big Bend several Februarys in a row, and you can get snow and ice (we did one day) and 70's on another (we did). The weather is generally very nice during the day, but can drop into the 30's at night any time during February. Just get a late start after a good breakfast and you will have a great time.

Anciano · 01-22-2013, 06:45 PM

I was there a few years back. There were some graded dirt roads, but there was also a lot of pretty rough jeep trails. A Burgman is a wonderful rig, but it is a scooter. It doesn't have much travel and was never intended for offroad. Don't miss the Starlight Theatre.

Wayne

byways · 01-22-2013, 06:41 PM

Hot off the press ...

slowoldguy · 01-22-2013, 06:55 PM

Some nice street stuff, too. I have had fun in the region on all kinds of bikes.

AustinAdv · 01-22-2013, 08:50 PM

It is awesome. We are going in 2 weeks. As has been said, weather is highly variable, but one thing is not. Go before mid to end of April because after that it is HOT. Hot like you wont believe hot.

jeffygs · 01-23-2013, 04:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AustinAdv

It is awesome. We are going in 2 weeks. As has been said, weather is highly variable, but one thing is not. Go before mid to end of April because after that it is HOT. Hot like you wont believe hot.

I was there for a summer ride. Holy smokes it was hot. I prefer Colorado and other Rocky mountain states, in the summer of course. This june its Haines Alaska for me

800gsbusse · 01-23-2013, 08:29 AM

Just happened to be down that way last winter and caught a glimpse of the lights. Don't miss it!

01-21-2013, 08:01 PM	#1
brodon ^OP brodon Joined: Mar 2007 Location: Addieville IL Oddometer: 4	The Big Bend . . . TX. Made this trip by car with my wife to the Park and Terlingua on a brief vacation seven years and have been trying to find the time to get back ever since. It's hard to believe the magnificent area is so unknown in the US. Sold the big cruiser last summer, thinking at 70 years old, it's time to put riding aside and settle into old age. . . . but this is definitely not working at all. Picked up a great deal on a '07 Burgman 650 Executive last week up in Northern IL,and getting it accessorized for Spring. Being a fair weather rider, (low to mid 70's min.) I'm planning to tow the Burgman from Southern IL to the Park and ride for about 5 days, including Brewster County, Marfa, etc. At Marfa, I'm hoping to get a glimps at the old "James Dean" windmill from the movie Giant. I'm assuming to get these temperatures its got to be no sooner than late March? Anyone from this area who is familiar with the annual temps? __________________ " . . . we are fools for Christ . . " I Cor. 4:10

01-22-2013, 07:55 AM	#3
HeyWhatever HTFU ! Joined: Aug 2010 Location: Here, Now Oddometer: 227	I was at Big Bend in the middle of February two years ago. It is really nice that time of year. It is high desert, so, it will get cold at night... low 40s. With the right camping gear, though, it is really just fine. I camped in the Chisos Mountains campsite. It is bowl shaped, and faces south. This camping area keeps the warmth from the rocks in a little better at night than the others. I am not familiar with the vehicle you are thinking of taking, but there are a lot of jeep roads there! You can go backcountry driving/ riding and camp out there. The border patrol has a few officers designated to the park, so no real need to worry about intruders. Beware there are BIG CATS out there. You will want to bring some kind of bear proof food containers. The mountain lion was seen each night I was at camp... three or four nights I was there. I didn't get to see him, but they do exist there. Don't let the weather stop you. Charlotte __________________ Piglet: Because Hogs Are For Old Farts!

01-22-2013, 08:18 AM	#5
kantuckid Beastly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2007 Location: Kentucky-Eastern that is! Oddometer: 1,661	"low to mid 70's, my but you are a softie in the 70's! Seriously, maybe you need to try some good riding gear(that makes for comfort in a much wider temperature range) & hit the mountains on that new scoot! It will often NOT BE! in that temp range when & where some of the best riding happens. FWIW, next year I join the 70's crowd. I'm OK if you trailer, then ride, but why fore go much of the best riding in spring,summer,fall? __________________ "If I had my life to live over,I'd dare to make more mistakes next time...I'd relax,I'd limber up.I'd be sillier than this trip, take fewer things seriously, I would take more chances... take more trips...climb more mountains...swim more rivers...eat more ice cream." Jorge Luis Borges, at age 85

01-22-2013, 08:43 AM	#6
HeyWhatever HTFU ! Joined: Aug 2010 Location: Here, Now Oddometer: 227	Yup... had a senior moment... __________________ Piglet: Because Hogs Are For Old Farts!

01-22-2013, 08:56 AM	#7
slowoldguy Tire Tester Joined: Jun 2004 Location: West of Waco, Texas Oddometer: 6,206	Big Bend early spring weather is highly volatile and un-predictable. One Easter (2 or 3 or 4 years ago iirc) we headed out and got hit by a massive sleet/ice storm outside Ft. Stockton. Not good. By the time we made it to the park the next day, everyone had left, the skies had cleared and it was awesome. But it wasn't anywhere near 70. Edit: BTW, I love BB in winter. Avoid Texas schools' spring breaks. Busiest time in the Park. __________________ Roll The Bones IV- What's coming next? http://www.rollthebonesrally.com/ "If you can't fix it with a hammer you can damn sure teach it a lesson". slowoldguy screwed with this post 01-22-2013 at 05:01 PM

01-21-2013, 09:00 PM	#2
blaisew Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2010 Location: Houston, Texas Oddometer: 398	Here is a great site for weather; best I've found. Temps in March will more than likely be delightful. Not much chance of very cold, and not too hot yet. Probably mid seventies. I try to get out there several times a year. Enjoy Big Bend! http://weatherspark.com/#!dashboard;..._National_Park

01-22-2013, 09:11 AM	#8
No False Enthusiasm a quiet adventurer Joined: Nov 2009 Location: Small Town, Texas Oddometer: 3,404	Jamie Z... armed with his brace of P38's... every can in the AO was threatened... NFE

01-22-2013, 04:44 PM	#9
blaisew Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2010 Location: Houston, Texas Oddometer: 398	I did the Big Bend several Februarys in a row, and you can get snow and ice (we did one day) and 70's on another (we did). The weather is generally very nice during the day, but can drop into the 30's at night any time during February. Just get a late start after a good breakfast and you will have a great time.

01-22-2013, 06:45 PM	#10
Anciano Bushpilot Joined: Dec 2004 Location: Central California Oddometer: 229	I was there a few years back. There were some graded dirt roads, but there was also a lot of pretty rough jeep trails. A Burgman is a wonderful rig, but it is a scooter. It doesn't have much travel and was never intended for offroad. Don't miss the Starlight Theatre. Wayne

01-22-2013, 06:41 PM	#11
byways byways Joined: Dec 2006 Location: Idaho Oddometer: 1,483	Hot off the press ... __________________ Tony Huegel Backcountry Byways Journal Leave No Trace Heart of the West Adventure Route (a.k.a. Forever West) byways screwed with this post 01-24-2013 at 11:27 AM

01-22-2013, 06:55 PM	#12
slowoldguy Tire Tester Joined: Jun 2004 Location: West of Waco, Texas Oddometer: 6,206	Some nice street stuff, too. I have had fun in the region on all kinds of bikes. __________________ Roll The Bones IV- What's coming next? http://www.rollthebonesrally.com/ "If you can't fix it with a hammer you can damn sure teach it a lesson".

01-22-2013, 08:50 PM	#13
AustinAdv n00b Joined: Nov 2012 Location: Austin, Tx Oddometer: 2	It is awesome. We are going in 2 weeks. As has been said, weather is highly variable, but one thing is not. Go before mid to end of April because after that it is HOT. Hot like you wont believe hot.

01-23-2013, 08:29 AM	#15
800gsbusse n00b Joined: Sep 2012 Oddometer: 6	marfa lights Just happened to be down that way last winter and caught a glimpse of the lights. Don't miss it!

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