ObiMatt87
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Matt
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2019
- Threads
- 11
- Messages
- 1,668
- Reaction score
- 4,102
- Location
- San Antonio, Texas
- Vehicle(s)
- 2024 Anvil JULR XR, 2018 Mojito Sahara JLU, 2018 Buick Enclave Avenir
- Occupation
- USAF Active Duty (Retired), DAF Civilian (Current)
- Thread starter
- #1
My wife and I just got back last night from a 6-day trip out to Big Bend National Park. It was my second time, but my wife's first, and I had really wanted to take her out there after the awesome experience I'd had back in November of 2021 with some fellow Jeep buddies. We'll be moving elsewhere (eastern half) in the state next year after I retire retire and will never be closer than we are now (7 hours without stops), so put together this trip and timed it for the week before Spring Break kicked off across the country. Leaving on a Sunday morning meant less traffic than hitting prime rush hour in a city of 2 million, and the drive out was smooth sailing via I-10 and down through Alpine to the eclectic "town" of Terlingua.
This time, rather than tent camping, we elected to stay in one of the many unusual lodging options in the area (like RV parks, older motels, geodomes, A-frames with clear peaks, a cave room in the side of a mountain, yurts, casitas, tiny homes, retrofitted permanently placed retro travel trailers, the mansion of the former turn-of-the-century mercury mine owner, etc). We chose Fossil Knob Ridge (http://fossilknobridge.com/), a collection of 6 different designs units made of converted shipping containers sitting on a ridge on the NW edge of Terlingua. We stayed in Chisos House because it was the biggest (40 ft/20 ft containers in an L-shape) and had a full kitchen. It was awesome and was the only unit to have one whole side as glass sliding doors, giving us an incredible view of the Chisos Mountains in Big Bend across Terlingua. All the units have their individual views and features that make them stand out, but we made a great choice. All the units have red lighting under the eaves to save night vision and not infringe on the Dark Skies status of the area. Though it was a full moon the entire time we were there, there were certain periods at night or very early morning when we were in between moon and sun, and once again I was blown away by the beauty of a bajillion stars not washed out by city lights.
For those who have been there, you know how huge the Big Bend area is. Throw in Big Bend Ranch State Park and Christmas Mountain and it's ginormous. You have to be intentional and plan out what you want to see/do based on the number of days you have available, as that will drive your priorities. You also need to seriously plan your water, food, and gas. For this round our 6 days were split between travel from SA and back and across the entire spectrum inside and outside the national park:
Day 1: Travel from San Antonio to Terlingua via I-10, US 67 to Alpine, and TX 118 to Terlingua.
This time, rather than tent camping, we elected to stay in one of the many unusual lodging options in the area (like RV parks, older motels, geodomes, A-frames with clear peaks, a cave room in the side of a mountain, yurts, casitas, tiny homes, retrofitted permanently placed retro travel trailers, the mansion of the former turn-of-the-century mercury mine owner, etc). We chose Fossil Knob Ridge (http://fossilknobridge.com/), a collection of 6 different designs units made of converted shipping containers sitting on a ridge on the NW edge of Terlingua. We stayed in Chisos House because it was the biggest (40 ft/20 ft containers in an L-shape) and had a full kitchen. It was awesome and was the only unit to have one whole side as glass sliding doors, giving us an incredible view of the Chisos Mountains in Big Bend across Terlingua. All the units have their individual views and features that make them stand out, but we made a great choice. All the units have red lighting under the eaves to save night vision and not infringe on the Dark Skies status of the area. Though it was a full moon the entire time we were there, there were certain periods at night or very early morning when we were in between moon and sun, and once again I was blown away by the beauty of a bajillion stars not washed out by city lights.
For those who have been there, you know how huge the Big Bend area is. Throw in Big Bend Ranch State Park and Christmas Mountain and it's ginormous. You have to be intentional and plan out what you want to see/do based on the number of days you have available, as that will drive your priorities. You also need to seriously plan your water, food, and gas. For this round our 6 days were split between travel from SA and back and across the entire spectrum inside and outside the national park:
Day 1: Travel from San Antonio to Terlingua via I-10, US 67 to Alpine, and TX 118 to Terlingua.
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