Big Bend Ranch State Park, Texas - by Bill Kemp
As we left early Sunday morning, the weather forecast called for a week of mild temperatures and sunny skies. Little did we know what was in store for us. After a 10 hour trip, we arrived and set up the camp next to the lodge. Our site offered several picnic tables and grills, a large fire ring with wood provided, a water spigot and electricity from the lodge. Hot showers were available at the nearby visitor center. This was hardly roughing it!
Our task was to convert the nature trail (one mile including some roads) from the horse trail that it was into the easily traveled "people path" that it is now. We looked over the job and decided we could complete it early and hopefully move on to the Horsetrap hike and bike trail. The task involved removing rocks from the trail, building numerous steps, grade dips and waterbars and, in the flat stretches, building rock cairns. Luckily, we brought our rock carriers because we really needed them. By Wednesday evening, we only had about 20 ft. to go. That evening, we saw a double rainbow and a gorgeous sunset. When we awoke on Thursday, a big storm was brewing. Several lightening strikes convinced us to stay in camp awhile. Then, the rain started. It poured! It wasn't until the afternoon that we could walk the trail and make a few modifications to our work. We left the 20 ft. for another time.
Ranger Bill Broyles, who worked with us all week, offered to show us some pictographs on Friday. It rained often during the night and the fog was low when we got up Friday morning. It was raining lightly but we still took the hike. Given the low visibility and continuing rain, we decided to leave after the hike. After 40 minutes of driving out on the gravel road through another downpour, we came to a wash that now had a river flowing through it. We hadn't even noticed it on the way in. Across the wash was Tony Gallego, park manager, who was also waiting for the waters to recede. After about an hour, he was able to drive his truck through. He called the park headquarters and learned that the second wash we would have to cross was much worse. After waiting over two hours, we were advised to turn around and stay at the park another evening. Tony was kind enough to let us stay in the lodge and use the kitchen facilities.
During the week, we learned the names of many desert plants. The variety of cactus was amazing. We also hiked to the Cinco Tinajas, which are 5 pools of water located in depressions carved out of the rock in a canyon. The highlight of our meals was Pan Poached Salmon Picata. Thanks to all our participants: Alex Arreguin, Frances Fehribach, Gretchen Gann, Gerry and Marlene Heiling, Paul Johnson, Dick Meyer, Sylvia Powell and Bill Kemp (crew leader).
