Big Bend Explorations, January 2020, Day 4
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- “According to Indian legend, when the Great Creator made the Earth and finished placing the stars in the sky, the birds in the air and the fish in the sea, there was a large pile of rejected stony material left over. Finished with His job, He threw this into one heap and made the Big Bend.” So said Ross Maxwell, a geologist and first superintendent of Big Bend National Park. It had been five years since I had traversed this remarkable region. I was eager for a return trip, as well as an opportunity to take my Jeep Gladiator on its maiden adventure. So, some friends and I assembled a crew of six folks (and one way cool dog) in four vehicles to spend four days in Pinto Canyon, Big Bend Ranch State Park and Big Bend National Park. On day 4, we drive from our campsites at Gravel Pit on Big Bend National Park to Terlingua. This includes traveling Black Gap Road, and visiting Mariscal Mine and Santa Elena Canyon. After 21 minutes of the trip, the video is a studio chat covering various topics that may be of interest to the overlanding community.
The music is "Lovely Afternoon Breezes" by The 126ers and "Safety Net" by Riot. They are available for free use on the UA-cam Audio Library.
Another fine production.
Thanks, Mike!
So I was on Black Gap Road a couple of weeks ago. A Jeep Gladiator had pulled off to let me go by. After he did I searched my memory furiously for about a full minute, trying figure out why he looked so damn familiar. Then I remembered and here I am with a bit part in a Mark Doiron Production. At about 11:00.
That was great when I got to the bottom and they told me what you'd said. Nice to (briefly) make your acquaintance.
Never knew Big Bend had an abandoned mercury mine.
The trails and landscape were amazing. We want to spend some time hiking Santa Elena Canyon. Can’t wait to make the trip.
Mark. Do you have a video with an overview of the rear of your JK? Looks like a great set up.
Mariscal Mine produced a quarter of U.S. Mercury in the first half of the 2th Century, so it was a pretty large operation.
Oh, and you might look into paddling Santa Elena Canyon.
Mark; you would probably enjoy the documentary movie "The River and the Wall" filmed in the Big Bend area in 2018 and released in 2019. It's about 5 friends that travel the Big Bend area to the Gulf on Horse back, Canoes, and Mountain Bikes. They look at the terrain and wonder about the need for a wall since the terrain is so limiting. They talk with local farmers that claim that the wall will cut off thousands of acres of the farm land. David from the Gold Country of California
I'll have to look that up. Right now, have videos to put together from my most recent trip: El Camino del Diablo. Just returned home an hour ago.
Greatly enjoyed your 4-part BBNP series. Worked in Dallas, 1993-2003. Visited BBNP 8 or 9 times for 1- week vacations, slept in Chisos Mountains Lodge, though. Black Gap Step was pretty easy in those days. Made some significant pre-historic finds including large animal fossil remains, BBNP asked me not to reveal the location of one major find. Best explorations and *off-trail* hikes were after recent heavy rains, just kept my eyes open and wow-wee! One "X-Files" event happened rather benignly as I was about to leave Santa Elena Canyon after a hike. Turned on my rig's sound system to listen to a music CD. On the FM radio got clear reception on every graduation of the digital display from stations in Albuquerque, Dallas, etc. Only happened once. Every other time, FM radio frequencies were totally silent. Now, retired in Central California.
Cool story! Maybe someday I'll stumble on those dinosaur fossils. When I was a senior in high school, did a science fair project with a couple friends on a place in San Diego County we called "Dinosaur Canyon". We believe we found a whale bone fossil (or predecessor of a whale). I still have the fossils we collected during that, as well as the report we wrote for the fair. Still drive through that area when I visit my folks who remain in Chula Vista. Except it is all homes throughout those canyons now. Amazing what is under those homes.
Chief - Another great video. Special thanks for the details on the Gladiator! Cheers!
Thanks, Dave!
He Mark, Thank you for making videos. I really appreciate it and know how much of a pain it is to make. SO big props
Thanks,. Nice comments always appreciated. Making videos is chore, but I do enjoy the task.
Thanks Mark for providing a great video series. Now Big Bend is on my list…
You're very welcome. It's definitely a great area to explore.
Hey Mark, great video of one of my favorite places, the Big Bend! Random question, can you find out the brand of harness that Gatsby is wearing at the end of your adventure? Super cute and I'd love to get one for my doggo :)
I'll check on that, Renee. If I haven't answered within a couple days, please feel free to remind me. And thanks for nice words about the video. Did you know there is a special coming up on PBS about BB? Looks like it'll be pretty cool.
Renee, It’s “Tre Ponti” brand. Made in Italy. This one is made to be able to pick them up by the harness, which is helpful to get him in the Rooftop Tent...ua-cam.com/video/TdSZ5YGbeYk/v-deo.html
@@DxDOverland I'll be watching for that!
@@chrismox Many thanks Chris! I'm checking out that link right now!
Great video with very nice scenery and good group of people and a nice dog. I enjoyed the overland vehicles and the trails there. Turns out your a famous guy from UA-cam. Thank you for another great adventure. David from the Gold Country of California.
LOL. Glad you enjoyed.
BTW, there are actually a few "more famous" people on that trip. Check out the latest issue of "Overland Journal" and see if you don't recognize a couple rigs and several folks from the Arkansas article ... written and photographed by Susan D with (other) Mark D's Tacoma as the article cover shot.
Mark Doiron Thanks!
Big Bend is on our bucket list. Maybe next year. For some really good freeze dried meals try Backpackers Pantry.
Thanks for the tip. I had a couple different brands ... whatever the Base Exchange carries, plus an MRE from the base commissary (I'm USAF retired).
@@DxDOverland I was USAF as well, but was in for six years. Worked on Minuteman III ICBMs at Malmstrom AFB. I am using the Nexus 7 2012 tablet as well. I rooted it and flashed 7.1.2 to it. A very minimal ROM without all the bloatware.
@@TheMrprez I probably should root my tablet. It's getting pretty slow lately.
Mark Doiron I used Nexus Root Kit. There is a bit of a learning curve, but once you figure out how to flash ROMs it works great.
These really make me want to get to big bend asap
It can get into your skin and you'll want to return once you've been.
As always, a great adventure and video.
Thanks, Randy!
Is there anyway to identify the name of the road/trail at 8:31 in your old video called "WEST TEXAS RAMBLE 2013"I think... or something like that....
That is North County Rd or Hen Egg Rd. It's off 118 north of Terlingua. It gets into Terlingua Ranch, where it becomes an unmarked private road. Best to stay out of there unless you have a landowner's permission.
Really enjoy your videos! We got to use the “stick” tip on a trip in Arkansas last August when we lost a caliper bolt on a pathfinder.
Thanks, and glad the "stick tip" worked for you.
great pro and con comparison for IFS and SAS
Thanks, Jeremy! Thought I had a good teachable moment. Down side, I also had commentary on lockers, then inadvertently left it out during editing. Oh well, in search of another teachable moment!
Is the wider part of the trail the main rd for big bend? Is there any cell phone service out there? Great series of videos ya got a subscribe! Ty
The park Main Road (it's called that) is paved. There are some wider dirt roads, but they can get gnarly if the roads are rain soaked and when the river rises. It's always best to check with the park before traveling any backcountry routes. As for cell service, I do in some parts with T-Mobile. But it's from Mexico, so while my plan allows that, I pay for all phone calls, and data is slowed down. And a small quirk: Mexican time zones are different than U.S. If your clocks are an hour off, that is probably why.
Ty for the info Mark!
Thanks Mark..
You're welcome, Jeff.
As a Tacoma owner I know the rear axle of a Tacoma will articulate very nearly as well as the jeep. Especially if it's suspension has been upgraded. If the Tacoma had a rear and/or front locker (a traction aid like the Jeep Rubicons have) he wouldn't have had an issue on that climb.
He does have a rear locker, and it was switched on. However, later in the trip I was behind him and saw his lifted rear wheel spinning. I called over radio and asked if he had his locker on, which he did. It turns out his switch was bad. I did record an explanation of that, but during editing I inadvertently left it out. I won't argue the articulation of Jeeps vs Toyotas with you, and stand by the material as presented in the video.
Thanks for clarifying the locker issue. Also, it was not my intent to create an argument about Jeep vs Toyota, just point out there is more to traction than just articulation, i.e. lockers, wheelbase and tires etc. Unfortunately, I didn't articulate that very well. Thanks for the videos. Well done and entertaining.
No problem. Yeah, I wanted to tread carefully in the video, which as studio chats I do extemporaneously, to avoid a "this is better" interpretation. I had four retakes, then forgot about that locker stuff while editing. Oh well. If you follow me long enough, you'll see that in later chats I'll sometimes revisit and clarify past chats. Don't be surprised to see that with this one. ;-)
Great video Mark been following you since March 2019 looking forward of more adventures by the way like your Jeep Gladiator. Hope to get my jeep liberty Renegade engine replacement. done soon and get on highways and off road trails and adventures.
Thanks, James, good luck with that Renegade.
On trail acknowledgement has got to feel good even thou you didn't comment on it in this video other than revealing it. Well played and well deserved.
It happens occasionally. Only the second time I've captured it on video. It does make my day when it happens, though.
Hi Mark, great trip! Have you ever considered a roof top tent instead of a ground tent? Do you prefer save weight? Thanks! :)
I just can't see the use for 150 or so pounds on my roof* when I can carry 3 pounds down in the rear storage compartment. My friends and I were posting on FB about this just a couple days ago, thinking back to last year's Mojave Road trip when we had four Jeeps, all with manual transmissions and ground tents. I called us a "bunch of retrogrades". ;-)
*Except when one heads to Starbucks and wishes to look the part of an overlander.
Could you tell me the brand chair you are setting on?
My chair was given to me by my friend Ray. It is labeled MAC Sports. I don't know anything else about it as far as particular model or such.
Mark, now that you’ve had some time with the Gladiator and the 3.6, how does it compare to the JK with the 3.8?
It is a lot more powerful. And I really saw that in the trip I just finished today because there were plenty of mountains to cross via Interstate--ones I'm completely familiar with in the JK. I'm going to try to remember to discuss that more in my next studio chat--should come online in the next couple weeks. Look for the El Camino del Diablo series.
Mark Doiron we have a 2002 TJ and are thinking about going to a JKU Rubicon at some point. Looking forward to the new series. TYVM.
Awesome videos !!! Do you need any special permits to run around big bend ?
You need backcountry permits if camping. The state park has signs on some roads that a "special use permit" is required to travel. Not sure if you don't have a camping permit what they'd require: Recommend call them.