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Big Bend Feb 2013 – The Desert…and a flower

After my short hike on Sunday, I met up with Robert and his friend Mitch. They were planning a long distance, multi-day backpacking trip and I was going to assist them in the logistics of getting a vehicle to their exit point and ferrying them back to their starting point on Monday morning. We met for dinner at the lodge and had a chat and a beer. Finally it was great to meet them. Both are experienced hikers and gentlemen.

A little rain fell overnight in the Basin, but by the time I awoke in the morning to meet Robert and Mitch, there was no evidence of its passing. We headed down toward RGV and dropped Robert’s truck not to far from the Tornillo bridge and returned to the Basin. We had a big buffet breakfast together and they headed up the Pinnacles Trail to start their adventure.

I on the other hand, had a plan to check out a spring that I unashamedly named after myself. It is not on any map and I was curious to see if it was flowing during the drought. Additionally a circle that would take me past Avery Canyon and on to Neville Spring.

A single Bluebonnet
A single Bluebonnet

Parking about four miles north of Panther Junction, I dropped down ito the wash that would ultimately lead me to my destinations for that day. I had previously  visited “my spring” in the summer of 2009, and was not expecting much, but was pleasantly surprised to see a good flow. While not as strong as before, it appears that this one continues even during drought….to a point.

Some highlights:

  • My spring flowing 🙂
  • Lots of variety along the way
  • Fertile Sands – dry, the cottonwood may be dead.
  • A pesky unexpected pouroff
  • Neville Spring – barely a trickle

Attached is a map of my track for the day. – 7.3 mile loop through Neville Spring.

Big Bend Feb 2013 - The Desert...and a flower
Loop to Neville Spring

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