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Big Bend Feb 2013 – The Desert and a Spring

Big Bend Feb 2013 – The Desert and a Spring. After returning to the Basin from my loop through Neville Spring, I fired up the BBQ grill at my campsite and sat down for a proper meal. No jerky or trail mix for me this night!

Big Bend Feb 2013 - The Desert and a Spring
Dinner on a real plate!

The Plan – Big Bend Feb 2013 The desert and a spring

With a warm meal in me, I looked over my options for the next day and decided to explore a tributary of Alamo Creek. Starting at the north end of the Old Maverick Road, I planned to head south for some exploring. Afterwards follow the Alamo Creek drainage east to Burro Mesa and check out Sammy Spring. A The Desert and a Spring. I don’t know if anyone has ever posted anything from Sammy Spring. This may be a first? This is another place that has been on my list for some time and this was the day to get it done.

Alamo Creek – Big Bend and the desert

After a good night’s sleep, I arrived at the Old Maverick Road early, (07:30) knowing this might be a long day. I carried about 3 qt of water and some trail food and my trusted Nikon. I headed across the creosote flats to the southeast. Flats is a relative term in Big Bend. Certainly nothing is ever truly flat. After crossing several small washes and hills I dropped into a larger drainage headed in the right direction.

Occasionally while stepping on small rocks I felt a poking in my right arch. I made a note to myself that new boots would be in order before my next trip. My old ones have several hundred miles on them and maybe the soles were getting a bit thin. The poking continued and I shut down for an inspection. Upon removing my boot I found a 2″ long thorn had pierced the sole and was just long enough to “tickle” my arch when I stepped just right. ( or just wrong actually). That taken care of, I continued with that feeling you have after you yank a big cactus thorn out of one of your legs.

The early morning light was doing magical things to the badlands along Alamo Creek. The light film of morning moisture was making the creosote bushes give up their perfume in the still air. I was living the real life that morning. Such are the pleasures of the desert and for those of you that have the feeling, there is no need or way to describe it. Just enjoy.

Big Bend Feb 2013 - The Desert and a Spring
Alamo Creek

A Hidden Alcove

I approached one of the targets of the day’s adventure. A hidden alcove with some delicate and special geo-art. I struggle a bit about the location and prefer not to divulge in a public forum. As such, I won’t post a track in this part of my trip report. After visiting the “Geo Gallery” I headed once again toward the distant and looming west face of Burro Mesa and the little known Sammy Spring and Wulfkuhle Tinajas. However I wasn’t sure that either of theses place would be accessible from the west side of the mesa. Certainly Wulfkuhle wouldn’t. Someone needed to find out and I was that someone.

The geology along Alamo Creek tributaries is colorful and varied. In the short span of 6 1/2 miles to the base of the mesa, I saw igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks of all types and colors. In addition compacted white tuff to yellow polished limestone and black rock sections closer to Burro Mesa, this area is quite beautiful and worthy of a closer look by all.

As always, one must be prepared for things in Big Bend, but the change in character of the wash after about three miles, changed the difficulty factor a bit. The wash quickly turned from a firm sand/gravel trail to a field of boulders. There were long stretches of bank to bank boulders. While not large, were large enough to force more concentration on foot placement. Likewise this went on for a long time, and was tough on my knees, constantly hopping from boulder to boulder.

Sammy Spring – Big Bend and a spring

As I finally approached Sammy Spring the signs of water were evident. Wet sand, willows, and cottonwoods in the wash. Sammy Spring was indeed flowing! The spring wasn’t much more than a strong seep, but considering the recent drought, this was encouraging for the fauna and flora.

Just beyond Sammy Spring the canyon closes in and rises sharply. A yellow limestone pour-off confronted me, but it is easily scaled as it is jointed with “steps”. Beyond this pour-off the walls rise steeper and close in tighter. Turning SSE you come to the end of the road (as I see it). The box canyon rises vertically to the mesa on three sides. The pour-off from the mesa looks to be 60-80′ to the first bench. Additionally maybe another 100′ or so to reach the elevation of Wulfkuhle Tinajas. Even more without the aid of climbing equipment, this ain’t happening.

There may be a way to get up on the mesa from here but it would require a climb out of the wash just beyond Sammy Spring where the canyon turns SSE. I have drawn a possible route on the photo and topo. Furthermore I suspect that the Tinajas are only really accessible from the mesa.

Burro Tank

After resting in the cool shade of the box canyon, and checking out the spring, I headed back routing to Burro Tank. On the way,  the clouds prompted me to stop and take some pictures of Tule Mountain from different angles.  Also some of the colored hills along the way. I stopped again at the balanced rock in mid-wash and photographed it and its little children in a different light. This was a really nice hike. Additionally it even rained on me for a few cool minutes.

Nearing Burro Tank, I took the direct route, over the hill and hit the tank on the SE corner. Burro Tank is quite large, maybe close to two acres. The earthen dam on the south side leaks into the wash below. After I approached the tank, a mixed flock of about 30 ducks took to the wing. The flock consisted of Pintails, Green-winged Teal, and some Northern Shovelers. There may have been one Ring-necked Duck, but I’m not so sure on that one. I also found something that I’m not sure of the purpose. The camo can on a pole had a concave screen inside the open top.

This was a most enjoyable day in Big Bend Feb 2013 – The Desert and a Spring

Distance travelled – 12.9 miles

Min elevation – 2611′

Max elevation – 3472′

Ascent -1218′

Descent 1218′

Back to the Basin for another good meal and a bath in a bucket!

PS. Possible route up the mesa from Sammy Spring

Big Bend Feb 2013 - The Desert and a Spring
Possible route up the mesa
Big Bend Feb 2013 - The Desert and a Spring
Up the Mesa?

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