Thanksgiving Big Bend Trip - Rio Grande Village Campground

https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/b/4/1/7/600_464926103.jpeg

Thanksgiving Big Bend Trip–Rio Grande Village Campground

Welcome to the 2017 Austin Sierra Club Thanksgiving Big Bend trip. Those of you who have been before know the special appeal of the mountain, desert, and river country that makes up the Big Bend. We will be visiting one of the largest and most remote national parks in the country. Since Big Bend contains over 1,200 square miles, many hiking trails, and an unlimited number of off-trail routes, it would require many months to fully explore the park, but we have planned hikes to many of the park's best features; the South Rim hike is widely considered to be the best hike in Texas!

Most of the park is near desert (the official annual rainfall is 13 inches; a true desert gets fewer than 10 inches). The central region is dominated by the Chisos Mountains and its very different mountain plants, animals, and environment. The Rio Grande lies on the southern border of

the park and the United States.

Average Thanksgiving temperatures range from 30 to 70 degrees F, but we have seen temperatures as low as 16 and as high as 90 on some trips.

Our site, at Rio Grande Village, is near the river, flat, and located under a canopy of cottonwood trees. The site is close to restrooms, showers, laundry, and a park store.

Price: $320 for Sierra Club members, $345 for non-members ( Join the Sierra Club (https://sierra.secure.force.com/donate/rc_connect__campaign_designform?id=701310000008mUK) and save!)

Includes transportation, park entrance fee, camping fees, guided hikes, most meals (3 dinners, 3 lunches, 4 breakfasts)

It is important to note that RSVP on Meetup does not guarantee you a spot on the trip. You will not be registered until your trip application has been approved and payment received. This is a very popular trip and it often fills up, so people will often register quite early.

Pre-Trip Meeting; The pre-trip meeting to discuss trip details, pick up locations, and meals in camp, will be held at the downtown REI (601 Lamar) on Sunday, November 12th at 6 pm You will receive email notifications and a trip newsletter after you have registered.

Getting There

We’ll travel to Big Bend in rented, late model vans. Due to limited space, please restrict your gear to one large duffel bag and a day pack. The duffel bags will be loaded in the rear of the vans or in a covered trailer. Keep your daypack with you in the van with any supplies you might need.

We will leave Austin early Wednesday morning so we can arrive and set up our tents before dark. It's about 500 miles to the park, so expect about 10 hours for travel, with stops for gas/restrooms and a meal along the way. We typically return to Austin on Sunday around 8 pm.

Hiking

Each day we will have a selection of several hikes ranging from 3 to 15 miles, rated Easy to Strenuous. Hiking is a strenuous activity, and camping in wilderness areas takes extraordinary preparation, so we strive to make sure that this trip is one you will enjoy. For more details, refer to the Info&Checklist (http://files.meetup.com/1589422/Big%20Bend%20Hike%20List%20-%20RGV%202014.doc).

https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/9/f/3/a/600_464920762.jpeg

Camp/Meals

Each participant must supply his/her own tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad - see the complete Info&C (http://files.meetup.com/1589422/Big%20Bend%20Info%20and%20Checklist.pdf)hecklist (http://files.meetup.com/1589422/Big%20Bend%20Info%20and%20Checklist.pdf)

Our campsite will be at the Rio Grande Village Campground (http://www.nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/rgv_campground.htm). The campsite is grassy and located under a canopy of cottonwood trees. Bear boxes are provided for food storage. The site is close to water, restrooms, hot showers (bring quarters), and a park store (9am - 8pm). The coin operated showers are open all night. Wireless internet and cell phone reception may be available at the store/showers.

Breakfast and dinner are prepared as group meals by trip participants. Each person prepares his/her own lunch from the group's lunch fixings. Thanksgiving dinner will be, as always, a huge feast with turkey, dressing, many side dishes, and desserts. The Sierra Club provides all group cooking equipment and dishes. Everyone needs to sign up for a few kitchen crew assignments.

Breakfast and dinner entrees will be hot, nutritious, and tasty. We always accommodate vegetarians. We will make reasonable efforts to provide gluten-free and special meals for those who request them in advance, although we cannot promise 100% adherence to special diets in a camping environment. Let us know of any special dietary needs during trip registration.

Note for 2017 One dinner will be at the rustic Chisos Mountain Lodge (http://www.chisosmountainslodge.com/dining-and-shopping) and each participant will be responsible for their own bill. We will be hiking in the Chisos one day and it's easier and faster to dine out that night instead of going back to camp and preparing dinner.

https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/a/e/2/b/600_465644587.jpeg

Border Patrol Check

Even though Big Bend National Park is inside the United States, it is very close to the border with Mexico. As a result, when we head for Austin on Sunday, Nov 27, we will go through a border control checkpoint. This is a minimal stop, however it is necessary for those on this trip who are not U.S. citizens to bring your passport, visa, green card, and/or whatever other documents are required for you to legally re-enter the United States.

If you wish to visit Boquillas, Mexico during your free time (not part of the Sierra Club trip), you must have a passport.

Weather

The official average minimum/maximum temperature as measured at Panther Junction (http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/Panther+Junction+TX+USTX1833:1:US) (3750 ft) in November is 43/68°F. However, the possible temperature range is from below freezing to the 90s. Since there is always the possibility of a cold front coming through, you should be prepared for nighttime lows in the 20s. Be sure your sleeping bag is adequate for the cold nights. Although rain is unlikely (November averages about 0.70 inches), bring rain gear and make sure your tent has a rain fly. Hypothermia is a serious matter, as cold, wet, windy conditions can turn a good trip into misery and a life-threatening situation. You will need to bring the items listed in the Info&Checklist (http://files.meetup.com/1589422/Big%20Bend%20Packing%20Checklist%20-%20RGV%202013.doc) .

https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/a/d/c/2/600_465644482.jpeg

Summary of Registration

Steps

1. RSVP Yes on Meetup, which will prompt you for a pre-trip screening questionnaire. For your own safety and the group's well-being, you must meet certain health and physical fitness requirements to be eligible to participate.
2. Complete the Sierra Club Medical Form (http://files.meetup.com/1589422/Sierra%20Club%20medical%20form%202013.pdf) and Individual Liability Waiver (http://content.sierraclub.org/outings/sites/content.sierraclub.org.outings/files/forms/local-outings-individual_waiver.pdf) in full. The forms can be found by clicking on the green hyperlinks, or, at the top of this page, under the More/Files tab.

3. There are two ways to complete your registration.

3a) Save your completed forms and email them to johnyarber@att.net as an attachment. You can pay the trip fee with PayPal by clicking on "Donate" through this link:

http://www.sierraclub.org/texas/austin/donate or

3b) Print out the forms and mail them, along with a check (made out to Austin Sierra Club) for $320 for members (or $345 for non-members) to John Yarber, 7501 Shadowridge Run, #108, Austin, Texas, 78749.

4) We will ensure your forms contain all the required information, your fee has been received, and inform you, by email, when you are officially registered for the trip. Congratulations! If registration has not been completed within 10 days of RSVP, the RSVP will be removed.

https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/a/f/2/d/600_465644845.jpeg

Refund Policy

• 100% will be refundable if cancelled before November 12 at 8:00 am CST
• 75% will be refundable if cancelled after November 12 but before November 17 at 8:00 am CST
• No refunds for cancellations made after Friday, November 17 at 8:00 am CST

*** More trip info, including a Big Bend Hikes and Equipment Checklist (http://files.meetup.com/1589422/Big%20Bend%20Info%20and%20Checklist.pdf) can be downloaded.