Early January 2025: BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK
Remember me? Still here! Still in the van! Although I have spent some time in one place for a few months for the start of 2025, I’ve been busy! Lot’s of challenges on the trail and with the van updates/repairs. But first, this story. I started the year with a bang, diving headfirst into the Chisos Mountains and the outer desert loop of Big Bend.
Warm up hike to The Window Trail
BIG BEND OUTER LOOP- 2 NIGHTS, 35+ MILES
After years on the road, I thought I had Big Bend figured out. But this time, the desert had other plans. I wanted to take a deep dive since the Chisos Mountain access will be closed for at least 2 years for infrastructure updates.
I set out to tackle the Outer Mountain Loop again—a route I’ve attempted before when the daytime temps were in the 90’s. Harsh, remote, and beautiful, it’s everything I love about desert hiking. But this time, it tested me more than ever.
FREEZING NIGHTS
Despite thinking I was prepared, I quickly realized I’d made some rookie mistakes—starting with my gear. I had gone with a lighter tent/new tarp, thinking I could handle it. But the temperatures dipped into the 20s, and I wasn’t prepared for the cold nights that followed. Biting off more than I could chew. Coming off the couch, good food and relaxing family time, I hit the trail a bit hard.
Gear choices. What’s a few pounds.?
Frozen Pipes
When I finally made it back to the van, tired and trashed, I was met with a new surpirse: the pipes inside had frozen. It was the first time since I started out on the road that I’d had to deal with this. Fortunately, after running the heater overnight, it seemed like nothing had cracked, and I was thankful it wasn’t worse.
Sometimes, the hardest experiences are the ones that recalibrate you. Big Bend reminded me that nature doesn’t owe you comfort. It demands respect—and humility. And this time, it gave me a lesson in preparation—on the trail and in my van.
I had a softer landing back in Tucson, AZ. That’s the next chapter.