Some might think “oh a trip by yourself, so what?” but for me this was my 30th birthday and a first really alone.  I’ve basically worked to support and keep my family in line since I was 19 but started paying to help keep them afloat when I was 16. My parents offered me some opportunities but it came with luggage.  Them and my little brother. I did a few trips with a 4 year LTR ex-girlfriend and obviously all the ball and chain stuff with my family during my tenure but this was the first time I’ve ever gotten to go by myself, do whatever I wanted, stop wherever I thought was neat, not have to consider egos and personalities into the logistics with how it would affect the group dynamic or worry about dietary restrictions of individuals and just go, do what I wanted and selfishly enjoy my own company.

A wise old gentlemen gave me the word for it when I got back as I told the story of my trip. I explained how simply amazing it was to enjoy a journey as well as the destination.  Not because I provided a means, or created an environment for others to enjoy; with myself living vicariously through their joy as would happen with my ex, or family when traveling and visiting places.

“Zen”he said.
“What?” I replied
“This trip was very zen for you”

That was exactly it! The peace, calm, and self-reflection while seeing, learning and enjoying a new environment and new experiences. So without further adieu, the highlights and photos. Because we know, everyone just wants to see the pretty pictures. The link to the full gallery is here if you want to see that. I’ve only posted the highlight photos in the forum.
http://gallery.urthesuck.com/gallery/2016_Mar_Big_Bend/

The trip was simple. 2 hard points in my itinerary and everything else was loose with just a list of s~~~ that might be cool to check out or roads that might be fun to drive on.  I drive a WRX wagon so turbo AWD fun on the twisty’s was high on the list. The hard points were a night in the 100 year old Perry Manson at the Ghost Town, Terlingua, on Friday.  Wednesday, a full day and night worth at the McDonald Observatory for tours, sun observations, presentations and finally the 20+ telescope start party that night. And like all good things it started out like total s~~~. My little brother had managed to give me and my father (who works with me) a flu a few days before I left. I’m driving 8 hours in the middle of the night from Austin to west Texas with the heater on full blast and I’m freezing to death while sweeting every ounce of water out of my body, and into my hoodie. So thanks for the birthday gift you little s~~~.

Stopped a few places along the way that first night, forced fluids and food down. I drove through Big Bend National Park on my way to Terlingua. It was beautiful and the wild flowers were just starting to bloom but it was packed thanks to spring break just starting. I got to the Hotel before check in so I checked out the Ghost Town. It’s a neat little hippy artist community like a cheaper west Texas version of Taos, New Mexico.

<p>I finally got checked in, showered and died. I woke up later that night about 5 minutes after everything in that area had closed. Seriously, bars closing at midnight on a f~~~ing Friday! But I was feeling better and I got to start trying my hand at one of the major goals of my trip. Star Trail photography. The initial results were ok but I was getting accustom to how the setup worked so for my first two while still being a little stick so I kind a didn’t care about missing the focus, so this wasn’t a bad start.</p>

<p>The next day I had a tiny sweet from the last of the cold but it had broken for good and my appetite returned with a vengeance. Sourced some breakfast tacos and went back for a bit more of a nap to run out the clock on my hotel rental. It was expensive, I was still a bit weak from the flu and f~~~ it, why not, I’d paid for it after all. This was basically the first sign to me that I could really do whatever I freaking wanted and it was glorious.</p>

I started for Big Bend State Ranch shortly after that to get ready to hit the trail. The road was amazing so I got signed into the park and drove it a few times to take it all in. I even set my camera up and shot a time lapse from the passenger’s seat. The video really doesn’t do it justice. Having just gotten over that flu only a day before I decided to take it easy and only hike the first 5 miles that first day to make sure I could get back to the car if I absolutely needed to in a hurry. Trails were amazing, people were nonexistent and the stars. Oh the stars were nothing shy of marvelous even with only the tail of the Milky Way showing instead of the massive center that will be in the sky during the summer. I’ll let the photos speak for themselves.

The next day I couldn’t find the water supply that was supposed to be there so I had to turn back for my car to re fill my and let the rangers know they were crazy.  I went ahead and got lunch in town and then came back out to hit another trail for the afternoon. I did 8 miles another way and pitched my tent in the dark and set up the camera. This time I got some really good star trails and awesome time-lapse videos out of the sky. Woke the next day feeling a bit beat up. Even the short desert hike was taking a toll on me after that flu and there was no water source in short range so I opted to head back again. No epic 30-40 miles like I had hoped for but better than nothing. I also had some new limits for my current physical condition and goals to set for future trips to be more successful but the resulting photos were well worth it. I also got to spend some time reading several manosphere books out in the desert.

Back at the car I went and told the rangers I didn’t die in the desert, they appreciate that, then decided to take off for Midland to check out the Petroleum Museum for the Chaparral Gallery and some planetarium viewing at the local Museum of the Southwest. The Chaparral exhibit was amazing. As a automotive engineer getting to see the birth of automotive aerodynamics in the flesh and some even half taken apart so you could see the guts was well worth the drive. The photos say more than words ever could.

Day at the Museum’s was awesome but then Wednesday was upon me and I had to high tail it to the observatory. I had slept funny since I normally work late and ended up sleeping through the alarm on my phone. Fortunately I drive a sport wagon so I was able to make it up by driving 90-120 on some the back roads up the mountain. I was going through quite a few of the twisty’s labeled 20mph at well over 60. AWD Turbo out of corner acceleration FTW!!!! I’m a chassis engineer by trade so trust me when I say that I’m skilled, the car is setup, properly maintained, I always slowed way down when other cars were present or if the corner was blind and I could not see far enough into it brake if necessary. History of the observatory was awesome, sun viewing were awesome, 107” telescope tour was awesome, and then the star party. Just wow! If you’re ever in West Texas do yourself a favor and stop to participate in one. You won’t be disappointed. They have 3 22” domes set and the view of Jupiter was awesome through them. We got lucky and all 4 moons were in clear view around the planet that night.  I took a few photos then set up both cameras for time-lapses.

I stayed one more night at the local State Park just 15 miles down the road then bailed the next morning for home and the pile of work I knew I had waiting for me. Back roads back and a stop at the Pacific War Museum for one last personal kick before the final run home.

Thanks for reading! Anyone else do some backpacking?

-Russell

Fantastic trip , great pictures thanks for sharing.

Sometimes you just need to go for a walk an listen to yourself.

I’m used to backpacking in the spectacular Wilderness Areas out west, so where I go in Michigan is hardly satisfying. But hell, it gets me out of the concrete jungle for a few days, so it will do for now.

The last two years I took my big, yearly vacation out in my old stomping grounds of Washington State. Last year I backpacked into the Hoh Rain Forest, which is nothing short of MAGICAL. The year before I hiked the coast in Olympic National Park.

But backpacking the Sonoran Desert and any place on the Colorado Plateau are my favorites. Hell, I love the desert so much I could live in a f~~~ing cave and be happy.

So keep it up. Focus on the Wilderness Areas, because it’s there that you’ll find the most solitude. It will change you.

Keep up the trip reports, that was a fun read!

Absolutely! Thanks for reading and thanks for the advice. Going to Texas Dinosaur Valley State Park next week. I just picked up a new Gregory pack that carry like magic but a new ultralight tent is on my list for my next gear upgrade.

I didn’t realize how much I was spending on my Ex. 4 years is a long time and it only started out as 50-100 bucks a month but after getting dumped and getting over my red pill rage I’ve only just realized that I was spending 500-700 bucks and 40-100 hours a month on that ungrateful creature! You don’t ever think about it just doing whatever you can to keep them as happy as they’ll ever be. So I’ve got a pretty solid untapped budget that I’ve unconsciously developed for here to spend on myself now. So I’ll get all my gear up to snuff and pick up a few toys I’ve been eyeing. Looking at some merino wool stuff after the tent upgrade. And other magic gear you can think up please point my way.