Spring Break Big Bend Adventure
Tentative Schedule
March 2009


NOTE: All meals students are expected to provide
for themselves are in YELLOW.
 Emergency Telephone Checkpoints are in RED!


 Friday, March 6th

  • 3:45 - 6:00PM Food and Equipment staging.
 Saturday, March 7th

  • 4:30AM SHARP! Pull-out toward points west.
  • "Road Trip!"
      • Student provided sack lunch or drive through.
  • 5:30-6:30 Estimated arrival @ Cottonwood Campground, Big Bend National Park
     Ranger Station @ Castolon: 432.477.2225 (Emergency Only)
  • Remainder of day:
    • Camp Setup
    • Possible evening hike to Santa Elena Canyon
    • Dinner and clean-up
      • Hot Dinner
  • Required cell phone parent check-in (services pending... it's unlikely but we'll try!)
 Sunday, March 8th

  • Sunrise Photo-Op session at Santa Elena Canyon.
  • 7:00-8:30 AM Breakfast and clean-up
      • Hot Breakfast
  • Leave Cottonwood headed toward Rio Grande Village
    • Possible side trip to Burro Mesa pour-off
    • Possible side hike out to the Homer Wilson Ranch area
      • Brown Bag Lunches @ Rio Grande Village  (There are NO resturants in Big Bend.)
      • (Phones, showers, gas and convienance retail available)
      •  Ranger Station @ Rio Grande Village: 432.477.2356 (Emergency Only)
      •  Rio Grande Village Visitors Center: 432.477.2271
    • Various roadside photo oportunities.
    • Possible side trip to Grapevine Hills or the Chisos Basin
    • Possible side trip to Hot Springs
  • 4:00-5:00 PM Estimated arrival back in Cottonwood Camp Ground
  • Camp set up and food detail
      • Hot Dinner
  • Possible trip tp Luna's Jacal for evening shots.
  • Required cell phone parent check-in (services pending... once again, unlikely but we'll try!)
 Monday, March 9th

  • More daybreak photography.
  • 7:00-8:30 AM Breakfast and clean-up
      • Hot Breakfast
  • 8:00-10:00 AM, strike camp and load up.
  • Leave Big Bend National Park via western exit.
  • Drive out through Terlingua towards presidio via FM170.
  • Stop in Redford... ghost town Hollywood movie set! 
      • Roadside Picnic Lunch
  • Required cell phone parent check-in (Cell services should be pretty good in Presidio.)
  • On to Marfa then Fort Davis and the Crow's Nest Ranch.
     The Crow's Nest Ranch: 432.426.3300 (Emergency Only)
  • Campfire! Pizza, s'mores and hot showers for everybody!  Whoo-hoo!
      • Takeout: Murphy's Pizzeria and Cafe in Fort Davis
        (Mr. McCulley's Treat...)
 Tuesday, March 10th

  • Sleep late, possible sunrise photography.
  • Breakfast and clean-up.
      • Hot Breakfast
  • McDonald Observatory (all day)
     The McDonald Observatory Visitors Center: 432.442.4356
  • Snacks and sandwiches at the observatory
      • Brown Bag Picnic Lunches
      • Evening Tailgate Meal
  • Evening Star Party at McDonald Observatory
    (IT IS VERY COLD AT THIS EVENT, DRESS WARMLY... or stay in the vans.)
  • Late return to the cabins at "Crows Nest" (mid-night or later)
  • phone.jpg The Crow's Nest Ranch: 432.426.3300 (Emergency Only)
 Wednesday, March 11th

  • Sleep late, possible sunrise photography.
  • Breakfast and clean-up
      • Hot Breakfast
  • Leave Crow's Nest heading east via US 90.
    • Student provided sack lunch or drive through.
  • Arrive Mid-Afternoon @ Seminole Canyon State Park.
  • Possible Seminole Canyon Tour.
  • Required cell phone parent check-in (If service is available.)
      • Evening Meal @ and Clean Up
  • Evening Photography
    Seminole Canyon State Park: 432.292.4464 (Emergency Only)
 Thursday, March 12th

  • Early wake-up with clean up and load out!
      • Hot Breakfast
  • Head east through Del Rio along US 90
      • Roadside Picnic Lunch or Fast Food
  • Cell phone service should be good for most of the way home.
  • Arrival in Seguin late PM.

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