Lajitas 2003, February 14-16Text by Steve Ancik, Pics by Ward Combs, Steve Ancik and James Perry © 2003 Ward, James, and I had planned on a trip to Arizona, but that fell through, so... Backup Plan A: the Lahitas Chihuahuan Desert Challenge, only there was no race this year, just a "tour". A long drive to the Big Bend area of Texas, a stop at Big Bend National Park, a night ride in the desert, and a little ole ride on Saturday was in store for us. Friday, we left early and drove to Big Bend National Park. It was a first for James and Ward, but I had been there several times before. We drove to The Basin in the center of the park, where there is an excellent "intro to Big Bend" hiking trail - The Window Trail. Longer than expected (2.8 miles one way and all uphill on the way back), but there is a great view as a payoff. 
We're in Big Bend Country! 
Century Plant (actual size: huge) 
Big Bend National Park, the Basin and Casa Grande Peak. 
Goofballs Ward and James on The Window Trail, BBNP. 
Trail to The Window. 
Three amigos at The Window. 
On to Lajitas. We checked in with our guides, Desert Sports, near Terlingua (home of the famous chili cookoff every November), grabbed dinner (got charged extra for refills on chips and salsa!), then met a group for a night ride in the desert. We rode several excellent loops in the area between Lajitas and Terlingua, and had a blast. There is nothing like blasting through the cool desert night air, brushing past ocotillo (James, can you say ah-kuh-tee-oh?), lechuguilla, agave (century plant), prickly pear, yucca, and other thorny life forms. 
Three amigos in Lajitas, getting ready to ride 32 miles of desert. 
Sign in for the Chihuahuan Desert Challenge Tour. 
Dry wash...we started Saturday morning with several miles of this.
Next came a climb that everybody warned us about: over 600 vertical feet 
Climbing, climbing, climbing... 
Ward contemplating the desert, and asking himself "who built this massive wall in the middle of nowhere"... 
View from the big climb - BIG version 
Steve and Ward at the top. 
Rusted hulk, Crusty, and Spidey...you figure out which one is which... 
Ward and James at an old ruin at the Lone Star Mine (so that's why there was that road and massive wall). 
Well, I had two flats (darned tubeless tires are not made for this sort of country), so we stopped here to rest, eat lunch, and repair the flat. Not a bad view either! that's the Chisos Mountains in Big Bend National Park there in the distance. 
Climbing a ridge in the flats south of Terlingua. 
James dropping in... 
Our leader, from "Desert Sports". 
He's hungry after all that riding. Maybe he's even starving, but I doubt it. Too bad the place was closed... 
Our hosts' shop. 
Ward, desert bowling at Desert Sports. The End... |