Welcome to ROCKCRAWLER.COM (Big Bend 4x4 Bash)

Big Bend 4x4 Bash
Terlingua, Texas

The event was held April 11-13, 1998 at the Longhorn Motel, which is located 65 miles south of Alpine,Texas and 14 miles from Stutte Butte,Texas (30miles from Big Bend Park). Bob Hazel (event promoter) said there were 77 vehicles, including trail guides. The group was made up of Jeeps, Hummers, a Range Rover, a Toyota FJ-40, Toyota Land Cruisers, a Bronco and pickups.

This event was held at the same place that Superlift did their 4x4 bash last October.

I was told that you can stay at the Longhorn Motel and run these trails on your own anytime of the year.

The trails ranged from a scenic 2 to a 5+ Stairway To Heaven. We went on the Red Rocks trail (rated a 3) with leader Bryan and wife (CJ-5 from Monahans,Tx). The Red Rocks trail was a drive through the pasture then a drop into a creek bed for some rockcrawling. We went onto some slick rock type climbs out of the creek and back into an area of off camber ravines for some pick-your-own challenge and give it a try. After a luch break we did some more rockcrawling until we got back to the play area where our trail leader said he had to return to judge a chilli cookoff, we could stay and play or go back. About 10 people decided to run it backwards and stayed out until we explored trails to the top of a very scenic overlook (one place would of been great for hang gliding but death in a jeep) so we turned around and three flats later we were back at the Longhorn.

Sunday our trail leader was Homer VanZandt & wife from the Las Cruces Four Wheel Drive Club who led us on the Pack Saddle Trail (rated a 4 which is the by-pass around the Stairway To Heaven Trail). At the drivers meeting Homer said if you were locked both ends you should not have any trouble. When we got to the trail head a group of Hummers and a Range Rover were on the first part so we watched and waited. Homer made it look easy and so did Oscar Espinoza but Bobby had an open Scrambler that needed some help. Lee Tuttle got a little sideways and a winch line seemed like the safest way to get lined up again. It took about 3 1/2 hours to get 21 of us to the top for a scenic lunch stop. Homer told us that was the hardest part, then we climbed up loose rock to the top of the trail with some rockcrawling and a few off camber decents to get back down. We waited and enjoyed the view while Lee Tuttle replaced a torn tire. When we got to the last steep decent Homer said to follow his line and go slow and easy which was fine until my transfer case jumped out of low range and into neutral, a little exciting until I got on the brakes.

When we got back to the Longhorn a man walked up and asked what trail I had done and I told him the Pack Saddle, he was in the Hummer group in front of us, he said he had a new respect for the Jeeps after he watched them climb Pack Saddle.

Everyone I spoke to had a good time and wants to go back in October for the Superlift event.

The Longhorn Motel has a good restaurant and a swimming pool, but to get ice you need to go 8 miles north or 14 miles south. Take along some spare tires because the rocks or greasewood trees really like tires and the repair shop is 14 miles away in Stutte Butte.

Keep your eyes on the ROCKCRAWLER 4x4 Calendar for more events at the Longhorn Ranch, throughout the year!

Lee Tuttle, Red Rocks Trail