Backpacking the Outer Mountain Loop | BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK

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Backpacking the Outer Mountain Loop | BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK

Рет қаралды 1,360

Күн бұрын

This is a trip around the Outer Mountain Loop of Big Bend National Park in January of 2024. I tackled this hike with ‎@tangenttrails . We hit a major cold front on the first day of what turned out to be a 3 day/2 night loop. The overall milage for the trip was about 34/35 miles.
I tried to add in a lot of info and tips to help you with planning your OML hike. If you have any questions, I'd love you to leave a comment.
You'll hear me mention problems with my water filter throughout the video. I am since convinced that the cause of my problems was that although I backflushed my filter after my last trip, my filter element was dry going into this trip and it took several tries at wetting it and flushing the filter to get it to actually flow. Lesson learned.
Be sure and check out ‪@tangenttrails‬ video of this same trip. He's a great hiking partner and I enjoyed this hike together. Be sure and subscribe to his channel while you're there.
• Backpacking Big Bend |...
This was my second time to hike the OML. The last time I did it was a much different trip in February of 2018. Here are the two videos from that trip:
Part 1
• Big Bend Outer Mountai...
Part 2
• Big Bend Outer Mountai...

Пікірлер: 43

@LinkusMaximus 23 күн бұрын

Really appreciate your super thorough video. It's extremely detailed and helpful. I wish more backpacking videos were as good as this. Cheers!

@CameronHall88 22 күн бұрын

@@LinkusMaximus thank you so much. I appreciate you watching.

@Owlet.The.Explorer 5 ай бұрын

Absolutely stunning! What an epic journey through Big Bend National Park! 🌄🏕 23:49 New Friend Here!

@adventureawaits5003 5 ай бұрын

Great scenery awesome hike and video

@BluecollarBackcountry 7 ай бұрын

Poor Ethan couldn't find his Motts that day. Hahahaha Years ago a ranger told me yearly trail maintenance crews use the old cabin while they were in Big Bend. The corrals were for a mule team that brought up supplies and were taken back down while the crews worked. Not trying to sound like a knowitall but flushing your water filter at home will stop up the filaments because of the minerals in our tapwater when it dries. Soaking it in a solution of vinegar and distilled water can sometimes dissolve the minerals that stop it up. I know you had to appreciate good equipment staying the night in temps like that. Great video and man I miss Big Bend. Just can't do it anymore so thanks for sharing this adventure and stirring up old memories. ✌

@CameronHall88 7 ай бұрын

I think you're right. I did a lot of reading about filters when I got home. I just don't go on enough trips where I use one that I've learned all the little tricks. Now I know for next time. I did backflush it enough times that by the 2nd time I filtered out of Fresno Creek, it was flowing a lot closer to normal. I'll definitely be adding some purification tablets to my kit for emergencies. Thanks for all the info. That's why they say you're not old ... you're wise!

@tangenttrails 7 ай бұрын

Excellent video, Cameron. I guess we really did get ourselves in a wild situation that first day. I’ve never been that cold on a trip and I was surprised how much the weather zapped my strength right out of me. I was exhausted by the second day’s end. I’ll be back next season to finish up the Blue Creek and probably do both the south and east rim again and go down the Pinnacles trail. Thanks for inviting me along.✌️

@CameronHall88 7 ай бұрын

The climb up Blue Creek was tough. I think when I do the OML next time, I'll do it more like my first time; start from Homer Wilson and go counter clockwise. I'm not sure adding the miles on from the Basin really adds that much to the trip. I really appreciated having you on this trip. It was nice to have someone to talk to and share camp with. Not to mention you really bailed me out on day 1!

@tangenttrails 7 ай бұрын

@@CameronHall88 I agree, I believe I’ll tackle it counterclockwise next time now that I know what to expect.

@OneMansOdyssey 7 ай бұрын

Great hike! Those bad weather days can be really demoralizing, especially if they're cold. At least you were dry 😬

@CameronHall88 7 ай бұрын

Oh yeah! Rain or ice would have been terrible! The cold or wind would have been okay by themselves. But together was a bad combo. Any precipitation would have been a whole other level. It was fun to get back out there. And this hike was completely different than the first. So it was good to get a different experience. Are you still planning to visit the park this year?

@rray4708 6 ай бұрын

Awesome video! Thank you for sharing.

@CameronHall88 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching!

@TravisT432 7 ай бұрын

Awesome video Cameron, glad you & Jerry were able to hit the trail! That first night up on the rim looked rough. I had filter troubles on my Truchas trip & panicked so hard that I didn't think about the aquamira tabs I keep in my first aid kit. Luckily it started flowing after soaking for awhile. I'm always amazed how zapped I am after hiking in the desert, in comfortable weather. I need to hit Marufo Vega before it warms up. Thanks for sharing, amigo!

@CameronHall88 7 ай бұрын

I'd love to so that trail. Just not sure it'll happen in the next couple of months. Maybe in the fall. I hope you get to do it. I'd love to see the video!

@RussellPecot 7 ай бұрын

Excellent video! Girlfriend and I camped at East Rim 4 a couple years ago and the views were incredible. We both took pictures at the same spot you stopped.

@CameronHall88 7 ай бұрын

You're right, the views were incredible. I'll definitely stay over that way again. Hopefully on a slightly less windy day. Thanks a lot for watching.

@hikingwithjackieboy 7 ай бұрын

Excellent video, Cameron. Thanks for sharing!

@CameronHall88 6 ай бұрын

Thanks a lot! I appreciate you watching.

@hikingwithjackieboy 6 ай бұрын

@@CameronHall88 you're welcome

@TheAdventuresofEli 7 ай бұрын

Bro! That trip was wild 😅 so cold! 🥶 And that wind was nuts.. just that alone would make one exhausted, especially just trying to stay warm. Sorry i couldn’t make the trip this time, hope to hit up Big Bend later this year when its a little warmer 😂 Excellent Video Sir!

@CameronHall88 7 ай бұрын

Wish you could have made it. But I know you had something a little more important going on! You'll have to do the OML with a baby carrier.

@TheNotLostNomad 7 ай бұрын

Wow, you guys had some weather! good job powering through those conditions and great job capturing your trip! I'm planning on dong the OML in March...Im curious what conditions I'll see.

@CameronHall88 7 ай бұрын

Could possibly be cold or hot. You never know with that area. I went with a guy in October a few years back and we nearly got snowed in! 😅

@nathanhollis9298 7 ай бұрын

That’s a tough hike for sure. Might have to go back and try that lollipop route because laguna meadows is my favorite part of the park and I’d get to see it twice. I gave up on the sawyer squeeze because of the same issues you had. I’d test it before I left and then it wouldn’t work when I needed it to. Thank goodness for hiking buddies and redundancy but switched to the befree for hopefully better results.

@CameronHall88 7 ай бұрын

Laguna Meadows really is a pretty nice trail into the Chisos. If or when I do the OML again, I think I'll skip the Basin and just do the loop from Homer Wilson. I never had problems with a Sawyer filter before. Although, admittedly, I don't filter water a ton. So I'm still learning different tips and tricks. Luckily, Jerry's filter worked great. He was using a Platypus, I believe.

@JustinMcKinneyhiker 7 ай бұрын

I really enjoyed your video Cameron !! Those cold temps and wind looked brutal. It's those kind of conditions that are the ultimate test of an ultra light gear set up. Those views out there are spectacular !! Thanks for sharing !!

@CameronHall88 7 ай бұрын

My sleep system held up very well to the temps. I was really happy with all my gear choices on this trip. And you're right, the views were great. I love the view of the mountains from the desert. The Dodson is a great trail for expansive views. Thanks for watching!

@potatothorn 7 ай бұрын

glad you were able to tolerate the cold because you sure brought us some great views ! so much to see out there and so relaxing to watch you hike the big desert from home on a cloudy morning... we went rain hiking yesterday, taking it easy today// this is over an hour of awesome, thanks for taking us along on this huge hike.

@CameronHall88 7 ай бұрын

Oh, hiking in the rain?! That'd nice sometimes. Especially in the desert. As long as it isn't too much rain. I appreciate you watching as always!

@GeezerAdventures 7 ай бұрын

Enjoyed following along! Great job and a great test of your winter gear…. You hike a lot faster than these old folks do!

@CameronHall88 7 ай бұрын

Thanks guys. I've definitely slowed down, even in the past 5 years. I'll be right there with yall in a few more years!

@westtexashiker7962 7 ай бұрын

Great video, thanks for taking us along. Looked like a tough trip, sometimes the fun is easier to see in hindsight.

@CameronHall88 7 ай бұрын

I definitely feel better about it than I did during the trip itself. Especially while making that climb up Blue Creek.

@gogerwi 7 ай бұрын

Nice job Cameron, good to see you back in action. Any equipment changes next time?

@CameronHall88 7 ай бұрын

I dpnt know that I would change much from what I had on this trip. Everything worked out really well. The Bonfus pack was on the verge of being too small with the water and winter layers, but it worked. Of course I'd love to have the DFC version of my Tarptent. But it's not worth it for as little as I use it. It's a palace for 1 person. My sleep system kept me warm through the windy night.

@rodoutdoors 7 ай бұрын

That seemed so cold out there with the wind. Those views look awesome though. Great video. It's cool you guys did this together.

@CameronHall88 7 ай бұрын

The first day was rough. But the desert turned out to be beautiful. We had a great trip despite the winds and temps. Thanks for watching!

@davecat1458 7 ай бұрын

Love it. I thought I was crazy getting up at 2am to get to our Terlingua Ranch getaway...when are you going to go up Casa Grande?

@CameronHall88 7 ай бұрын

I wake up at 3 for work in my daily life. So it's really not that much earlier. I don't ever have a hard time waking up. But trying to stay up late, especially when camping ... no way. I dont know about Casa Grande. I may be able to get out to the park in April to do some peak bagging. But I'm not 100% sure that trip will happen. It'd be great to cross that one off the list!