The have started bulldozing Big Bend National Park in west Texas

JIMMYBUFFETT said:
I've been to Big Bend roughly 70 times over my life. I started going when I was 16 and have gone twice a year pretty much every year and I'm 53 now. There's not a single trail in the entire park I've not hiked. I've run the river 14 times. I've been to the Marderas del Carmen Flora and Fauna Protection Area across the river in Mexico 3 times. I'm older now and do less backpacking and more day hiking. I've got a Toyota Tacoma with a tent camper and love to go just hang out in the desert.
The park has changed a lot of the years and none of it good. In my opinion mountain biking has been the biggest detriment. It used to be a park of hikers and backpackers. Now it's a park of bikers, off road 4x4 guys, and tourists. Border Patrol and the Park Rangers have also become a detriment. Instead of being the helpful guys that gave you directions, advice on seasonal springs, and washed out roads, they've turned into a near military force, often confrontational, and usually rude. I've been pulled over, had my truck searched, and my tent and campsite searched multiple times over the last several years. I'm not a guy with anything to hide so while it's never been a big deal, it's just such a turnoff. And completely unnecessary.

In the 37 years I've been going to the park I've never seen an illegal alien in the park. Not one time. The idea that this particular stretch of Texas needs any further protection and or monitoring is foolish at best. You drive through a border patrol check point between the park and Marathon, Texas and half the time it's not even manned. That's how little illegal activity happens in this part of Texas. Further resources in this area are a waste of man power and tax payer dollars. But also don't be deceived by all the images. Big Bend had an epic amount of rain this season, enough to cancel one of my annual trips. They've had a lot of washed out roads that they've been grading and the majority of the pictures I'm seeing is simple road management. That said I know there are future plans of further unnecessary border security in the park. I'll be at the Elephant Tusk campsite for 3 nights in October and will get a good look then.

Smokey says protect our parks and forests! They're not making anymore.
Click to expand...
How would you know who you saw? You presume to know what illegal aliens look like?
 
rambo2 said:
You can't be sure what these guys will do. You can't trust them at all. You can't believe them.
Click to expand...
So if they double the size of the project it will go from 0.003% to 0.006% of the total size of the park is that right?

Seems like a pretty small amount.
 
JIMMYBUFFETT said:
I've been to Big Bend roughly 70 times over my life. I started going when I was 16 and have gone twice a year pretty much every year and I'm 53 now. There's not a single trail in the entire park I've not hiked. I've run the river 14 times. I've been to the Marderas del Carmen Flora and Fauna Protection Area across the river in Mexico 3 times. I'm older now and do less backpacking and more day hiking. I've got a Toyota Tacoma with a tent camper and love to go just hang out in the desert.
The park has changed a lot of the years and none of it good. In my opinion mountain biking has been the biggest detriment. It used to be a park of hikers and backpackers. Now it's a park of bikers, off road 4x4 guys, and tourists. Border Patrol and the Park Rangers have also become a detriment. Instead of being the helpful guys that gave you directions, advice on seasonal springs, and washed out roads, they've turned into a near military force, often confrontational, and usually rude. I've been pulled over, had my truck searched, and my tent and campsite searched multiple times over the last several years. I'm not a guy with anything to hide so while it's never been a big deal, it's just such a turnoff. And completely unnecessary.

In the 37 years I've been going to the park I've never seen an illegal alien in the park. Not one time. The idea that this particular stretch of Texas needs any further protection and or monitoring is foolish at best. You drive through a border patrol check point between the park and Marathon, Texas and half the time it's not even manned. That's how little illegal activity happens in this part of Texas. Further resources in this area are a waste of man power and tax payer dollars. But also don't be deceived by all the images. Big Bend had an epic amount of rain this season, enough to cancel one of my annual trips. They've had a lot of washed out roads that they've been grading and the majority of the pictures I'm seeing is simple road management. That said I know there are future plans of further unnecessary border security in the park. I'll be at the Elephant Tusk campsite for 3 nights in October and will get a good look then.

Smokey says protect our parks and forests! They're not making anymore.
Click to expand...
It’s all scare tactics.
 
rambo2 said:
People are very pissed off. All Texans need to know what they are doing.
Click to expand...
I'm a Texan, only one's that are pissed off are the ones that like to go against the other party. Happens, no matter who's in office. Makes me sick to see the constant bickering by those wearing blinders. No matter what the others do, it's wrong. Kinda like our boot lickers vs the haters. Lol
 
Ranching said:
I'm a Texan, only one's that are pissed off are the ones that like to go against the other party. Happens, no matter who's in office. Makes me sick to see the constant bickering by those wearing blinders. No matter what the others do, it's wrong. Kinda like our boot lickers vs the haters. Lol
Click to expand...
The sheriff is pissed.
 
Ranching said:
Elect a new one. If he's afraid to work a little more, he's probably just collecting a paycheck.
Click to expand...
It has nothing to do with his work
. IT has to do with it is totally unecessary and corrupt. You should go look at his comments on YouTube. He has worked out there for over 2 decades.
 
rambo2 said:
It has nothing to do with his work
. IT has to do with it is totally unecessary and corrupt. You should go look at his comments on YouTube. He has worked out there for over 2 decades.
Click to expand...
He's entitled. One guy knows more than the government. People don't cross there yet, but as other, safer, routes are being shut down, the cartel and coyotes will dump many illegals out there. If they come across out there, they will die. Coyotes don't care. That sheriff doesn't either.
 
TheKey said:
How would you know who you saw? You presume to know what illegal aliens look like?
Click to expand...
Uhhh, yes, yes I do know what illegals look like. I've lived 2.5 hours from the Mexican border for 53 years now and don't have to presume. You do understand this is a National Park right? People are camping, backpacking, mountain biking, and 4 wheeling. There's not coyotes leading bands of of immigrants across the desert here...at all. Park headquarters at Panther Junction is 70 miles from the closest town of Marathon, and probably closer to 90 miles from the actual river. Illegals don't cross here because there's no place to go. No towns of any size to blend in, no water source to travel along, no friendly ranches willing to take them in, and heavy Border Patrol presence. It's just an inhospitable area that doesn't make sense logistically or from a self-preservation standpoint to cross.
 
Robbieac said:
Well, that one’s an idiot.

I can show you sheriffs all over the country who thinks that it’s necessary.
Click to expand...
No, he's not an idiot and instead a lifelong Texan who understands the area he's working in and their needs. And no, you'll find no other sheriffs that think it's necessary in Big Bend National Park. You can find plenty who think it's necessary in Organ Pipe Arizona, in the Rio Grande Valley, and El Paso where there truly is a serious problem, but we're talking about Big Bend. One look at the place and only a moron wouldn't understand it. Not that I'd ever accuse you of anything like that Rob.
 
It’s cute how the argument has changed and the goal posts have moved so rapidly.

The initial gnashing of teeth was over “bulldozing and destroying the national park!“.

Now since everyone found out it’s such a minuscule effect on the park itself and the park isn’t actually being destroyed, people are arguing “well it’s just unnecessary and a waste of funds“.

:laugh:
 
JIMMYBUFFETT said:
No, he's not an idiot and instead a lifelong Texan who understands the area he's working in and their needs. And no, you'll find no other sheriffs that think it's necessary in Big Bend National Park. You can find plenty who think it's necessary in Organ Pipe Arizona, in the Rio Grande Valley, and El Paso where there truly is a serious problem, but we're talking about Big Bend. One look at the place and only a moron wouldn't understand it. Not that I'd ever accuse you of anything like that Rob.
Click to expand...
The morons are the cartel and coyotes that don't care where they dump people. They just want the money. One look at the fences and with the antenna towers with camera, might save a life. What harm will it do? There's nothing out there anyway, not many "tourists" out there, so what's the big deal. BTW I've lived in the Valley for 60 years and have gone through big bend. Sent about 10 players to Sul Ross in Alpine.
 
Ranching said:
The morons are the cartel and coyotes that don't care where they dump people. They just want the money. One look at the fences and with the antenna towers with camera, might save a life. What harm will it do? There's nothing out there anyway, not many "tourists" out there, so what's the big deal. BTW I've lived in the Valley for 60 years and have gone through big bend. Sent about 10 players to Sul Ross in Alpine.
Click to expand...
Construction stopped today by Rodney Scott for what he calls a personal reevaluation. They explained to the plumber from Oklahoma why it's a bad idea.
 
Last edited:
Ranching said:
The morons are the cartel and coyotes that don't care where they dump people. They just want the money. One look at the fences and with the antenna towers with camera, might save a life. What harm will it do? There's nothing out there anyway, not many "tourists" out there, so what's the big deal. BTW I've lived in the Valley for 60 years and have gone through big bend. Sent about 10 players to Sul Ross in Alpine.
Click to expand...
Not many tourists? They have 1/2 a million visitors a year. I'm sure it's not a big deal to people who don't visit the park and don't understand the implications to both flora and fauna this project has. It's a 1.7 billion dollar project with not 1 cent put back into restoration...zero. They're bulldozing 200 miles of new road through fragile native habitat and doing nothing about the damage they leave behind in their wake. All of this to monitor absolutely nothing. None of the coyotes or cartel you speak of operate in this area because they can't. They're actively working along the Mariscal Canyon area of Big Bend right now. This is a canyon that you can't even ride a horse into, it's inaccessible. That's not providing border security, it's more like crapping in your pants and changing your shirt. Listen to the ranchers Ranching and you'll hear them echo everything I just wrote. It's damaging, it's a waste of money, they don't want it near their ranches, they don't need it near their ranches, and no it's not going to save lives.

Close the border for all I care, the crapper is full. But to touch our parks makes me ill. Theodore Roosevelt once said "There can be no greater issue than that of conservation of this country." Truer words have never been spoken. People are too caught up in right or left right now and need to focus more on right and wrong. This is obviously wrong.
 
JIMMYBUFFETT said:
Not many tourists? They have 1/2 a million visitors a year. I'm sure it's not a big deal to people who don't visit the park and don't understand the implications to both flora and fauna this project has. It's a 1.7 billion dollar project with not 1 cent put back into restoration...zero. They're bulldozing 200 miles of new road through fragile native habitat and doing nothing about the damage they leave behind in their wake. All of this to monitor absolutely nothing. None of the coyotes or cartel you speak of operate in this area because they can't. They're actively working along the Mariscal Canyon area of Big Bend right now. This is a canyon that you can't even ride a horse into, it's inaccessible. That's not providing border security, it's more like crapping in your pants and changing your shirt. Listen to the ranchers Ranching and you'll hear them echo everything I just wrote. It's damaging, it's a waste of money, they don't want it near their ranches, they don't need it near their ranches, and no it's not going to save lives.

Close the border for all I care, the crapper is full. But to touch our parks makes me ill. Theodore Roosevelt once said "There can be no greater issue than that of conservation of this country." Truer words have never been spoken. People are too caught up in right or left right now and need to focus more on right and wrong. This is obviously wrong.
Click to expand...
I agree with to many focused on politics, those are the ones protesting. I don't see blue or red....your point of view makes sense to me, but being from Mexico and having my family's 15,000 acre ranch with 6,000 cattle suffer, because we can't find workers and have had a nephew recently gunned down in the middle of the street for not giving up his truck to cartel, I know what they are capable of doing. They will take money from people and dump them out there, leaving them to die. No wall, no roads to allow CBP to use and no camera towers. Bodies will start to mount. But, I get it....the flora is important
 
Apologies to the Mods.
I think I referenced a news source without providing a link.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Staff online

Members online

... and 176 more.
Total: 14,733 (members: 276, guests: 14,457)
Robots: 1,586

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
474,794
Messages
14,560,871
Members
24,213
Latest member
Debi
Back
Top