RECON, Texana Ranch
N32 01.856 W100 22.219
Blackwell, Texas
July 31st, 2010
I decided to make a run out to Texana Ranch, north of San Angelo about an hour. The place surprised me with its beauty. Although many of the trails are either real easy or real hard, rock crawling is just now getting its start at what has been a dirt bike and Baja race site for some time. The 4500+ acre ranch has more potential than you can imagine. A special thanks to the owner for allowing us to enjoy this beautiful piece of west Texas.
The headquarters has a large building for events, has showers, and bathrooms.
As you can see, they have just installed fresh RV hookups. There is a separate dump station.
To the right of the main building is where the POOL will go. A perfect end to a hot trail ride.
We go a short distance and the group falls off into fun little wash.
Tony Palmer shows us how to attack this steep climb.
The ranch roads to the various areas supply ends views.
Val takes the lead back down from the high mesa.
As you can see, the ranch roads are perfectly maintained.
Next stop is weenie roast. Named after the still burning brush piles when it was first run.
At the top of weenie roast is the most difficult climb.
Val had already made it up before I got around on the bunny route.
The next one in line tried every angle.
It pays off when he finally hops up on top.
Right next door to weenie roast is Mission Impossible.
Apparently nobody told Val the name.
Hmmmmm, I did not know big red had nitrous.
It takes both Earl AND Tony to winch him up the steep wall of the canyon.
On the way to the next area, we run across a zebra.
And at the owners area, some camels.
Next thing on the agenda is the beautiful Panther Gap trail.
This trail has a easy road and a brutal road running side by side.
Tony and I chose the easy road and watched the action.
The big buggies get right to business.
The average rig would have no chance.
The first tricky obstacle have many lines to choose from.
And you don't want to pick the WRONG line.
After a quick tug with a winch, and on the next bolder pile.
Not again. No problem a strap won't solve.
Val gets high centered on the exit. But nothing a little horse power would not solve.
At the end of Panther Gap, you loop around for a bird’s eye view of the canyon.
From up top, you realize how deep the canyon is.
Tony was my tour guide all day, many thanks.
The only two clowns from AJE there.......
