History
The 1st Annual Ride for Trails was held in 1998, with 35 registrants participating in a ride from Study Butte to Rio Grande Village. There was a Poker Run, guided hike, dinner and music during a raging wind/sand storm at the Rally Headquarters in Rio Grande Village, but folks hung in there. Festivities were shared with the Boquillas, Mexico community. The small but generous group of first Ride for Trail riders donated over $600.00 for the Big Bend National Park Trails Program. The first Ride for Trails sponsor was Guy W's Harley Davidson of Midland/ Odessa.
Nearly 100 people participated in the 2nd Annual Ride for Trails, which began in Lajitas, sold T-shirts and commenced the accompanying Motorcycle Games. It was a perfect setting and the bike games took place right in front of the boardwalk of downtown Lajitas. The Pinche Gringos played inside in the pavilion and have played at every rally since. Ride for Trails catered a dinner that was included in the price of admission. The Friends of Big Bend National Park began their involvement this year, continuing to contribute through the 13th Annual Ride for Trails.
By the 4th Annual Ride for Trails, there were nearly 200 riders and all registrants received the official Ride for Trails lapel pin. The Ride moved to a start in Study Butte. Sunday services were continued from the year before and the Ride for Trails netted nearly $8,000 for the Trails Program – an astounding gain from its first year net of just $600.
On March 2, 2003, devoted motorcyclist and Big Bend National Park welder and fabricator Tony Aguilar was killed in a motorcycle accident just outside the Park. The Tony Aguilar Memorial Ride began in October’s 6th Annual Ride for Trails.
Registration was regularly approaching its maximum capacity of 300 riders by the 8th Annual Ride for Trails, and the event was regularly making more than $10,000 for the Trails Program. Games were expanded, there was an official blessing of the bikes and vendors joined the melee. The after hours party was held at La Kiva with the Pinche Gringos, and organizers raffled of another Harley Davidson Motorcycle.
For the 9th Annual Ride for Trails, events moved across the highway to the Study Butte Party Barn. RFT continued the Bar-B-Q in the price of admission through the years. RFT raffled off its last Harley Davidson Motorcycle and invested more money into the Rally with outside bands, raffles, and the Bar-B Q. By the 9th Annual Ride for Trails, there was a healthy number of local sponsors from around west Texas.
The 10th Annual Ride for Trails moved back to Lajitas by rider request. The Poker run began at Lajitas, stopped in Terlingua at the Starlight Theatre, on to the Study Butte Mall and into the Park, ending at Panther Junction. Lajitas catered the food and bar. Opening for the Pinche Gringos was the Austin Gary Primach Blues Band.
Due to numeours complications in Lajitas on the 10th Ride for Trails, the 11th Annual Ride For Trails was held again at the Study Butte Party Barn. The Starlight Theatre in Terlingiua catered the food and cash bar. Pinche Gringos headlined the music with the Tejas Brothers from Austin, and opening band Tex-Mex.
New management and renewed interest from Lajitas found the 12th Annual Ride For Trails back at the Lajitas Resort. The bike games were conducted down by the old trading post removed from the main Lajitas boardwalk. Lajitas catered food and drink, and Pinche Gringos played in the amphitheater. The first RFT tattoo vendor was at the Rally this year.
After 12 years of leadership, long-time Big Bend National Park Trails foreman Don Sharlow missed his first Ride for Trails in its 13th year. At the 13th Annual Ride for Trails, nearly 200 riders rode from Terlingua to Panther Junction, with a Rally, incredible music from five different bands, Bar-B-Q, games, blessing of the bikes and other events. More than 50 volunteers made the event possible, under John Lowe's direction. The ride was organized from event headquarters in Study Butte. The 13th Annual Ride for Trails was last year of co-sponsorship between RFT organizers and the Friends of Big Bend National Park.
The 14th Annual Ride for Trails will feature all the traditions of years' past: a 5-stop Poker Run, Rally, vendors, Bar-B-Q dinner, music, games and events, to be held in Study Butte. A new website and new infrastructure hope to attract new riders, sponsors and vendors, as well as the loyal Ride for Trails participants from the past 15 years!
Since 1998, the Ride for Trails has been held every year, often attracting its maximum capacity of 300 bikes. Over $100,000 has been raised to support the Big Bend National Park Trails Program, through direct awards, scholarships and employment stipends. The Ride for Trails has introduced countless motoryclists to the wonders of Big Bend National Park, supported the local economies on both sides of the river (when there was legal passage to Boquillas, Mexico) and proved an enduring tradition that benefits the 200+ miles of trails in Big Bend. Thank you!
