We were campground hosts at Chisos Basin CG (mountain CG) in Big Bend NP from Apr 27 - Aug 7, 2014. My sig photo was taken there.
It was a great experience - and we will do it again. The park staff was helpful and professional.
BBNP is huge, but smaller than DVNP.
We were the only NPS 'presence' in the Basin except when the VC was open 8-4 daily. Which meant I got asked to help get bears out of the Lodge area, check on hikers who were not back, look for vehicles, etc. Going up/ down hiking trails was not part of the job. (During the winter busy season they actually have positions which hike the trails.)
Dispatch was always avail on the phone or radio if I had questions or problems.
The three campgrounds in BBNP are all quite far from each other, and park HQ. Don't expect an instant response if you ask for help.
Even though temps at RGV and Cottonwood were often over 100-110 - we only saw 93 twice and five days over 90 in the basin. We slept with the windows open in the TT all but three nights during our stay. In the winter, you can occasionally get freezing temps at RGV and Cottonwood, and often in the Basin. But almost every day gets plenty of sunshine and gets above freezing for several hours.
BBNP is an amazing place - more than enough to keep you interested for three months.
One thing I like about BBNP is because they need folks year round, the volunteer positions are for three months. Don't have to commit for a full 'season'.
For volunteers for the busy Nov-Jan and Feb-Apr periods - the park holds a 2 week orientation the last two weeks of Oct & Jan - which I hear is fantastic. Since we arrived at the start of the slow season - our orientation was not as comprehensive or formal.
