February 12 2011 Day 3 Big Bend Adventure continues...
Waking up in Terlingua Texas, a gorgeous sunrise and so relaxing.
After rising and shining, both us and the sun, we went east - then south a total of 33 miles to the Chisos Basin in Big Bend National Park. We are going to walk to the Window, this trail is about 5 miles round trip, elevation loss 574 feet. It was another beautiful day, I would not walk here in the heat of the summer.
Chisos Basin Big Bend National Park
This is as we were walking back to the visitor center where we parked, that is Casa Grande Peak ahead.
We had lunch on a picnic table, after that we decided to drive south on Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive.
Here are various mountains and rocks we saw along the way, which our geologist son told us all about, very interesting, but I usually retain little of the details. I can see the different kinds of rock, and the different formation- some have vertical lines, some horizontal, some rock is sharp and some is smooth. Yes it would be interesting to study geology.
Here are various mountains and rocks we saw along the way, which our geologist son told us all about, very interesting, but I usually retain little of the details. I can see the different kinds of rock, and the different formation- some have vertical lines, some horizontal, some rock is sharp and some is smooth. Yes it would be interesting to study geology.
On our drive down Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive we stopped at Sotol Vista Overlook. Cool.
Next we hiked a bit at Burro Mesa Pouroff. A 1/2 mile trail takes you into a hidden box canyon to a high dry waterfall, where a variety of desert wash plants and magnificent geology surround you.
Burro Mesa Pouroff
Next stop was Santa Elena Canyon. The Rio Grande has cut a 1,500' vertical chasm out of pure limestone. Mexico makes up the left wall and Texas the right. A trail follows the river upstream and enters the canyon.
Every stop we made I would think this is the coolest place, then we would go to another cooler place!
This is the beginning of the Santa Elena Canyon Trail.
That big rock is Mexico and the water is the Rio Grande, we left the Grand River in Michigan to visit the Rio Grande River in Texas!
Santa Elena Canyon
As we left the Santa Elena Canyon.
So many places, so many mountains, rocks, and hikes, what fun. But there are only so many hours in a day so we head back to the Ghost town Terlingua.
Next stop was Santa Elena Canyon. The Rio Grande has cut a 1,500' vertical chasm out of pure limestone. Mexico makes up the left wall and Texas the right. A trail follows the river upstream and enters the canyon.
Every stop we made I would think this is the coolest place, then we would go to another cooler place!
This is the beginning of the Santa Elena Canyon Trail.
That big rock is Mexico and the water is the Rio Grande, we left the Grand River in Michigan to visit the Rio Grande River in Texas!
So many places, so many mountains, rocks, and hikes, what fun. But there are only so many hours in a day so we head back to the Ghost town Terlingua.
Wow wow wow! M
ReplyDeleteThis is me. This is a test. It is going to post as Eric but it's not Eric. The time is wrong, too. M :)
ReplyDeleteawesome blogs! great to have another perspective on the trip. Debi told me I was constantly worried if you and Dad were having a good time. Looks so fun! And it was!
ReplyDeleteWow, your photos are so much better than mine! Either it was worth sacrificing the macro button for your new camera, or you're just a more talented photographer than I am!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Photos! The sky looks unreal in the picture with the cactus. Can't believe you saw all that in one day!
ReplyDeleteIt was a fun trip, you could spend a week or more easily just at Big Bend National Park.
ReplyDeleteWho is Cherries? I didn't get a good picture of the only wildflower I saw on the trip, a purple one in Closed Canyon. :(
The sky many times was an unbelievable blue (no Photoshop here) and the sky is BIG in Texas. :)
Thanks, Y'all!
Oops, Cherries is Debi. Time to add a picture to my profile!
ReplyDelete