Saturday, June 4, 2011

Big Bend

First stop, Seminole Canyon. My father-in-law (Tommy), Jameson and I camped here coming and going.

This canyon is just off of the Pecos, and hunters used it as a bison trap 12,000 years ago. There are cave paintings down in the canyon. It is windy as hell, and hard to put up a tent here. On the plus side, they have a shower. No showers at the Big Bend campsite

Pecos River.

Chisos Basin, Casa Grande in the background. We stayed here about 8 days. The basin is surrounded with peaks, except for what is called "the window" where the sun sets every night. The park is full of wild animals. We saw plenty, but not any of the bears or mountain lions. There are an estimated 30 bears and 24 cougars. Our last couple of days there, a family showed up with a couple of young boys, so Jameson had camping buddies. Their dad graduated from high school in Whitedeer, Texas.

Grapevine Hills Trail. We ate our lunch under the balancing rock.

Santa Elena Canyon, 111 degrees. Jameson threw a rock across the river into Mexico. He also found a bunch of Tamarind pods that had fallen from a tree. He likes how they rattle. I got him a Tamarind Nectar Jumex to drink in Alpine, and it's his new favorite drink.


Red, white and black volcanic tuff.

View from the Historic Homer Wilson Ranch.

The thatch roof, covered with corrugated metal, keeps it cool all the time.

Lost Mine Peak, elevation 7650 feet. Jameson was a champ, and earned a medallion for his hiking staff. The mountain has lots of spires, crevices and ridges. A momma bear with three cubs was seen at the trail head the previous morning, so we were constantly scanning the trail.



Terlingua, Texas. Tourist trap.

Scorpion Lollipop purchased in a tourist trap.


Rio Grande at the Contrabando movie set. The Gambler V was shot here, as well as 8 other equally good movies.

Javelina

The 160 ton 107 inch telescope at the McDonald Observatory.

Jameson controlling the 107 inch telescope.

2 comments:

Dez said...

Thanks for all the commentary on the pictures, baby. Oh, I wish I could have been there with you guys! What a memorable trip you all had. Can't wait to do it with you guys someday soon.

James Langston said...

Thanks babe. I am happy I have at least one person checking in. Looking forward to camping with you next time. Maybe Caddo Lake.