Buck Mountian – New Mexico
While on a church retreat near Angus, NM I took a morning hike to 7,755 foot Buck Mountain. Starting at the retreat center we followed an old jeep trial into the Lincoln National forest. We looped around counter clockwise to the back side of Buck Mountain following a small stream for most of the way before heading up the west side. Once on top we found some Elk tracks and took in the view. We came back down on the
Mount Livermore – Summit attempt – Davis Mountain Preserve, Texas
For more information please see my newest report on Mount Livermore. After much anticipation I finally made it out to The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) Davis Mountain Preserve (DMP) in an attempt to summit Mount Livermore and Baldy Peak. The davis mountain range is the most extensive and second highest range in Texas. Mount Livermore and Baldy Peak (which sits on top of Livermore) is the tallest mountain in the Davis range at 8378 feet. Blue line is the jeep road,
Lighthouse Trail – Palo Duro Canyon, Texas
Saturday morning of our trip to Palo Duro my family and I set out to hike the parks most popular trail to the lighthouse. Palo Duro is the second largest canyon in the United States and the Lighthouse is her signature formation. Every year thousands of people set out to hike the 3 miles (6 round trip) to the base of the formation and this Saturday was no different Palo Duro Canyon viewed from the canyon rim.. We set out about
Palo Duro Canyon – Sunflower Trail
Palo Duro canyon in the Texas Panhandle is the second largest canyon in the United States. The Canyon is close to 120 miles long and 6.2 miles wide on average, but reaches a width of 20 miles wide in some places. Its depth varies between approximately 820 feet to 997 feet. Palo Duro Canyon has been nicknamed "The Grand Canyon of Texas," due to its size and dramatic geological features. The Canyon was cut by the Prairie Dog Town Fork
Willam’s Ranch – Guadalupe Mountians National Park, Texas
Just off of hwy 62, about 7.3 miles down a rough jeep road, an old ranch house sits at the foot of Texas’ highest peaks. The blue ranch house with its steeply gabled roof looks somewhat out of place among the open desert landscape. It must have felt out of place, as well, when the builder had the lumber hauled 70 miles by mule from Van Horn, Texas. you can’t help but wonder how hard it must have
Devil’s Hall – Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas
Saturday I headed back out to Guadalupe Mountains National Park to do some hiking and take some pictures. With me was a photography student whom I have been working with on some landscape photography. Because the student had not hiked much before, we tried to avoid any serious elevation gain and choose to hike to Devils Hall.Looking up we cold see the pine forests that grow in the upper elevations of Guadalupe PeakHiking along the dry stream bed of Pine
Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico
Late last year we took my daughter and her cousins to the famous Carlsbad Caverns. We rented the electronic audio tour and opted to follow the natural entrance into the caves. We passed by the amphitheater seating where visitors can sit to watch the bats emerge from the cave at dusk. The bat flight program is open Memorial Day through mid-October. Don’t expect to come and get pictures of the bats…no cameras are allowed during bat flight. Having come
Active Agion Anti-Stink Test – Enchanted Rock, Texas
This last Friday I wore the Active Agion test shirt as a base layer during a day hike at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. I climbed to the three highest points in the park, summiting the highest point twice. Up and down four different times with a sum total elevation gain of approximately 1500 to 2000 feet. You can read the full report of my Enchanted Rock hike. By the end of the day I was worn out and had
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, Texas
Last Friday I drove down to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area.Enchanted Rock is a enormous pink granite (affectionately known as Texas Pink Granite) batholith located 15 miles north of Fredericksburg, Texas. The rock received its name from the Tonkawa Indians who believed they could see ghost fires near the summit after nightfall. The Tonkawa Indians also reported strange creaking and groaning coming from the rock at night. We now know these sounds are from the rock heating during the day
So little time….
I spent all day Friday at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area near Fredericksburg, Texas. I have a lot to share with little time to post it. Here are a couple of pictures to tied you over until I can do the trip justice. Enchanted Rock summit trail with Turkey Peak in the background.Enchanted Rock viewed from the Echo Canyon Trail