Big Bend National Park - a few photos

[Ash]

Had about 6 days back at Big Bend National Park over Thanksgiving. It was very cold and we arrived to snow all over the Chisos. Unfortunately in our hurry to get into the Chisos campground before they shut the road, we didn't take any pictures of the snow. Remarkably, and very disappointingly, inside the basin was snow free! Just a lot of ice. Anyway, 2 nights in the Chisos, and the rest around the park.

Walking to the Window - Chisos Basin

At the Window

View from a short hike above the Window trail, looking NW

View from the South Rim - day hike out and back

Another at South Rim

View of the Chisos from the desert, just off the main road to Rio Grande

Mariscal Mines - old mercury mine

Cactus with Elephant Tusk in the background

Similar location - note the volcanics in the foreground

Mariscal Canyon - just amazing, and often neglected, make an effort to see this gem!

1500ft canyon walls in Texas!

From our campsite near the Mariscal Canyon trail - very peaceful

I'll add a few other pics tonight.


My love affair with BBNP continues...

Ash

 

[mkitchen]

Wow! Great pics

You got some very nice pictures of the park. It gives the area a whole different perspective. Going to have to add this one to our list.
Thanks
Mikey

 

[_m_urph]

Very beautiful pictures a friend and I were just talking about making a trip to Big Bend. How's the wheeling out there?

 

[xjaugie]

Great Photos, thanks you just added another place on my "need to get to" list...

 

[roverrocks]

Beautiful photos of an exquisite landscape I've never been to. Gotta get down that way before I get too old and infirm.

 

[JHa6av8r]

Until seeing these pictures I would have never thought of going to Texas to camp.

 

[Allof75]

Definitely on my list of go-to camping spots now! Thanks!

 

[gm13]

That place almost redeems Texas imo:sombrero: Nice shots and with a rangefinder too, not that Leicas are light but they make a compact travel kit. Looks wide, CV 15/4.5?

 

[Ash]

You got some very nice pictures of the park. It gives the area a whole different perspective. Going to have to add this one to our list.
Thanks
Mikey

Thanks. The park has a very diverse geology, which makes it fantastic. The volcanic influence is stunning. The Chisos Mountains are intrusive volcanics, and throughout the park you see dykes and extrusives. In a 5 minute walk you can go from marine shales, to limestone to volcanics.

Very beautiful pictures a friend and I were just talking about making a trip to Big Bend. How's the wheeling out there?

The 'wheeling' is limited. Black Gap road is the toughest road, but any two wheel drive pickup could do it (in the dry). Big Bend State Park has more wheeling, but I haven't done it.

Great Photos, thanks you just added another place on my "need to get to" list...

Beautiful photos of an exquisite landscape I've never been to. Gotta get down that way before I get too old and infirm.

Until seeing these pictures I would have never thought of going to Texas to camp.

It's basically northern Mexico...

Definitely on my list of go-to camping spots now! Thanks!

My pleasure.

That place almost redeems Texas imo:sombrero: Nice shots and with a rangefinder too, not that Leicas are light but they make a compact travel kit. Looks wide, CV 15/4.5?

All taken with my M8 and 28mm Summicron. The 28mm is a 35mm on the M8 (1.33 crop). I tried hard to give them an expansive look when I took the photos, but it's tough with a 35mm. I'm buying an M9 and 18mm soon... It goes to show how versatile a 35mm is.

Same shot as posted above but a landscape version:

Our favourite campsite, Talley 2 are the southern end of the park near the Rio Grande, and the Mariscal Canyon

 

[PetitFrereArmada]

Wow, awesome shots.

 

[NMC_EXP]

Ash

Excellent photos - thanks. I've added BBNP to my list as well.

Questions:

--Have you spent any time in the Davis Mtns of Texas. If so, is the area worth a visit?

--Are you a geologist?

Regards

Jim

 

[soonenough]

Great photos! How long did it take you to get out there from Houston? I've been wanting to go out there for years and just never have forced myself to take a long weekend away from the day-to-day. Thanks for sharing :sombrero:

 

[Ash]

Ash

Excellent photos - thanks. I've added BBNP to my list as well.

Questions:

--Have you spent any time in the Davis Mtns of Texas. If so, is the area worth a visit?

--Are you a geologist?

Regards

Jim

I have not had a chance to get to the Davis Mountains - but I would like to. And yes, I am a geologist, albeit an office geologist who never touches rocks...

Great photos! How long did it take you to get out there from Houston? I've been wanting to go out there for years and just never have forced myself to take a long weekend away from the day-to-day. Thanks for sharing :sombrero:

From Houston it will be around 10 hours to get into the heart of the park (well past the entry point). That's taking it pretty easy on the drive over. If you can, definitely get out there, it is truly world class.

 

[huachuca]

Ash, thanks so much for posting - great pictures. Bummer that you didn't have snow in the Basin. We were camped at SW4 on the South Rim a few years back when a storm dropped a couple of inches of snow on us - a sight and experience we'll never forget. Family and friends think we're crazy to drive from NC to BB but we've been making the trip as often as we can since 78. We were thrown out shortly after our arrival last year due to the shutdown and didn't have a chance to get out much but the pictures help - thanks again.

Al

 

[WeeJeep2]

Ash,

Nice report and pics. We've covered much of the park but haven't done the hike up to the top of Mariscal canyon yet. Time to add that one to the list to catch the view from up there. From a few years back the warning signs for vehicle break ins near the river area always had us more up in the interior for hikes, but we've had no issues with camping down there.

We hope to make it down before Spring Break this year but will probably hit the state park to continue exploration there.

Bill