I really enjoyed your trip report. I moved away from west Texas late last summer, and I miss it much more than I thought I would.
Marfa isn't actually all that bad off - it's quite the art scene. There are several galleries, some artsy B&Bs and hotel, and perhaps the biggest surprise to me, a sizeable bookstore with cafe. Did you stop by the Marfa Prada exhibit? It's strange!
Thank you for the kind words! I really enjoyed my time down there and can't wait to return - it is a special place. Looks like I missed what Marfa has to offer as well.
Just got back from Big Bend last month. Hiked South Rim, Emory Peak etc. Beautiful place! Santiago Peak is another unique place on the earth. If I start a West Texas album, will you add 2 it?
the looks like a wounderful area. who ever said that deserts were ugly had obviously never been here. those are some great pictures. and a great way of using frequent flyer miles.
for the generous comments! Big Bend and Guadalupe are just wonderful. I'm glad a could share a few of their charms with the SP membership - not enough people make the trip down there.
I'm not gonna lie: yes, my home state is not what most would consider beautiful. and yet, there's something that makes me long for it even more each passing year I'm apart from it. Maybe it's the desert sunsets. Perhaps Honore de Balzac put it best: "In the desert, God is there. And man is not." There's just some mystery, something spiritual about the wildly wide-open spaces in West Texas...
I'm glad you were able to take in it for yourself, and thank you for so beautifully revealing it to others in your photography and words.
good to know there are some aggies that share the same passion for west texas, great report, gives anyone who write texas off a glimpse of what their missing. ps btho tu im class of 08
What a wonderful report! Big Bend is my favorite place on Earth. I just moved away from Texas and may not be able to do my annual trek to the park- you report helped ease the pain. :-) Did you take any pics of Casa Grande?
Your prose evokes your experiences and impressions quite well. I love these two parks and have visited them in both spring and summer, and yes, that wind is always there in Guadalupe.
If you ever get the chance, go in spring. In April 1999, I was in Montana when a blizzard hit the states up there and effectively ruined my plans. So I headed for Texas, making Big Bend in two days and going to Guadalupe later. What a difference! 90 degrees, sunshine, flowers blooming everywhere. One of the greatest experiences I ever had.
Interesting about the camels. Once, I saw an emu strolling along the road near Guadalupe Mts. N.P.
. . . and great photos too. I went up there from Florida (did they keep my signing of the summit book I wonder?). . . I miss it. . . gotta go back someday. You're right. . .it's out of the way a bit. . . but definately worth the trip - if you're thinking about going there. Try the Permian Reef Trail too. . .
I really enjoyed reading this and the photos are awesome.
I was camping in Big Bend few years ago. It still reminds one of my favourite places and Emory peak is the highest and longest hike I ever made my wife do with me :)
One of the best things about Big Bend were the stars. There are not many other places in USA and definitely nowhere in Europe where the sky is so pitch black and you can see TONS of stars, awesome
Nice travellogue to go along with the glorious photos. Big Bend and Guad Pk are TX highlights even if they are somewhat outliers - El Paso is closer to San Diego than to Houston. Next trip to the Bend, try a float trip through the Santa Elena Canyon - one of your pictures is taken on the eastern end. That is an enchanting place. so is the top of Guad Pk, especially in the late afternoon light in which you caught it. Great job.
grunt - Mar 1, 2007 6:26 pm - Voted 10/10
Great trip reportI really enjoyed your trip report. I moved away from west Texas late last summer, and I miss it much more than I thought I would.
Marfa isn't actually all that bad off - it's quite the art scene. There are several galleries, some artsy B&Bs and hotel, and perhaps the biggest surprise to me, a sizeable bookstore with cafe. Did you stop by the Marfa Prada exhibit? It's strange!
Your pictures are amazing!
mrwsierra - Mar 1, 2007 6:47 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Great trip reportThank you for the kind words! I really enjoyed my time down there and can't wait to return - it is a special place. Looks like I missed what Marfa has to offer as well.
MoapaPk - Mar 3, 2007 1:24 pm - Voted 10/10
it takes an artist...to elicit the true beauty in a desert landscape.
I lived in NM for 16 years, and always MEANT to get down to El Capitan/ Big Bend.
Eleutheros - Mar 3, 2007 5:15 pm - Voted 10/10
Right OnJust got back from Big Bend last month. Hiked South Rim, Emory Peak etc. Beautiful place! Santiago Peak is another unique place on the earth. If I start a West Texas album, will you add 2 it?
bakesesale - Mar 3, 2007 6:08 pm - Voted 10/10
amazingthe looks like a wounderful area. who ever said that deserts were ugly had obviously never been here. those are some great pictures. and a great way of using frequent flyer miles.
Aaron Johnson - Mar 3, 2007 6:27 pm - Voted 10/10
Nice!Well written and stunning photos!
mrwsierra - Mar 3, 2007 9:40 pm - Hasn't voted
Thanks everyone.....for the generous comments! Big Bend and Guadalupe are just wonderful. I'm glad a could share a few of their charms with the SP membership - not enough people make the trip down there.
tacoturner - Mar 4, 2007 3:27 am - Voted 10/10
Thanks for a great article!I'm not gonna lie: yes, my home state is not what most would consider beautiful. and yet, there's something that makes me long for it even more each passing year I'm apart from it. Maybe it's the desert sunsets. Perhaps Honore de Balzac put it best: "In the desert, God is there. And man is not." There's just some mystery, something spiritual about the wildly wide-open spaces in West Texas...
I'm glad you were able to take in it for yourself, and thank you for so beautifully revealing it to others in your photography and words.
ericnoel - Mar 4, 2007 4:20 am - Voted 10/10
Great ReportExcellent narrative and I love the super saturated colors of the photos as well. Nicely done.
Texjbq - Mar 4, 2007 5:24 pm - Voted 10/10
fellow aggiegood to know there are some aggies that share the same passion for west texas, great report, gives anyone who write texas off a glimpse of what their missing. ps btho tu im class of 08
Bassoon - Mar 4, 2007 7:27 pm - Hasn't voted
Soothe the Texan soulWhat a wonderful report! Big Bend is my favorite place on Earth. I just moved away from Texas and may not be able to do my annual trek to the park- you report helped ease the pain. :-) Did you take any pics of Casa Grande?
Bob Sihler - Mar 4, 2007 11:43 pm - Voted 10/10
ThanksYour prose evokes your experiences and impressions quite well. I love these two parks and have visited them in both spring and summer, and yes, that wind is always there in Guadalupe.
If you ever get the chance, go in spring. In April 1999, I was in Montana when a blizzard hit the states up there and effectively ruined my plans. So I headed for Texas, making Big Bend in two days and going to Guadalupe later. What a difference! 90 degrees, sunshine, flowers blooming everywhere. One of the greatest experiences I ever had.
Interesting about the camels. Once, I saw an emu strolling along the road near Guadalupe Mts. N.P.
Dan Dalton - Mar 5, 2007 1:03 am - Voted 10/10
All amazing...and high quality shots! Thanks for sharing. Some really really beautiful stuff, makes me want to head south a while...
Dan
sm176811 - Mar 5, 2007 10:57 am - Hasn't voted
Great PixAwesome Photos! What camera/Lens/Film did you use? I like the vibrant and saturated colors!
alto - Mar 5, 2007 10:14 pm - Voted 10/10
Great place. . . and great photos too. I went up there from Florida (did they keep my signing of the summit book I wonder?). . . I miss it. . . gotta go back someday. You're right. . .it's out of the way a bit. . . but definately worth the trip - if you're thinking about going there. Try the Permian Reef Trail too. . .
blakej - Mar 6, 2007 12:52 am - Hasn't voted
No way thats TXI can't possibly believe that is texas. Wow!!! Now I have to stop trashing the place and go see for myself. Great report.
bob adams - Mar 6, 2007 1:01 am - Hasn't voted
Very NiceYour TR and pictures make me want to do a winter hike in Big Bend.
gulo - Mar 6, 2007 4:59 am - Hasn't voted
niceI really enjoyed reading this and the photos are awesome.
I was camping in Big Bend few years ago. It still reminds one of my favourite places and Emory peak is the highest and longest hike I ever made my wife do with me :)
One of the best things about Big Bend were the stars. There are not many other places in USA and definitely nowhere in Europe where the sky is so pitch black and you can see TONS of stars, awesome
mtncorg - Mar 6, 2007 6:38 am - Voted 8/10
West is Best in TXNice travellogue to go along with the glorious photos. Big Bend and Guad Pk are TX highlights even if they are somewhat outliers - El Paso is closer to San Diego than to Houston. Next trip to the Bend, try a float trip through the Santa Elena Canyon - one of your pictures is taken on the eastern end. That is an enchanting place. so is the top of Guad Pk, especially in the late afternoon light in which you caught it. Great job.
ml96361 - Mar 7, 2007 8:15 am - Hasn't voted
picsvery nice