Big Bend 2011

Big Bend National Park-   March 23-27

No year is complete without the annual pilgrimage to Big Bend (a great place to rendezvous with friends and spend time exploring and hiking). This year's casual band of  hikers included Larry and Debbie Bailey(Victoria), Paul and Cathy Reinermann(Schroeder), Ed and Cathy Waley (Elgin), Mike Sanders(Kerrville), Dwight and Debbie Scott(Houston/Victoria), Archie Rison, (Dallas) and son, Marlon (Dallas) and Sally and I.

                                       Javalina

Sunset from lodge

   Ernst tinaja - a natural rock formation that holds water

Ernst tinaja hiking trail

               Ernst tinaja hiking trail

                           Archie(big bear) Rison

Paul, Ed and I climbed up canyon wall to explore cave

                  Rock formations in Ernst tinaja canyon

Ernst tinaja canyon hiking trail

Ernst tinaja canyon hike

Sally and I in Ernst tinaja canyon

  Resting place of large animal (suspect mountain lion)

                   Coyote in Rio Grande Village campground

Marlon, Jesus(Boquillas resident) and Archie at Rio Grande

Indian mortar holes in limestone ledge above Rio Grande river on Boquillas Canyon trail

                   Dinner at the Chisos Mountain Lodge

             Group shot on Window trail

                    rabbit on the Window trail

      Standing in the window are two of three Darwin survivers.. Where is Ed?

Snack time at the window

From highpoint of Oak Spring trail.. two more miles to parked cars out on the desert. Look close and you might find the parked cars

After long day of hiking, cold beers and sharing philsophy on the porch at Terlingua store

No dehydrated meals for this hiking group... instead it was a great steak dinner at Terlingua's Starlight Theater

    Grapevine hills trail

       Grapevine Hills trail

       Grapevine Hills trail

      Claret-cup cactus blooming

Got a lead from ranger that mother bear and three cubs had been coming to water in the evening at water treatment lagoon. We hiked to the lagoon and didn't see a bear but got this shot of large adult bear footprint.