Texas Nov 10-16 2024

 

A few of us went to Carlsbad caverns in New Mexico and Big Bend National park in Texas. We also did a hike in Guadalupe national park. We traveled to Tucson AZ The first day to pick up Anne who flew in from Florida. Then proceeded to Carlsbad New Mexico the next day.

Our first morning in Tucson.

Carlsbad caverns require timed entry permits in advance for the self guided tour. We made a reservation for 8:30 AM and also 2:30 PM to make full use of the day. The Ranger tours were filled up a month in advance but in the slow season you can get a walk in tour if you  get in line before 8:00 and are lucky. They hold back 20 slots for the ranger tour for daily use and we were lucky to get one. Out plan now was to do the early self guided tour of the Big Room and then do the ranger tour of Kings Gallery then go back and do more of the Big Room in the afternoon. We spent a total of 6 hours in the cave and saw enough that we don't  have to go back.

This is the entrance to the cave. The route through the Big Room is about 2 miles long and descends 750 feet. There is an elevator to return to the surface.

Cell phones can take adequate pictures in the cave if you get close to your subject and don't do much zoom. I had another camera that can take photos in the dark without a tripod (or mono pod) which is not allowed in the cave.

They call this pop corn

A reflection pool

Another reflection pool

Soda straws.

After Carlsbad we passed Guadalupe National Park and decided to do the Devils Hall hike. About 4 miles and about 700 ft gain. Up a wash to a narrow section of canyon. The Fall colors were not expected. Mostly maple trees.

There was one spot where you had to pass a steep section on small ledges.

Madrone tree.

Painted Lady butterfly

Devils Hall

Then we were in Big Bend National park where we did 3 hikes. Lost Mine trail, Santa Elena canyon, and Pine Canyon.

On the Lost Mine trail

A good trail that is mostly wooded and gains about 1000 ft in about 3 miles one way,

Near the highpoint where you could look out to the other side of the ridge.

Our last hike in Big Bend was Santa Elena canyon on the Mexican border.

Santa Elena canyon. This is the border with Mexico but we didn't see any migrants.

The next to last hike was Pine Canyon which requires about 6 miles of dirt road driving . It goes to a heavily wooded canyon with a high wall at the top. Much like Big Falls on Mt Charleston but dry this time of year,

The Drive back to Tucson Airport is over 600 miles so we left at dawn and saw a moon and a Sunrise. 

Roadside art in West Texas. Near Marfa.

Soaptree Yuccas on the side of the road.

More roadside art.

Giant yucca unidentified.