Big Bend - 2026

 I was in Big Bend week before last ( I know since retiring I don't post as quickly as I did when I worked full-time). It was an amazing trip and I really enjoyed it. I took it a bit easier this year and didn't pack my days with activities and took some time to relax at my campsite. I'm glad I did as I've been so busy since returning home starting preparations for my upcoming trip to Peru.

I hiked close to 30 miles over four days. The longest was 13 miles on the South Rim Trail. 1650 feet in elevation gain (1200 in the first 4 miles). I also hiked the Grapevine Hills trail to the Balanced Rock, Lost Mines Trail (my favorite) and then a few shorter trails. 

The South Rim trail was on my bucket list. Last year I just did not feel confident to attempt it. I knew though that I would do my best to get back and do it. The first four miles is the Pinnacles Trail up to the base of Emory Peak (I hiked just this part last year). It was so much easier this year. I have really become much stronger and faster on my hikes. I started at 5:45 am and hiked the first two miles in the dark with my headlamp. I then enjoyed the sunrise for the next two. After the first four miles uphill, it has more gentle ups and downs for the next 2 miles. It goes through a canyon and then goes up to the East Rim of the Chisos Mountains. It then continues on around to the South Rim with views well across the miles into Mexico. The trail then heads downhill thought Laguna Meadows for about five miles before reconnecting with the main trail back to the trail head. The final two miles were the hardest as I was hot (temps were in the low 80's) the weight of my backpack was also taking a toll on my shoulders. I completed the hike within my targeted time (7.5 hours hiking and 1.5 hours  snack breaks and lunch). The early start put me on the trail alone. I only ever passed the occasional hiker going in the opposite direction. I found the solitude so healing. To be alone looking out across the miles with only the sound of nature. Magnificent!

Day two was a new moon so the stars would be glorious. So I arose at 4:00 am and drove out to the Sotol Overlook and just took in the beauty of the star filled sky. I stayed and watched the sky brighten and saw the most amazing sunrise. It has to be the most beautiful one I have ever experienced. The cloud formation was perfect for the sky to blaze with color. I was in awe.

Day three I left my campsite while it was still dark. I had a 7 mile drive down a rough and rocky road to get to Grapevine Trail and the Balanced Rock. It was a slow drive, rarely getting above 15 mph and at times preceding at a crawl. The hike itself is only a 2 mile out and back trek. I managed to turn it into a 3 mile hike as I missed a turn on what looked like a trail but was just a wash down the hillside. I did get back on the trail and made it to the wonderful view at the Balanced Rock. 

I saved my favorite trail for my final day - the Lost Mine Trail. I started early so I would be at the 3/4 mile overlook for the sunrise. It was another stunning one. The summit was very windy so I didn't venture out to the rocky peak. But the views were still wonderful. 

I love Big Bend National Park. It is a truly amazing wilderness area with mountains, deserts, canyons and the Rio Grande River. The scenic vistas just take my breathe away. It is a place that heals my soul and recharges my energy. The vast open space and dark night skies are a gift, but just days after returning home the Trump administration announced plans to build a border wall right through the park. My heart broke. I am angry, sad, and ready to fight. I cannot imagine the idiocy that is driving this decision. It will be an ecological and environmental disaster. It will destroy huge areas of the park. It will negatively impact the movement of wildlife as they search for food and water. I find myself at times fighting back the tears.

Please click this link for more information and a link to sign a petition to stop the Wall.  https://nobigbendwall.org/

Pictures from my trip...

South Rim

Sunrise from the Sotol Vista

Balanced Rock/Grapevine Hills Trail

Lost Mine Trail

Misc. Photos...

Terlingua - Ghost Town just outside the western side of the park.

New Trail

 The weeks are flying by. I can't believe it is already February. I'll be heading off to Peru before I know it. First though I have Big Bend NP coming up soon. It will be an adventure this time as the Chisos Basin where I will be based is currently without water service and I expect it still will be when I arrive. Port-a-potties are in place and they are telling everyone to bring all the water that they will need while there. Luckily I had been saving jugs of tap water the past nine months as we have had numerous boil water notices here at home. So I will have that to use for washing up and then my purchased jugs of spring water to consume.

Yesterday (Sunday February 1), I went hiking at Inks Lake State Park. It was my first time there. They have a five mile loop trail that looked like it would be a perfect hike for a cool winters day. The drive is about 80 minutes from where I live so it wasn't too bad of a drive. The trail I took is a combination of three trails to create the southern loop trail. The length was right at five miles. The trail has a good balance of terrain and views. There were rocks, boulders and stone formations, wooded areas, lake views and lake front and then hills with panoramic views across the area for miles all around. The trail was mostly well marked with few exceptions. I was glad to have the map downloaded from my All trails app. The weather was perfect, clear and sunny with a starting low of 40f to a completion high of 55f. I would classify this trail as moderate, but leaning towards the easier end of it. I never felt challenged, but I did get a good workout. This trail would be perfect for someone ready to level up from easy trails to moderate trails. 

I will be returning soon to hike the Devil's Backbone trail there and will be a regular on this Southern Loop trail. I liked it that much! They also have a tent camping area so I might look into that for a future trip.

Here are a few pictures from the hike.

Another Trip Around the Sun and Another Summit of Enchanted Rock

 I quietly celebrated my 67th birthday a few weeks back. I delayed my annual trip to Enchanted Rock due to way above average temperatures and the crowds that descend there during the holiday break. So this past Monday (January 12th) the forecast called for cooler weather and mostly overcast skies. Perfect for hiking the trails there as there is very little to no shade. It was in the low 40's (Fahrenheit) when I began and was in the low 60's when I finished. 

First up was the Summit trail. 1.2 miles round trip 500+ feet altitude gain. I first did this trail for my 65th birthday. I had just started hiking and doing some simple workouts at home. It took me 40+ minutes to get to the top. I had to stop frequently and pick out the route cautiously. I was so proud though to have made it to the top. When I went for my 66th birthday my two youngest kids went along with me. I was in better shape and had been working out at the gym for about 7-8 months. I had also completed the Manitou Incline four months prior. it took me 30 minutes to get to the top. It was much easier and I didn't stop as often. This year for my 67th birthday I was expecting to do maybe slightly better than the last one. As I stood at the trail-head and looked up, I felt like it had increased in altitude by100 feet. I don't know why it looked so daunting, but I came to conquer. Conquer it I did! I only paused once on my way up and that was to check my pulse rate. I did it in 22 minutes. I was shocked, excited and proud that  my fitness level had improved that much. It was so easy to do this year. Not bad for a 67 year old.

After completing the Summit trail I headed out on the Loop Trail. at 5.2 miles it is the longest trail in the park. It is a moderately easy trail with a few hills, lots of rock and gravel. The scenery is nice (even in the winter) and on a quiet weekday there were only a few other people about. It was a really nice hike and I completed it about 45 minutes ahead of my targeted time. 

My trips to the gym lately are still a bit irregular. Life has a way of interrupting plans and schedules. Today I will be sitting home waiting for a plumber to come install a new toilet. I have also adjusted a few planned workouts due to just being tired and worn out.  I had my flu shot last week and it hit me with a few restless nights and low energy so I skipped one day and lightened my workout on another. I did purchase a weighted back-pack. I'll have to wear it for short spells before I start working out with it on. I just will need to get used to it.

A few pictures from my hike....

Year-end Update

 Christmas has come and gone. It was a calm and uneventful few days. The weather was very warm and well above average. It really did not feel like December at all. My two youngest were here. We went for an early morning hike at Mother Neff State Park. We took King and Uisce with us, so it was a fast paced hike. It felt so good to get out. I had been craving a walk in the woods. It was very healing to walk among the trees. When we returned home we had our traditional Christmas brunch of Smoked Salmon Benedict and mimosas. Then we opened our gifts. My daughter shopped my Amazon wish-list and got me most of the things I was needing for my trips next year. We spent the afternoon relaxing before having a nice dinner of baked salmon and butternut squash stuffed with red curry rice. Both of those were new recipes and will probably become our traditional meal. They were both so good!

I have been sticking to my workouts. My energy level had been pretty low after my trip to Guadalupe Mountains. But I am getting back to where I was. Stair-master has been 1250 - 2000 and the treadmill is an hour with 35 minutes at 15% incline. Yesterday I did just do the treadmill and completed an hour at 15% and then 3% to -3% for thirty minutes. 

I looked back to my post from the end of last year. I am still at about the same level I was at this time last year. I am just going to the gym 5 days a week instead of 2 days. I'm not really pushing myself to go any harder as I don't want to wear out this old body. I am thinking of adding a weight training day to my workouts. I need to build up my strength to make it a bit easier to handle the weight of my backpack. 

Flights and hotel are booked for Peru! Flights are very affordable for March/April travel. Not much difference between them and a US domestic flight/hotel. It was in fact cheaper than a flight /hotel package to Alaska for winter travel to see the Aurora Borealis. I have not booked that trip, but I am keeping my eye on the Aurora and weather forecast for a possible last minute trip. 

Five more days until we ring in 2026. I am so excited for what the year will bring. I am most excited about the volunteer opportunities. The treks have me a bit nervous, but determined and excited to take them on. I know that the sights I will see and the experience of hiking in the Andes and Himalayas will be life changing. 

Here's to 2026! May it be a year of safe and incredible adventures.

Christmas Day hike at Mother Neff.

Just an update...

 The holiday season has had me a bit distracted from updating here. There hasn't been much excitement and the days have been passing too quickly, but uneventfully. I did finally get confirmation of my two-day Inca Trail trek yesterday. I am now in the process of trying to find flights and lodging for the last few days of my stay there. I've a few more things to get in place for my volunteer placement. I will do that in January. 

I have spent the last three months keeping an eye on the weather conditions in Nepal. By this time next year I will just be returning home. When I arrive in Kathmandu in September it will be quite warm and rainy. Salleri will be mild, but wet. By the time I start my trek in November winter will be ramping up. It doesn't get too cold in Salleri, but if I trek all the way to Gorak Shep and Everest Base Camp it can be in the single digits there. I had been thinking of a stop-over in Singapore on my way back home. But when I looked at the forecast, I changed my mind. High's are in the  upper 80's to Low 90's with rain every day. I am thinking instead of maybe going to Seoul instead. I might just come straight home. It will really depend on the airfares at the time.

My workouts are going well. I haven't been doing as many steps on the stair-master, but I notice I am much stronger on it. My treadmill workouts are still the same, just have become easier as I get stronger. I have also been going hiking at Mother Neff State Park once a week. I do 3.25- 3.5 miles each visit. I have my son's dog for the month and take him with me. He keeps the pace pretty fast. It has been a good workout. 

I do have my annual birthday hike to Enchanted Rock planned for early next year. My birthday is the end of the month, but in years past the park is so busy then, it has left me thinking that I might just wait until early January. I will keep an eye on the weather and then decide. Big Bend is reserved for 5 days in February and I am really looking forward to returning there. I need to get my confidence back up after the Guadalupe Mountains fiasco. 

Merry Christmas to all.