In March, 2015 a job assignment in San Antonio, Texas gave me the opportunity to visit Big Bend National Park. I spent two nights camping at Stillwell Ranch and did several hikes. I did a long hike in the Chisos Mountains to Emory Peak and the South Rim, and also hiked to The Chimneys and in Santa Elena Canyon. (Photos)
In January of 2016 I returned to San Antonio for another work assignment. This time I was able to spend 5 days hiking and camping in the Guadalupe Mountains and Big Bend. I spent the first few nights at the Pine Springs Campground in Guadalupe Mountains National Park. On the first full day I visited Carlsbad Caverns, in New Mexico, where I took the Kings Palace tour and explored the Big Room on my own. (Photos) The next day I planned to hike to Mount Hunter, but a blizzard that morning made me reconsider. Instead, I hiked the Devil's Den slot canyon, which was beautiful in the snow. (Photos) On my final day in the park I finally hiked to the summit of Guadalupe Peak, the highest mountain in Texas. (Photos) I finished my trip with 2 days of backpacking in the Chisos Mountains in Big Bend National Park. (Photos)
