Tag: traveling

Milky Way Photos and Hiking Out of the Chisos Mountains

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Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 18mm, f/2.8, 25 sec, ISO3200
 “Milky Way” Big Bend, 2021

This morning I woke up at 5 am and right outside my tent was the Milky Way. It was awesome! I got out my Fujifilm X-E4 with 18-55 mm lens, put it on the Ultrapod and took a few shots. There were only a few clouds in the sky so the shots looked pretty good, and I even captured a few shooting stars. In fact, with the 30-second exposure, almost every shot had at least one shooting star in it. It was so cool!

Photo info: Apple iPhone 12 mini, 1.55mm, f/2.4, 1/1000 sec, ISO25
 “Sunrise” Big Bend, 2021

Soon, the sun made its way into the day, and after a sunrise photo and some coffee, it was time to hit the trail. We hiked Laguna Meadows Trail all the way down to the Chisos Basin, seeing one large bear along the way. It was digging a hole near the trail so we had to scoot past pretty quickly, bear-spray at the ready. Very exciting!

At the end of the hike, I splurged on a Topo Chico and mango ice cream bar before we hit the road. After a couple of hours we arrived at Fort Stockton and had lunch at Pepito’s, where I had a huge burger. It was a good way to satisfy my hiker hunger!

Photo info: Apple iPhone 12 mini, 1.55mm, f/2.4, 1/1250 sec, ISO25
 “Refreshments” Big Bend, 2021

Here are a few more photos and the Strava track from the last day of our Big Bend trip. Enjoy!

Photo info: Apple iPhone 12 mini, 1.55mm, f/2.4, 1/480 sec, ISO25
 “Switchback” Big Bend, 2021
Photo info: Apple iPhone 12 mini, 1.55mm, f/2.4, 1/950 sec, ISO25
 “Laguna Meadows Trail” Big Bend, 2021
Photo info: Apple iPhone 12 mini, 1.55mm, f/2.4, 1/5300 sec, ISO25
 “Casa Grande” Big Bend, 2021
Photo info: Apple iPhone 12 mini, 4.2mm, f/1.6, 1/60 sec, ISO500
 “Pepito’s Burger” Fort Stockton, 2021
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 18mm, f/2.8, 20 sec, ISO3200
 “Triple Shooting Stars” Big Bend, 2021

Hiking the Chisos Mountains

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Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 27.7mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec, ISO320
 “Hiking to Boot Canyon” Big Bend, 2021

After a strenuous hike yesterday, we were looking forward to an easier day on the trail. But first, we had an early morning visit from some deer as we broke down our campsite and had a quick breakfast. Then we hit the trail and hiked to Boot Springs to see if there was any water flowing from the pipe (there wasn’t).

After a short rest at the cabin, we headed up to the North Rim where we enjoyed the awesome views, eventually making our way to the South Rim 3 campsite, where we’d spend the night. SR3 is an excellent site, with a great view of Mule Ears and Santa Elena Canyon in the distance. It was so cool to watch the changing light on the landscape below.

Here are a few snapshots from today’s hike and campsite, a time-lapse I recorded during our dinner, and also the Strava track:

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 55mm, f/5, 1/30 sec, ISO3200
 “Morning Visit” Big Bend, 2021
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 18mm, f/6.4, 1/200 sec, ISO320
 “Fading Light” Big Bend, 2021
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 18mm, f/5.6, 1/4000 sec, ISO320
 “Sun Through Clouds” Big Bend, 2021
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 55mm, f/5.6, 1/1400 sec, ISO320
 “Distant Canyon” Big Bend, 2021
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 18mm, f/5.6, 1/2700 sec, ISO320
 “South Rim View” Big Bend, 2021
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 18mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 sec, ISO160
 “Clouds Over Mexico” Big Bend, 2021
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 55mm, f/4, 1/1700 sec, ISO160
 “Prickly Pear Bloom” Big Bend, 2021
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 18mm, f/6.4, 1/1250 sec, ISO320
 “South Rim View” Big Bend, 2021
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 18mm, f/6.4, 1/1250 sec, ISO320
 “Shadows Down Below” Big Bend, 2021
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 18mm, f/5.6, 1/950 sec, ISO320
 “Fire Damage” Big Bend, 2021
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 18mm, f/5.6, 1/950 sec, ISO320
 “Fire Damage” Big Bend, 2021
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 30.2mm, f/6.4, 1/1600 sec, ISO320
 “Casa Grande” Big Bend, 2021
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 18mm, f/5, 1/30 sec, ISO200
 “Morning Sun” Big Bend, 2021

Day One of the Big Bend Backpacking Trip

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Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 18mm, f/6.4, 1/1600 sec, ISO320
 “Big Bend” Texas, 2021

Today two friends and I made the trip from Austin out to Big Bend National Park for a few days of camping and backpacking. The drive out was pretty cool, with lots of interesting clouds to take photos of. And when we arrived at the trailhead, the weather was just about perfect. We still had some cloud cover as we made our way from the Chisos Basin up Pinnacles Trail to today’s destination of TM1 (Toll Mountain) campsite.

While on the trail, we came across three black bears. They were looking for food and didn’t mind us taking photos and watching them for a while. It was our first time to see a bear at Big Bend so we were all stoked!

The top of Pinnacles Trail is pretty tough, especially with heavy backpacks, but we made it to the top successfully. It was at the junction of the TM1 campsite, Pinnacles Trail, and Emory Peak Trail that we saw the evidence of the fires that swept through the Chisos. Lots of trees were blackened and burnt, and the smell of burnt wood lingered in the air. Luckily, the campsite was untouched so we were able to set up our tents, cook dinner, and then fall asleep pretty quickly. We were all worn out from the hike, and also the long day of driving.

Here are a few snapshots and Strava data from today. Enjoy!

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 28.9mm, f/5.6, 1/680 sec, ISO160
 “Distant Rain” Marathon, 2021
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 18mm, f/6.4, 1/1250 sec, ISO160
 “Circular Cloud” Marathon, 2021
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 34.3mm, f/5.6, 1/750 sec, ISO160
 “Anvil Cloud” Texas, 2021
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 34.3mm, f/5.6, 1/340 sec, ISO320
 “Mirror Selfie” Big Bend, 2021
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 55mm, f/5, 1/240 sec, ISO160
 “Bears” Big Bend, 2021
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 55mm, f/4, 1/160 sec, ISO160
 “Prickly Pear” Big Bend, 2021
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 18mm, f/3.2, 1/100 sec, ISO160
 “Burnt” Big Bend, 2021
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 18mm, f/4, 1/30 sec, ISO3200
 “Sunset” Big Bend, 2021

Travel Day

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Photo info: Apple iPhone 12 mini, 4.2mm, f/1.6, 1/4300 sec, ISO32
 “Rest Stop” Arizona, 2021

Heading back to Texas, but stopping for the evening in New Mexico! Two bicycles along for the ride. 😀🚲🚲

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 27mm, f/3.6, 1/180 sec, ISO320
 “Rear-View Sunset” New Mexico, 2021

Overnight at a Highway Rest Stop

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Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 18mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec, ISO320
 “New Mexico Rest” Deming, 2021

Today I am in the middle of a road trip from our home in Texas to my parents’ house in California. The trip will take two days of driving, but instead of staying at a hotel, I decided to save money and either find a free campsite or stay at a Walmart parking lot (yes, this is a thing!). The rest stop just east of Deming, New Mexico popped up in the map and the reviews were pretty good. I figured I’d check it out and, sure enough, it was pretty nice! I parked by one of the picnic tables and made it my home for the evening.

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 18mm, f/5.6, 1/850 sec, ISO320
 “New Mexico Sunset” Deming, 2021

I think there were about 4 other groups doing the same thing, either in their RVs or passenger cars, and I felt very safe. I’m used to camping so this was pretty similar, although I just laid out my sleeping pad and sleeping bag in the back of my car instead of pitching my tent.

I’d say that this is not for everyone, but I’m simply on a long drive to get from point A to point B and not sightseeing. I honestly just wanted to get some sleep before continuing the drive. That being said, I did get to catch a wonderful sunset, and I was able to have dinner (a sandwich I made at home) while video chatting with family. So, it was a pretty good night. 😄