Chisos Brew

Big Bend.

We started out in the Chisos Basin and began our hike on the Pinnacle Trail.

three and a half miles later we were at the beginning of Emory Peak Trail. ~7000 ft.

The trail ended at the base of a steep hobble of boulders that jutted out of the mountain like the hand of some sort of helish golem. It wasn't so bad to climb up, but going down was scary as FUHHHHH. 7825 ft.

After coming off Emory Peak Trail, we took Boot Springs Trail. it was a sleek creek bed with boulders and deep little pools of water.  The trees blazed and blended into an invisible raging river. ~6800 ft
 

From Boot Spring to Boot Canyon Trail... and then up the steep inclines of the Northeast Rim. Talk about helllllllll, we had already done a little over seven miles and 2500 ft of climbing, and to be honest, the northeast side was not much of a looker-BUT tag on another five hundred feet of pure suffering just cause you can. ahhhhh. ~7400 ft



It got better as we ended up on the southeast side. not only prettier, but all the climbing was done too. But the winds! The winds raced, winding through pinyons, junipers, and golden grasses-the finish line, two thousand feet below, across miles of snaking canyons. There might have been no more steep inclines, but the environment sure did take your breath away. ~7400 ft





And then around to the Southwest Rim. By far the most amazing views were seen here. You could see straight over Santa Elena Canyon and into Mexico. ~7400 ft

 Our campsite was on the Southwest Rim, once we got there we opened our bottle of wine, got drunk, and went to sleep. When I woke up my camera was dead. So, no more pictures, really. I just know I can't wait to go back here. The canyons were so powerful; pictures couldn't have done them justice. You had to be there. And, well, I guess I'll just finish with that-I've procrastinated on this post entirely too long and just want it to be done.

the mynah

   "The physique of a Messiah. But too clever to believe in God or be convinced of his own mission. And too sensitive, even if he were convinced, to carry it out. His muscles would like to act and his feelings would like to believe; but his nerve endings and his cleverness won't allow it"

   "So I suppose he's very unhappy."
   "So unhappy that he has to laugh like a hyena."
   "Does he know he laughs like a hyena?"
   "Knows and is rather proud of it. Even makes epigrams about it. 'I'm the man who won't take yes for an answer.'"

WHOOP! WHOOP!

One of my goals is finally coming to fruition.I am Going to Big Bend National Park tomorrow. I will sleep with the scorpions and snuggle with serpents, climb cactus clipped mountains and wade across nations' borders.

LANDSQUID

theres a perfectly good reason why I have a squid on my head.
...
"raced" with the davisesesesss yesterday. it mostly consisted of me walking a lot and them waiting for me. I just wasn't feelin it. BUT when I unknowingly walked into the girl's changing tent afterwards-I must say, I was feelin that.

no reason to judge.

"all i have to do is wait 30 long days to get down from the rock and see sweet life again-knowing it's neither sweet nor bitter but just what it is, an so it is".

well,

I'm buying a car and spending all my money on gas and alcohol. it has been decided.

nice, nice, very nice

Thursday after work we started for the guadalupe mountains. We got there a little before midnight and slept in the shadows of towering monsters. The visitor's center didn't open til 8, so we had to wait for it to open to register and pay for access. We started out around 10am on the tejas trail and went from 5800 ft to 8000 ft then we headed west on the bush mountain trail. We reached bush mountain campsite @ 8300 ft around 3 pm, I'd say. That first day really took it out of me. we only had two liters per day when it was recommended to have at least a gallon-I could feel it in the form of migraines, who knows, it could've been the altitude.

bush mountain campsite 8300 ft

bush mountain campsite 8300 ft

bush mountain campsite 8300 ft

bush mountain trail 8400 ft

bush mountain trail 8400 ft

Saturday morning we started out at 8am for the peak and then north around the mountain to start the blue ridge trail to the east. Blue ridge was quite easy and uneventful, but had an awesome view of the clouds pouring out over frijole ridge.

bush mountain peak 8600 ft

bush mountain trail 8400 ft

Saturday night we spent at mescalero @ 7400ft, which probably was a bad idea because of its altitude.... early in the morning the clouds came in and we were right in the middle of them. It was around 34 degrees fahrenheit and you couldn't see more than three feet infront of you. The water vapor in the air was unbearable-I thought I was gonna freeze. We left at 6am, no longer being able to stand our sleeping conditions.

tejas trail 7300 ft

Starting back for the car on the tejas trail, we went up to 8000 ft and back down to 5700 ft. Talk about struggle, but it was worth it. I just wish I got to stand at the top of guadalupe peak and el capitan. maybe next time.

tejas trail 7200 ft

tejas trail 7000 ft

for the Record

I do have an amazing friend here who has many similar interests.

PLUS, he has a camera phone that takes fancy pictures, +1 Davis, -1 Delgado.

desert speaks

of the captain's peak.

in twelve days I will be overlooking that peak and the serene chihuahuan desert.
to the empty skies and cold, cold nights I'll look upon with wondering eyes
of blinking stars and speeding clouds. I know that I will think of you.

I sure hope I figure out what the fuck I'm gonna do.
80 more days until I'm out of the army. not sure anymore if I'm doing the right thing...
I must embrace my fear of the unknown. I've never truly taken a risk in all my life.

on another note, I'll make sure to bring my camera to THIS trip, I always seem to freaking forget it when I go places... probably won't get a chance to post them until I come back from florida on the 13th of october, though.

tear him away

from past refractions
splitting tween souls of heartless people.

I won't hold still much longer.

hmmm hmmm hmmm

right now its time to bike bike bike
I'll take all day and night

to say that our pursuit is about security and a meaningful life
well, taste the skies after climbing high on a two wheeled adventurous ride and tell me again.

cause I'll tell you to go fuck yourself.

bike bike bike
it's the way I'm gonna die.

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I feel like such a hypocrite for criticizing others around me for not valuing the present or being so dependent on the decisions of others when I too can only wish to be back home, surrounded by people who are outgoing and spontaneous. I miss home. and I can't find one interesting thing to do here alone, but also can not find anyone to go bike riding, hiking, swimming, or who finds a little enjoyment from debating or learning from another. they're all so preoccupied with selling their spin on old ideas. I just miss those who have more to talk about than sex, drugs, and their own narcississtic ramblings. I also miss being in something other than an urban shithole. /end.