Cresting The Dodson Trail reaches its crest here. Now it's all downhill to the Home Wilson Ranch, where we have stashed our water for the rest of the trip. This is also our first view of Point 4817, the mount...

Going clockwise on the #OuterMountainLoop, the #DodsonTrail crests here. The #trail makes a scenic, winding descent to the #HomerWilsonRanch behind the distinctive peak - unofficially named #CarouselMountain.

#photography #outdoors #nature #nationalparks #backpacking #BigBend
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Tusk Elephant Tusk, seen from the Dodson Trail. The Elephant Tusk Trail provides access from the Dodson Trail (backpacking access) or from the Elephant Tusk trailhead (high clearance, 4WD). Elephant Tusk ...

Tusk!

Elephant Tusk from #DodsonTrail on #OuterMountainLoop of #BigBend. Of course I was plotting possible routes as we passed by. Part of #SierraQuemada.

#backpacking #photography #Texas #nationalparks #outdoors #earworm: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATMR...
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South Rim Pano The South Rim of the Chisos Mountains as seen from the Dodson Trail on Day 3. We camped up there on our first night.

View of the #SouthRim of the #Chisos Mountains from the #DodsonTrail. Most #BigBend #backpacking sites are up there -as were our first & last nights. This is our Day 3, warm sun with cool air.

Happy New Year, everyone!
#photography #nature #Texas #nationalparks
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Views on the Dodson Trail The trail follows the creases in the landscape. You can read our story in the National Parks Traveler here: www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2020/09/exploring-parks-big...

Happy New Year!

To inspire this year's #backpacking, here's a view from the #DodsonTrail, part of the #OuterMountainLoop in #BigBend #NationalPark.

West #Texas has some good winter destinations, though nights can be cold and there's no water in the #desert.

#photography #nature
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Morning in the Sierra Quemada We spent a couple hours ascending gaps like this, descending a little bit on the other side, and then ascending another, slightly higher gap. Some have ephemeral water sources from springs or the Chis...

#Morning sky on the #DodsonTrail, part of the #OuterMountainLoop in #BigBend #NationalPark, #Texas.

The trail goes up that slight rise, goes down a little, up another rise, down a little. Rinse and repeat.

No water that I'd drink, so plan ahead.
#photography #backpacking
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Low-tech #night #photography on #OuterMountainLoop in -position camera with rocks on desert floor.

#BigBend is an international #DarkSky park - best skies I've ever seen.

#backpacking #nationalparks #DodsonTrail #Texas
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