A Big Bend Shot

[Al]

Was browsing some old photos and came across this shot.  I don't remember exactly where it was taken from.



Al

[okiehiker]

That is a classic South Rim shot.  You can almost see the 400' thick igneous cap that protects the high Chisos from erosion, and has left them as an island in the sky.  

This really bad scan is circa 1980.  The area is closer to the Laguna Meadow side, not long after you reach the rim.

[Al]

Okie, that may have been a liitle bit unfair on my part when I said I didn't know exactly where it was taken.  It was taken from the top of the del Carmans but I don't remember exactly where.  You can see the north portion of the Chisos in the background and the ridge that runs along the east side of Old Ore road plus some features.

Its similarity to the South Rim, geologically, is striking.  Thanks for guessing!

Al

[bdann]

That's a cool shot Al (I was thinking South Rim too)!

[Al]

That's a cool shot Al (I was thinking South Rim too)!

Having never hiked the South Rim, I'm pretty sure that shot isn't from the South Rim.  Yup, had to be from the Carmens.  

Al

[homerboy2u2]

That's a cool shot Al (I was thinking South Rim too)!

Having never hiked the South Rim, I'm pretty sure that shot isn't from the South Rim.  Yup, had to be from the Carmens.  

Al

 AL....When was the last time , you went over to the Del Carmen´s ??

[Casa Grande]

you can tell it's not the south rim from the geography (er, ah, geology)  of the terrain below

[Al]

Homero, the first time, early 1970's, last time 1994.  In 1995, the national parks were closed at the end of the year when we normally go because there was a Mexican Standoff between the Prez and Congress on the budget. After that we started going back to BiBe or canoing Boquillas Canyon over the holidays.

Al

[Al]

Here's a shot of the top of the Carmens looking toward the horizon, 1992.  What do we see in the distance?



Al

[Al]

Google Earth doesn't do it justice.



Al

[okiehiker]

When I saw Al's pic with the statement "I don't remember exactly where it was taken from" I thought of the South Rim.

I used the range in the background, upper left, to verify the angle.

The rock in foreground of Al's pic however, is classic del Carmen limestone.  The caprock in the Chisos is much harder extrusive igneous.

[Al]

Not stoopid, you were just trying to help, perhaps a bit early in the morning!

Al

[Al]

Al

[Al]

Sorry for the lack of explaination.  That shot is looking north toward El Pico hiking the del Carmens back in the good old days when one could cross the Rio Grande at Boquillas as desired.  

Hope y'all enjoy the view.  More to come later if y'all would like.

Al

[Al]

Perhaps a bit dated . . . and there is more to the story, but pretty well done.

http://www.hcn.org/servlets/hcn.Article?article_id=13523

Al