Best View in West Texas

[westtex]

This past weekend two friends and myself made an ascent of Mount Livermore in the Davis Mtns.  We started the hike/climb from the windmill at the bottom around 10am and reached the summit around 1pm.  The climb was the most difficult I have experienced in Texas.  It was more strenuous then Pinnacles trail to Emory Peak and the hike to Guadalupe Peak.  But the view from on top was easily the best comprehensive view of West Texas.  Visibility was at least 100 miles in any direction.  The Guadalupe Mtns were visible, along with the Chisos and everything in between obviously.  

The trail was so difficult because we took the old jeep trail that goes all the way to the top with no switchbacks, but on the way down we took the Limpia trail that switchbacked down the mountain and was still partially covered in snow.  Along the Limpia trail there is also a small grove of Aspen trees that are extremely rare in Texas.  

This was a great day trip that I highly recommend to anyone who has never been to the Davis Mtns.  Also you can bag the only two 8000 ft peaks in Texas outside of the Guadalupes.

[01ACRViper]

is the peak still on nature conservancy? land? did you wait for an open day to climb, or ask for permission? i've wanted to do this peak for a while, but i'm not sure on the land status. i would also love to bag Santiago, Chianti, mascalero, and cathedral. some day, hopefully :(

[RichardM]

Got any pics?  Oh, that's right, you shoot film.  Gotta wait for it to be developed and all that...  :)

[westtex]

Viper: The peak is still on nature conservancy and I went for an open hiking day, there's about one open hiking day per month and about one open camping weekend every other month.  I have quiet a few friends that have connections with the nature conservancy and I would be able to get permission to get out there for a day if you want to set up a trip.

I have some pics that I took with my dinky $160 digital camera and will work on putting them up.  It would be a lot easier for me to argue for shooting film in person rather then an online forum, but I would still take my pentax over my dinky digital cam if I could get it to work right.

[Casa Grande]

Got any pics?  Oh, that's right, you shoot film.  Gotta wait for it to be developed and all that...  :)

 :lol:

[RichardM]

I have some pics that I took with my dinky $160 digital camera and will work on putting them up.  It would be a lot easier for me to argue for shooting film in person rather then an online forum, but I would still take my pentax over my dinky digital cam if I could get it to work right.

Just yankin' your chain a bit.  This board has been remarkably devoid of the usual digital v. film flame wars that erupt on lots of forums.  Shoot whatever works best for you.  Just be sure and get some good scans of your prints to share. :)

It's a shame they don't make a combo SLR/DSLR camera so you could do both at once.  Or do they?

[Casa Grande]

... my dinky $160 digital camera....

eureka!  there's your problem!

[westtex]

I have too many hobbies to shell out lots of money on a high dollar digital camera, plus going to college doesn't pay for itself.

[Casa Grande]

I have too many hobbies to shell out lots of money on a high dollar digital camera, plus going to college doesn't pay for itself.

dude, lighten up....we're all just razzing you

btw....looking forward to that view!

[Casa Grande]

It's a shame they don't make a combo SLR/DSLR camera so you could do both at once.  Or do they?

back in '90 or '91 I used a very primitive digital system with a Hasselblad 6x7.  This used a beamspliter to send the image to the Hassleblad and to the digital camera using the splitter.  The system was klunky and, of course, the digital technology back then was very bad by any standard today, but it allowed the client and the photographer to see what the photo would "look like."  As far as I know, this system is obsolete and I'm pretty certain it hasn't evolved into much today.  I can't imagine any manufacturer giving a go at creating a camera that can shoot film and digital simultaneously except for maybe the film industry who have been using a splitter to shoot video and film simultaneously for instant feedback for decades (of course, this is also becoming more obsolete with the film industry moving into digital).  

Sorry, didn't mean to hijack your thread Amigo.

[Picacho]

Mt. Livermore is on my list.  Hopefully I can climb it soon.

[westtex]

Starting up the jeep trail




Chinati Mtns


Chisos Mtns barely visible on horizon


Cathedral Mtn on left and Santiago Mtn in center


Guadalupe Mtns in distance


The peak


On top with hairy splendor

[RichardM]

http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos3048/1/50/80/72/58/1/158728050110_0_ALB.jpg
Starting up the jeep trail

I see nothing but red Xs.  Are you sure kodakgallery allows hotlinks?  I thought they always required you to view pics in a gallery, that way they can sell you prints.

[Al]

Worked here.

Al

[RichardM]

http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos3048/1/50/80/72/58/1/158728050110_0_ALB.jpg
Starting up the jeep trail

I see nothing but red Xs.  Are you sure kodakgallery allows hotlinks?  I thought they always required you to view pics in a gallery, that way they can sell you prints.

Photobucket to the rescue!  Nice pics.