Doing It.

[Ray52]

Good job Homer.  Or is it "Old Man"?  A bride who backpacks AND cooks! You're also a "Lucky Man".  Now get your girl a proper cap, something green and gold with a BU on the front.  Sic'em!!

[Homer67]

South Rim/Boot Canyon/Juniper Canyon

We slept in the next morning, beat from the haul up Blue Creek and the Dodson the day before.  It had rained for a few hours during the night; the soft raindrops lulled me to sleep and we both rested well.  It was afternoon when we finally hit the trail.

I had not been to the South Rim, and this sign was a most welcomed sight!

On our way to the South Rim! by SuperHomer67, on Flickr

Views of Blue Creek open up as one hikes toward the South Rim along the Laguna Meadow trail:

Blue Creek views just get better when going up Laguna! by SuperHomer67, on Flickr




Views of Blue Creek Just keep coming! by SuperHomer67, on Flickr

Here is a sign telling of the infamous Blue Creek Fire:

The Blue Creek Fire sign by SuperHomer67, on Flickr

These next two photos look straight down Blue Creek...it was an amazing hike!

Another Nice View straight Down Blue Creek! by SuperHomer67, on Flickr


View of Blue Creek from Laguna Meadow before Colima by SuperHomer67, on Flickr

Views from the West Rim just keep coming!

More Nice Views to the SW as we hiked up Laguna to the South Rim by SuperHomer67, on Flickr




Nice View from W Rim by SuperHomer67, on Flickr

I have heard that NPS is eradicating invasive species from the park...could this be an example?

Burning Invasive Species? by SuperHomer67, on Flickr

We took our time and stopped for a few breaks along the trail.  It was late in the day when we got to the south rim.  We were so taken by the view, we did not realize two gentlemen had approached from behind us!  We met Adam and Eric on the South Rim.  We were fast friends and hiked up and down the rim, exchanging stories, taking mass photos and even lounging! Adam is a photographer and gave me some pointers.

Sandi at South Rim by SuperHomer67, on Flickr

One can discern where we had camped along the Dodson two nights before from up on the South Rim; we truly must have been a faint spot of light deep in the Sierra Quemada!

Pano SRim 18 by SuperHomer67, on Flickr




Mariscal and Elephant Tusk by SuperHomer67, on Flickr


Pano SRim 23 by SuperHomer67, on Flickr


ET, Mariscal and some Agave by SuperHomer67, on Flickr


Dead Tree, ET and Masriscal by SuperHomer67, on Flickr

Here is Sandi takin' 'er easy up on the South Rim:

Lounging up on the Rim! by SuperHomer67, on Flickr

I took a great many photos while up on the South Rim, not all of the Sierra Quemada:

Sunset on Agave by SuperHomer67, on Flickr




Sunset SRim 24 by SuperHomer67, on Flickr

We spent a good amount of time on the South Rim.  It really didn't matter that we still had to hike to our camp site on the SE Rim...all was right in the world and we enjoyed exploring.  We even saw some deer:

Deer were easy to find up on the Rim! by SuperHomer67, on Flickr


So pretty! by SuperHomer67, on Flickr

After some time exploring an area away from the rim we returned; the sun was getting low and I took a few more photos:

Pano Sunset SRim 27 by SuperHomer67, on Flickr


South Rim Sunset Nov 2011 by SuperHomer67, on Flickr

We lingered a bit longer then hiked to our camp along the SE rim.  We set camp and made dinner.  Tomorrow would be our last day, and we would have to hike ~7.7 miles back to the truck.  Once again, it was lights out.

The next morning we broke camp and hit the trail about 9 am.  So far we had climbed and climbed on this trip and were looking forward to a little fast downhill.  The view of the Sierra Quemada was sure fine on this cool morning:

Sunrise on hike to Boot Canyon from SE Rim by SuperHomer67, on Flickr



Once we made the turn down the Boot Canyon trail, we saw more deer!

Deer in Boot Canyon! by SuperHomer67, on Flickr


More Deer in Boot Canyon! by SuperHomer67, on Flickr



The environs seemed to change not too far down Boot Canyon from the area up near the rim:

Trail through Boot Canyon by SuperHomer67, on Flickr




More Boot Canyon Trail by SuperHomer67, on Flickr

There was plenty of water in the tinajas along the bottom of Boot Canyon:

Nice Reflection off Boot Canyon Tinaja by SuperHomer67, on Flickr

Here is a cool little guy we saw while hiking through Boot Canyon:

Rock Squirrel! by SuperHomer67, on Flickr


More of Mr. Rock Squirrel! by SuperHomer67, on Flickr


Bye-bye Mr. Rock Squirrel! by SuperHomer67, on Flickr

Boot Canyon was very nice!

Nice creek running through Boot Canyon by SuperHomer67, on Flickr

The climb out of Boot Canyon wasn't one of the hardest of the five previous days, but it stretched out the muscles that tightened up during the easy outing we had the day before.  We climbed up to the top of Juniper Canyon waiting for the downhill payoff after climbing for so many days.  Juniper Canyon offers some scenic views as one "drops out" of the Chisos:

View from Top Juniper Canyon by SuperHomer67, on Flickr

Here is my girl already starting to break away:

Sandi High JC looking out 29 by SuperHomer67, on Flickr

I had been a butthead that morning, ticking my girl off over some triviality.  She rewarded me by turning it on!  I could barely keep up, especially once my feet started barking at me.  I was proud of my girl and how she really took on our 6-day immersion in this special place.

The views as one hikes down the Juniper Canyon trail just kept on coming!

Pano High JC 30 by SuperHomer67, on Flickr


The Boot from Juniper canyon by SuperHomer67, on Flickr

We had seen much evidence of bears (poop --- so that answers that question!) in Blue Creek Canyon once we hit the woodland up to BL1, and in Juniper Canyon, but, alas we did not see a bear.  This is a very cool spot along the JC trail, possibly a lair for some animal:

Lair? along JC trail by SuperHomer67, on Flickr

I took a pic of some cool mushrooms:

Fungus! along JC trail by SuperHomer67, on Flickr

Sandi stopped for a bit, now in a bit of a better mood with me.  She was feeling good.  At one point I could hear her singing, her voice seeming to float with the soft wind. We stopped near Juniper Camp, and I shot this photo, which shows the transition from the woodland/forest ecotone to Sotol grassland:

Pano JC Near Juniper Camp; woodland ends, Sotol grassland begins! by SuperHomer67, on Flickr



We hiked and hiked, my feet in such a state I had to clear my mind and concentrate on a 4/4 rhythm. Sandi was about 50 yards ahead of me and I picked up the pace to make up some ground.  Eventually Sandi stopped to let me catch up.  I took this photo; you can see El Pico in the background if you look closely:

El Pico seen from JC trail by SuperHomer67, on Flickr

We assumed we were close.  Again, just when one thinks he is home free, the struggle just keeps on coming! We hiked on and finally we saw the truck!  It was still a good 3/4 mile or so away, but it lifted our spirits --- we had not gone to Purgatory and were not stuck in a perpetual loop of never reaching the end of Juniper Canyon!

We reached the truck and immediately dropped our packs.  I don't think two minutes went by and we each had on our sandals.  Sandi took some photos of the cache box (to prove there IS one there) and we loaded up.  It was a moment of euphoria because of the trek and the tremendous beauty we had immersed ourselves in, but it was also a tragic moment; we were now leaving this ideal world and returning to our lives.  As we drove out of Juniper Canyon we were all smiles and at least until we reached the spotty cell service at Panther Junction, all was right in the world.  We had done it.


As Sandi and I fade from the light, we leave you with a little Frank...

[rauburg]

Did you spend the night at BL1? I really liked that campsite.

I am glad that you took pictures of the water in the Tinajas and posted them. I have been kicking myself for not doing that. I tried to take pictures of the pools below the Fresno crossing but they didn't come out. I hope that you have a picture of Juniper Springs.

Great photo documentary of your trip. Very thorough and enjoyable.

Randy

[Homer67]

We did stay at BL1!  We had stayed at this spot earlier this year in April.  It is a beautiful spot!  I greatly enjoy the deer that come around.  We saw one late evening and a good many together the next morning!  They seemed to be more calm when we continued to talk than when we got quiet.

BL1 was a welcome sight after that climb up Blue Creek!

Well, I finally did finish of the last installment of our saga.  I did not get too many photos of the lower part of Juniper Canyon or Juniper Springs; I was trying to keep up with my girl who was letting me have it for being a butthead that morning.  That just goes to show that one should slow it down and enjoy!

Homer

[mule ears]

Nice job Homer67, thoroughly documented for sure!  I think this is the first OML report that lasted 6 days too!  thanks

[homerboy2u]

I concur with every one here, specially since you quickly picked up the rithim and posted with extra cherries: Videos of your trip along with pictures. Just fabulous. I hope it does not stop there soon.

[Homer67]

Thank you for the kind compliments Homero and ME!

Admittedly, we are no pro athletes! We just gave ourselves plenty of time and hauled a lot of water!  Really, I just wanted enough time to nap under a tree in the mountains, or take a random hike to some spot and let it all soak in.  It was glorious!  I highly recommend it!

I have to give props to my girl!  She really came through!  She was much more enthusiastic about this trip than our previous ones.  She planned the whole food situation, hauled a good bit of water and never had a break down or even complained, except when I ticked her off (which only happened once, my bad)!  She even drove in on the dirt roads!

I can't wait to go back, although I think on our next trip we will be doing a multiple overnight in Yellowstone with some friends; if that falls through, Sandi and I will do Yosemite.  Time to get more books, maps and get to work! I will return to Big Bend, possibly more than a few times next year!  I hope to get better at my photos and videos!

It was great going through the pics and videos --- it brought me right back! Again, thank you for the kind compliments!

Homer

[steelfrog]

You rock Homero!  Great job and thank you for taking the time to share!