A partial solar eclipse, visible at sunset, as seen from North Texas.
We took a short drive to the little town of Ponder to view today’s solar eclipse. We’d planned to see it from the Northwest ISD complex, but a large and dark cloud stood between it and the sun. With moments to spare, we packed up and drove north, finally reaching the Ponder ISD football stadium. These photos were taken from the top of the bleachers, beside the press box. God bless high school football!
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Posted by Jeff on May 20, 2012
https://thesouthrim.wordpress.com/2012/05/20/solar-eclipse-sunset/
As I have done in past years, this post highlights one image from each month of the year. These are not the 12 best photos of the year, just the 12 that tell the story of 2011, a very difficult year which ended in bright light.
January
The sun sets behind Reunion Tower as seen from my office, the Corporate Communications War Room in the headquarters building of AT&T.
February
Chisos romps in the nearly 4 inches of overnight snowfall in the backyard.
Posted by Jeff on December 27, 2011
https://thesouthrim.wordpress.com/2011/12/27/2011-in-12-photos/
A bent-over juniper watches another sunrise from its perch upon the South Rim.
Continued from Part 5.
There’s not really a lot to say about that night and the next day, except that I had them, and all the South and East Rims it seemed, to myself. I hadn’t seen anyone since Pinnacle Pass, and I wouldn’t see anyone for a day and a half. It was cloudy. The sunset would’ve been a dud, but I was on the South Rim, so it didn’t disappoint.
Clouds and trees blocked the stars that night. I sat beside the bear boxes, just about the only place I could put myself in that cramped little campsite, to cook and eat and listen to some tunes. The inside of the bear box made a nice speaker system for my iPhone. “London Homesick Blues” and “Terlingua Sky” were the first two songs.
It didn’t rain overnight, as predicted, but the breeze picked up, and the clouds streamed by more rapidly. There were some breaks in the clouds, which added some dazzling moments to the sunrise (Monday, Nov. 14).
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Posted by Jeff on December 11, 2011
https://thesouthrim.wordpress.com/2011/12/11/a-fortnight-in-the-bend-part-6/
Pulliam Bluff looms above Maple Canyon, as seen from a seldom traveled trail in the lower Chisos Mountains.
Continued from Part 4.
Lisa, my fiancee, had left for home, after too short a visit, but we were glad for the time together. Thus far the trip was shared with good friends and the love of my life. The trip’s last days were for me to enjoy alone. With the car loaded up, I had one last breakfast in town, one final stop at the Cottonwood grocery store and one more drive east from Maverick Junction.
After setting up camp in the Basin for a single night, I proceeded to unpack the car completely, organize my backpacking stuff for a two-nighter and repack the car. With some time left in the afternoon, I drove back over the pass to the trailhead for Maple Canyon, another of those trails I’ve always wanted to take but never prioritized.
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Posted by Jeff on December 10, 2011
https://thesouthrim.wordpress.com/2011/12/10/a-fortnight-in-the-bend-part-5/
Sunset from Roosevelt Cottage No. 103 in the Basin.
Continued from Part 3.
Neither my fiancee Lisa nor I had ever stayed in the Roosevelt Cottages before, and we lucked into one night in No. 103. The view of the Window is magnificent.
Our friends Walter and Suzanne enjoyed the sunset and some brews on the patio, then left to enjoy their last night in the Bend. After dinner, we watched the stars wheel over the moonlit Basin with our constant companion, the wind.
The next day (Thursday, Nov. 10), we packed up to leave the cabin and made reservations for a cabin at the Chisos Mining Company property in town. We swung by Panther Junction so I could get a permit for the rest of the trip. Then we headed down the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive for the Upper Burro Mesa Pouroff trailhead. This was a hike neither of us had done; it has always fallen below other “more important” destinations. I can’t believe we waited so long to do this wonderful hike.
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Posted by Jeff on December 7, 2011
https://thesouthrim.wordpress.com/2011/12/07/a-fortnight-in-the-bend-part-4/
The warning sign on Black Gap Road was a perfect place to keep our jumper cables.
Continued from Part 1.
I’ve carried a SPOT Messenger, first generation, on my treks for a few years now. The device transmits current coordinates and one of three predetermined messages to a list of email recipients. The only message I had ever sent was “I’m OK” (sometimes “We’re OK”). A second option is a button marked “911” that activates SPOT’s emergency response system. The third option, a button marked “HELP,” had the following message attached to it:
“Non-life threatening incident has occurred. Please contact NPS at 432-477-1158 and give coordinates”
It has always said something like this. I always envisioned it as a means of obtaining help without summoning a huge rescue effort or bringing in the cavalry. We had three days’ worth of food, two coolers full of water, lots of experience in the desert, shelter, and an ability to walk to civilization. That said, finding a vehicle that could jump ours would be a lot easier.
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Posted by Jeff on November 30, 2011
https://thesouthrim.wordpress.com/2011/11/30/a-fortnight-in-the-bend-part-2/
Crown Mountain glows in a shaft of light from the setting sun and throws its shadow upon the Deadhorse Mountains.
O Lord, O Lord
Been so long on this dusty road
Oh mama, I need a leg to stand on.
I need a card,
I need a card.
Hit me, not too hard!
Oh mama, I need a winning hand.
— Railroad Earth, “Elko”
This has been a hard year, capped by the death of my father four months ago. Even in times of hardship and pain, the very thought of going back to Big Bend has always been a bright spot. Of late, even that had faded, as I was not sure when I would return. I found myself planning no trip, considering no dates for return or places to go once I got there. My last trip there was in the spring – it was my first in over a year. The next one … who knows?
This trip, in November 2011, was unexpected and unplanned. As early as a week before, I had not thought about going to Big Bend in November, as there was no opportunity to get away from my job in Dallas. Then it appeared, a chance, not only to return to the beloved desert, but also to go for more than two uninterrupted weeks. In the few days prior to departure, I focused on gathering my gear together for car camping, backpacking and some lodging nights. Many of the pre-trip activities I usually do – map making, GPS loading, itinerary planning, menu making – were left undone. I had one vague plan, which was to backpack to the Waterworks area of Fresno Creek, and this would be sufficient to lure my old pal Brett out for almost a week.
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Posted by Jeff on November 29, 2011
https://thesouthrim.wordpress.com/2011/11/29/a-fortnight-in-the-bend-part-1/
The sun sets over Bachman Lake as Chisos and I finish our 3-mile walk around the lake.
Posted by Jeff on October 13, 2011
https://thesouthrim.wordpress.com/2011/10/13/bachman-lake-sunset/
The bats depart the Congress Ave. Bridge for their nightly flight down Lady Bird Lake. My girlfriend Lisa and I enjoyed a weekend in Austin with my friends.
Posted by Jeff on July 12, 2011
https://thesouthrim.wordpress.com/2011/07/12/bat-flight/
Sunset from West Beach Marina on Lake Travis
Sunday was most likely my last “Lake Day” of this summer, as my pal Chris will be pulling his boat out of the water for the season next week. An intrepid crew of seven rode the faithful Cracker I and a pair of jet skis to a quiet cove on the north side of the lake, then over to Devil’s Cove, where the party was winding down. It was scorching hot, and the water felt more like a bathtub, but a great day was had by all.
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Posted by Jeff on August 23, 2010
https://thesouthrim.wordpress.com/2010/08/23/last-lake-day-of-summer/
The South Rim 