Walking up a counter top.
Enchanted Rock - 3/15/2012  [View Log Page]
Rating: Difficulty: Solitude:
Distance: 0.75 Mile Duration: N/A
NOTE: For SPRING BREAK - To ensure entrance to the park, make sure you are there early. The park opens at 0800, by 1000 there is a line to get in, and by noon o'clock we heard the wait was up to an hour. Took the family to Enchanted Rock for Spring Break to do some hiking. First up, The Summit Trail, while it seems a bit odd to think of a big granite rock as having a "summit", once you finish walking up the side of the giant granite boulder you do appreciate the flat top. There are tons of more scientific and technical explanations of what is seen on this trail, so I will not go into that aspect. One thing to definitely note is the utter lack of formal bathrooms on the rock itself, i.e. be sure to take care of business before embarking. The hike is pretty simple, not easy per se as it involves hiking up a steep enough grade which does cause for some uneasiness if you slip. I imagine this trail is not real fun if there is any precipitation. Also, I have hiked at E-Rock in summer as well, and that pretty much sucked. The granite amplifies the heat quite nicely, so you do feel like the proverbial egg frying on the concrete. The view from the summit is great and a full 360 degrees. Remember: peeing or soaking your feet in the vernal pools is highly discouraged.

Echo Canyon and Little Rock
Enchanted Rock - 3/15/2012  [View Log Page]
Rating: Difficulty: Solitude:
Distance: 7.00 Miles Duration: N/A
NOTE: For SPRING BREAK - To ensure entrance to the park, make sure you are there early. The park opens at 0800, by 1000 there is a line to get in, and by noon o'clock we heard the wait was up to an hour. After the Summit Trail, we scrambled down to the Echo Canyon Trail to hit the compost toilet. Though the rangers would frown on trying to pee off the top a giant granite boulder on the dome itself. Echo Canyon is aptly named and after a rousing "TEXAS,FIGHT" echo-fest with my daughter, we picked our way through the wash of rocks and intermittent water. Nothing too technical here, but you could easily turn an ankle or scrape a knee if you are not paying attention. Also, if it pouring down rain, I imagine Enchanted Rock and Little Rock act as the perfect funnel. We connected with the Loop Trail then headed to Little Rock which has two humps. Hiking Little Rock is very similar to Enchanted Rock but with a lot less people. I think most visitors think that one rock is as good as any other. I enjoyed Little Rock as there was more vegetation and since it actually rained in the Hill Country before our visit, there was this strange color called "green" almost painted on everything. Sorry, poor drought joke here in the Lone Star State :) Last thing, we took my near 70 year old mother-in-law who true to form was wearing woefully inappropriate footwear (those goofy arse Sketcher rocking shoes), but she hung in there all day. For Mother's Day, I am seeing some nice day hiking shoes in her future, but I hope I can find some in gold lame' (I think that's France speak for shiny tacky gold cloth.)!

Boquillas Canyon Trail
Big Bend - Boquillas Canyon Trail - 2/25/2007  [View Log Page]
Rating: Difficulty: Solitude:
Distance: 1.40 Miles Duration: 1 minute
My father (60 years old) and I did this hike after the Emory Peak hike in the morning. It was great to relax and drive out to Boquillas Canyon (about 40 minutes from the Basin), then walk into the canyon at the South end of the park. Very scenic place similar to Santa Elena Canyon on the North end of the park. We also saw a river rafting group navigating their way into the canyon. This is always entertaining to watch novices attempt to keep their canoes/kayaks going straight. Lastly, there is some entrepreneur selling walking sticks for $5 bucks US. Could make a great souvenir.