Big Bend Photos

Wishing all current and new members a happy new year in 2011.

Feel free to start posting those photos again in 2011 of Big Bend National Park and the surrounding areas.

If possible, I will try to sponsor another photo contest or two in this new year. Please post your photos at will whether they are current or old shots of the Bend.

Thanks!

--Mark

Hey Everyone:

I decided to make a quick day trip today to the Bend to do some desert hiking, and started off from Fort Stockton with temps in the low sixties, and cloudy, heading towards Marathon. No problems & dry roads all the way. I noticed upon passing the border check point a few miles outside of Marthon heading towards the park,  that there were about 6-8  what appeared to be studio lights, except they were long tubular vs. round on stands and they were on the right side of the road across from the border patrol checkpoint. They have never been there before so I found that interesting. I am guessing that maybe they are lighting up the area to a greater extent?

Anyways continued on; as people know who have been to the Bend, Border Patrol does not stop you at that point. After several more miles the temp started dropping again, and winds went from nearly calm to at least 20-25mph. By the time I got to my favorite "meditation hill" as I call it (just a small mountain in the desert) the temps had dropped considerably, so I quickly added a heavy jacket I usually carry in the trunk before heading off to shoot some photos etc. The winds were constantly increasing and by the time I got to the top of my hill, I actually had a hard time standing upright due to wind velocity.

I decided to cut the day short at that point and tried to get a few more photos along the way. Stopped several miles from Panther Junction and got most of the cactus flower photos, and one of the few bluebonnets, as well as general desert scenery. It then started raining, which is usually a good thing in the Bend. Stopped in at Panther Junction to show my annual pass and get the normal sticker for the vehicle. Several out of state people were in the parking lot dressed in shorts and short sleeves were trying to figure out what to do with the sudden weather change. Spoke to the ranger inside and he indicated that temps was about 52, but with the wind chill factor, it  would feel like 15 degrees which I agreed with, something I have not experienced at this time of year in the Bend. Anyways left Panther Junction planning an exit out of the other end of the park at Study Butte. (Gas prices from Marathon to Study Butte were in the $3.09 to $3.19 for regular unleaded in case anyone is interested.) At this point it was raining steadily, cold and very windy. Very few people overall in the park (at least in the sections I drove thru)  The mountains were great however with low hanging clouds covering the tops of many, and gave the Bend a kind of  eerie appearance it is famous for in that kind of weather.

Exited out of the park and then went on my way to Alpine. The only thing different that I noticed along the way was that the Black Mesa Ranch and the East Rim Ranch are for sale as per signs posted which seemed surprising to me. I am sure, given their size the price is in the millions of dollars. 

At the border patrol checkpoint near Alpine, three officers met my vehicle, which is not unusual, but one was accompanied by a drug sniffing or maybe bomb sniffing dog or both, and the dog was circling my vehicle, as well as all vehicles entering the area, something I have never seen at either this or the Marathon check point; they usually only have these dogs at the direct entry points into either Mexico or the United States, not several miles inland as these check points are. Anyways, it was something new and interesting.

Posted a few photos from the trip today. Due to the winds, a tripod was useless, so had to shoot several and quickly.  

P S  Just a quick reminder that you are more than welcome to post photos of the Bend and area at any time, not just when photo contests are announced. I have been busy with a variety of things and hope to resume those at some point in the future. Thanks and a special welcome to all new members. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or need more information.

Thanks!

--Mark

Once again a big thank you to everyone who has made the move to our new site here at multipy.com and for those who are contemplating it, there is no time like the present!

All contest winners of the Winter 2009 Big Bend Photos Contest have been notified of their placement in the contest, and two out of the three have already been sent their prize, and waiting on a mailing address for the third person....you know who you are...Any prize winner can have their winning prize donated to either their favorite charity or I will select a good one like the Terlingua Big Bend Youth Club, Friends of Big Bend, etc. and send the money directly to them on your behalf.

Don't forget to keep posting those photos for the world to enjoy. Our next photo contest will be the 4th Annual Spring Break Photo Contest, usually held in March or April. Any photos posted between now and then however, assuming they match the theme of the contest, which I have not yet determined, will be considered for the competition.   And for you former members of the MSN group who have photos which were transferred to this site, don't forget that you must rejoin us here at multiply.com for your photos to be considered for any future contests. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions and I will get back to you as soon as possible. Thanks!

--Mark 

First Place Winner: "Starry Night at Big Bend" by troubledog1 of Houston

Second Place Winner:  "View from the South Rim in Chisos" by SLSutton of Raleigh, NC

Third Place Winner: " Misty Morning at Panther Juncion" by Tamas of San Antonio

Congratulations to all three of you, and thanks to everyone who has posted photos on the site to date!  

-Mark