Santa Elena Canyon
Jeff Moore, Alan Cressler, Doug Strait, Paul Aughey, Manuel Beers
11-7-06 Santa Elena Canyon, TX
Brewster, Castolon
GPS: NAD27 291001.52 1033636.02 +-13
Jeff and I arrived at Santa Elena Canyon an hour from dark. We beat the rest of the crew since Alan and Manuel stopped alongside Old Maverick Road to look at rocks. We didn’t linger long before hiking into the canyon. We crossed, Terlingua Creek and entered a Tamarisk tunnel. The texture of the invasive plant’s needles is kind of neat. The two of us ascended the canyon and spotted a duo walking across the creek. One carried a plastic bag and had the distinct swagger of Doug. The other wore the colors of Manuel. Jeff bo’d meekly but they did not respond.
We continued ahead stopping at many riverside overlooks to take pictures. Not long after, Paul showed up and we realized that he wore Manuel colors; I thought Manuel seemed rather tall alongside Doug. Jeff and I continued hiking and photographing until the trail ended in a cliff wall leaving us two options: start swimming or retreat. We retreated and passed Alan and Manuel on the way out. We made our way back to Terlingua Abaja campsite # 3 which we’d set up before we entered the canyon, GPS: NAD27 291155.76 1033614.23 +-12, ate dinner and eventually laid out under the stars watching satellites, shooting stars, and the brightening sky as the moon rose.
I later found myself atop a nearby hill opposite camp finagling my tripod into position mindful of nearby cactus. I started to photograph the canyon entrance by moonlight but instead packed up as I spotted flashlights maneuvering toward Terlingua Creek. I soon caught up with Jeff, Paul, and Doug for the last few minutes of their walk. Their quick retreat back to camp surprised me. I then climbed up the hillside and begun my moonlit photography anew. After a few shots, I decided to walk nearer the canyon and wondered to myself whether a mountain lion would take notice of my solo walk through the bush. On my way back to camp, I stumbled upon an adobe ruin almost entirely lost except for a couple eroded walls. I photographed it and returned to camp.
Santa Elena Canyon Gallery
Santa Elena Canyon
Santa Elena Canyon
Santa Elena Canyon
Santa Elena Canyon