Tuff Canyon
Jeff Moore, Alan Cressler, Doug Strait, Paul Aughey, Manuel Beers
11-9-06 Tuff Canyon, TX
Brewster, Cerro Castellan
GPS: NAD27 290857.65 1032921.64
We parked alongside the road below the canyon and hiked across the desert into it’s mouth. I learned that tuff is formed from consolidated ash. We saw piles of silt gray ash alongside the road while driving there. The tuff contained many chunks of lava rock and other buried materials. We passed many painters inside the canyon. At first, the canyon floor consisted mostly of gravel. Later, we hiked over intruding lava rock. Jeff napped each time the canyon wall provided shade sheltering him from the desert heat. We occasionally saw calcite strands in the Tufa floor.
Eventually, we reached a climb up which I opted not to do with my camera dangling from my neck. I retreated down canyon and climbed out of an interesting side canyon. Up top, I followed the canyon rim eventually intersecting a trail to two railed lookouts. The trail led back to the canyon mouth where I replied to Jeff’s bo. Paul caught up and we walked back to the cars. We briefly stopped at the Mule Ears pull-off on our way to the Burro Mesa Pouroff.
Tuff Canyon Gallery
Tuff Canyon
Tuff Canyon
Tuff Canyon
Tuff Canyon
Tuff Canyon
Tuff Canyon
Tuff Canyon
Tuff Canyon
Tuff Canyon
Tuff Canyon
Tuff Canyon
Tuff Canyon
Tuff Canyon
Tuff Canyon
Tuff Canyon